Results 4,281-4,300 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Irish Red Cross Society. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Red Cross Society is an autonomous charitable body with full powers to manage and administer its affairs through its governing body, the central council. I have no function in the day-to-day administration of the Irish Red Cross and, as such, I am not involved in the day-to-day running of its affairs. I am not aware of any allegations of underperformance of the Irish Red Cross in...

Irish Red Cross Society. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I apologise to the Deputy and I will reply to his query. The governance committee of the Irish Red Cross Society is currently examining various issues of governance and I will await the outcome of its deliberations. The chairman is appointed for a three-year term and this is the fourth time he has been reappointed. However, I have been informed that the general view, except for one or two...

Irish Red Cross Society. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No communication I have received from that person has indicated to me that there are problems. There are problems in every organisation but no problems on the scale referred to by the Deputy have been indicated to me.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In the context of the Government decision on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces had been suspended. Following a review and examination of Reserve Defence Force personnel numbers and budget, I am satisfied that there is sufficient provision to allow for paid...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I repeat what I stated regarding promotions: I can confirm that normal advancements within the Permanent Defence Force do not fall within the scope of the savings measures. This includes such categories as existing cadets being commissioned following cadet training, and general service recruits who have already been enlisted and who are completing their course of training. Consequently,...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am gratified by Deputy Deenihan's confidence in my negotiating abilities. I will use the bargaining tool, as he suggests.

European Defence Agency. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The European Defence Agency was established under a Joint Action of the Council of Ministers on 12 July 2004, "to support the member states and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future". Following Government approval, Ireland joined...

European Defence Agency. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I will clarify the position on the legislation. Basically, the EDA is about developing the capability of EU member states to perform the Petersberg Tasks. Ireland has only engaged in one EDA project, the force protection project. It is about developing communications systems, body armour, sensors and so forth to protect our troops when they go into these dangerous environments. Ireland is...

Overseas Missions. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On 15 March 2009, MINURCAT, the United Nations-led mission in Chad and the Central African Republic assumed operational control of the United Nations force of 2,085 personnel, including 1,877 troops re-hatted from eight EUFOR contributors. In the weeks following the takeover of the force by MINURCAT, the mission faced a number of challenges, including fuel shortages in Chad. The fuel...

Overseas Missions. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It is, perhaps, overstating the case to say the troops were left cruelly exposed. Obviously, in a situation where the UN is taking over a EUFOR mission, there will be teething problems. There was a shortage of fuel which affected the entire country as well as the Irish mission. As a result there was some rationing of fuel in the Irish camp. It meant, for example, that routine patrols were...

Overseas Missions. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with the Deputy that the troops are performing outstandingly in Chad. I appreciate his remarks in that regard, which I will communicate to them. I also agree that there is a wish locally in Chad that the Irish troops be left in place. I am giving careful consideration to an extension of the mission. I do not envisage the mission continuing as long as the mission in Lebanon did,...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 36, 91 and 373 together. In the context of the Government decision on the implementation of savings measures in public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces had been suspended. Following a review and examination of Reserve Defence Force personnel numbers and budget, I am...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The reasons underlying the policy of ongoing recruitment, including having a cadet class every year, are still valid, despite the moratorium. The reasons are to help achieve a balanced age profile for the Defence Forces and to maintain the necessary strength and skill levels. As I indicated to the House, this has now been superseded by a moratorium with which we must comply because there is...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: If I miss any figures in respect of Deputy O'Shea's question I shall get the answer for him. I am informed that during the lifetime of the moratorium which will finish at the end of 2010, three Brigadier Generals and one Deputy Chief of Staff are due to retire. The total number of people who are to retire in the officer corps over that period will be 90. The last cadet class was put...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am informed that the director of the Reserve Forces has agreed criteria for the selection of the intake of recruits. The priorities are those who have completed medicals and security clearance, linked to waiting list and unit strength.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I shall clarify for the House the way this will operate. We took the decision that a certain number of people leave the Reserve every year. We looked at the number at the start of the year, which was, I believe, 7,575 and have committed to maintaining that number. In other words, people who go on the non-effective list or who leave will be replaced. We intend to maintain the strength at...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: We have improved the conditions of the Reserve. There is better training and it is now better organised, has better clothing and equipment. As the Deputy knows, there is a proposal in the White Paper to have an integrated element in the Reserve and for it to be integrated with the Reserve Defence Forces. So far, recruitment to that has proved disappointing and only 300 people have been...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, that is under consideration.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree. I have made submissions to my colleague, the Minister for Finance, and I hope to meet him shortly in that regard. Like previous years, I am advised of a high level of interest this year in the cadet school. We are still not too late. If a decision is made in the next couple of weeks, we will be able to have a cadet class this year.

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 51 together. In the context of the Government decision on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, was suspended. Following a subsequent review and examination of RDF personnel numbers and budgets for 2009, I was satisfied...