Results 4,301-4,320 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy Deenihan regarding the promotional structure, which is under consideration. Any perception that the reserve is being undervalued is mistaken. An entire section of the White Paper addressed the reserve and made various recommendations. For example, the recommended re-organisation has been undertaken. The White Paper recommended better uniforms, training, systems of...

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with the latter point. Criteria have been drawn up by the director of the reserve and the questions of where people came in on the chain, whether they have had medicals done and when they applied will be important. I understand it will be done in chronological order. I do not want to get specific about numbers. How many we will take on depends on how many drop out or join the...

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I will have to speak to the chief of staff about that. I understand that the Army command is considering ways in which it can make some use of the integrated reserve. I do not know why that has not happened to date. I will revert to the Deputy when I have spoken to the chief of staff about it. I think that perhaps the Army command was a little underwhelmed by the number of people it...

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am not an expert on how the Garda Reserve works but we have to be in a position whereby the money we are allocated each year for paid training days is sufficient to accommodate the number of people we have on the books. That is our duty. It would be irresponsible of me to say that we can recruit 1,000 or 2,000 people more than those for whom we can provide a reasonable number of paid...

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I assure the House that the Army has every intention of making the fullest possible use of the people who have been trained as members of the integrated reserve. I will speak to the chief of staff about when that will happen and over what timescale and I will revert to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces are required to maintain sufficient stocks of ammunition for all weapon types currently in use, as well as other stocks of an explosive ordnance nature. This is to provide for operational training of all personnel and for specialised operational training prior to overseas deployment. In addition, the Defence Forces must maintain sufficient reserves of ammunition and...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The provisions of the Lisbon Treaty in the security and defence area are fully consistent with Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality. In particular, the existing safeguard that the Union's policy in this area "shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain Member States" is maintained, along with the requirement for unanimity in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy is aware, there has been very significant investment in equipment and infrastructure in the Defence Forces over the past twelve years. The acquisition of new and replacement equipment for the Defence Forces remains a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. It is, however, imperative that my Department and the Defence Forces look to whatever efficiencies we can make, taking...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The issue of workplace childcare has been addressed in recent National Wage Agreements under the Social Partnership heading. As the Deputy is aware, the Government is fully supportive of measures to improve childcare facilities. A crèche however must be viable if it is to succeed. There must be sufficient demand and it must be capable of meeting ongoing running costs. The Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos 39, 63, and 93 together. On 15 March 2009, MINURCAT, the United Nation's 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...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Arising from an accident involving a troop carrying vehicle in Granard, Co. Longford in June 2007, a study group was formed to advise on the introduction of a Roll Over Protection System for troop carrying vehicles incorporating roll bars and safety belts. The report of the study group was completed in February 2008 and submitted to the military authorities for consideration. Since then a...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 45, 57 and 92 together. The Government decision of 14 October 2008 approved a programme for consolidation of Defence Forces formations and the closure of four barracks at Monaghan, Longford, Rockhill and Lifford in Donegal. These barracks closed at the end of January 2009. Most of the costs at the level of the individual soldier are once off or short-term...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 54 together. An incident occurred on 3rd June 2009 in Kilworth Camp involving a Short Range Anti-Armour weapon resulting in injuries to a member of the Defence Forces. The General Officer Commanding the Southern Brigade has established a multi disciplined Formation Accident Investigation Team to establish the cause of this incident and to make any...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision of 8 July 2008 instructed all Departments to achieve a 3% reduction in payroll costs in 2009. In order to achieve these savings, it was necessary from that date to impose severe restrictions on the filling of vacancies in my Department. On 27 March 2009 the Government imposed a moratorium on recruitment and promotion. Subsequently, it introduced the incentivised...

Written Answers — Sail Training Programme: Sail Training Programme (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 71 together. The refurbishment programme for the Creidne is almost complete. The vessel is due to undergo trials over the coming days and I expect it to be ready in time for its first voyage on the 3rd July. The Creidne Sail Training Programme begins on 3 July and ends on 11 September. During that time it will undertake five voyages, mainly along the...

Written Answers — Army Medical Corps: Army Medical Corps (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 66, 79, 85 and 369 together. The development of the Medical Corps in the Defence Forces forms part of the agreed programme for Government. I am committed to providing a sustainable medical service to meet the needs of the Defence Forces both at home and abroad. As you are no doubt aware the challenges in the medical arena have been recognised for some time...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos 47, 53, 60, and 68 together. Defence Forces contingents were first deployed to Chad in February 2008 with the UN-mandated EU-led operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR Tchad/RCA. EUFOR's mandate expired on 15 March 2009 and the operation was replaced by the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions number 48 and 378 together. The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime Defence requirements. In the 2000 White Paper on Defence, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be based on an 8-ship flotilla and committed to a modernisation and replacement...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces signed a contract at the end of May 2008 with a UK company, Air Partner Commercial Jets, for the charter of two Mi -8T helicopters to support its operations with EUFOR in Chad. The helicopters arrived in theatre in June 2008 and were contracted to March 2009. The Defence Forces contracted the helicopters for the operational deployment of troops in EUFOR and to facilitate...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 80 and 83 together. The Irish Red Cross Society is an autonomous body, established by the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939 pursuant to the Red Cross Act, 1938. The Order sets out the basis on which the Society shall be governed. It provides that there shall be a Central Council which shall exercise the powers of the Society, organise the Society and...