Results 4,441-4,460 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: With regard to the Deputy's first question, what the McCarthy report proposes is that we reduce the reserve by two-thirds, with a view to saving €5.6 million. Therefore, only one-third of what remains of the reserve would survive the McCarthy proposals.

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I think he worked off the figure at the beginning of the year, approximately 7,500. Therefore, he was talking in terms of having a reserve of approximately 2,500.

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I think it is the figure at the beginning of the year, which was approximately 7,500.

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, but I will double check the situation for the Deputy. When the moratorium was first introduced, we were advised by the Department of Finance it also applied to the reserve. We had a situation where we had a certain number of non-effective people each year - people who do not turn up for training etc. - and numbers were continually dropping, so I got sanction from the Department of...

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I find myself, once again, in total agreement with Deputy Deenihan. We should be encouraging people to rejoin the reserves. The changes we have made in terms of better equipment, training, uniforms, etc., are an encouragement in itself, as well as the fact that we have targeted gratuities - the more training one does the more one earns, or as near as possible. Basically we are going...

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As regards Deputy OShea's question, I stand open to correction. I thought that if somebody in receipt of social welfare wanted to become part of the Reserve Defence Force, that would not interfere with his or her entitlement. That was my understanding of the position.

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I take the Deputy's point and we should use the Reserve Defence Force more in relation to the unemployed in terms of reskilling, etc. That is something I shall think about. With regard to Deputy Deenihan's point I was not aware that there were great numbers of people flooding across the Border to join the reserve in the North. However, I shall take his word for it. As far as I am...

Public Expenditure Review Report. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 12, 14, 26, 41 and 60 together. The Defence property portfolio is kept under ongoing review by military authorities and the staff in my Department to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces. This includes ongoing review of the organisation, structure and formation of the...

Public Expenditure Review Report. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Anybody reading that would have to interpret it in his or her own way. All I can say is that my interpretation might not be that far from Deputy O'Shea's. I agree with him that it is a very bad time to be disposing of a property such as Cathal Brugha Barracks. It is an enormous property, very well located in Dublin and would have yielded a fortune if disposed of a couple of years ago...

Public Expenditure Review Report. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: While I do not have the information to hand, I will get the complete up-to-date position for the Deputy in regard to the plans for barracks that are closed, the maintenance costs and so on. During the last period of barrack consolidation, we made some facilities available to local communities, as the Deputy is aware. Times are tougher now and most of those properties will be sold off by...

Public Expenditure Review Report. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: That is a useful suggestion, which I will certainly discuss with my officials.

Defence Forces Property. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. Defence Forces married quarters are provided to serving members until their retirement or resignation. The Defence Forces regulations state that the quarters must be vacated within 15 days of leaving the service. There are 52 married quarters currently overheld throughout the country - 39 in the Curragh, 11 at Cathal Brugha Barracks,...

Defence Forces Property. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree. Ten of the 11 properties at Cathal Brugha Barracks are under negotiation at present with the current occupants at a very competitive price. The other overholders will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and we will be as sympathetic as possible.

Written Answers — Sail Training Vessel: Sail Training Vessel (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 24 together. The report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended that plans to build a replacement vessel for Asgard II should be deferred indefinitely, and that the national sail training scheme should be discontinued. Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the budgetary...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 44 together. The recommendation in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was that the Naval Service Vessel Replacement Programme be extended over a longer timeframe than initially envisaged. In effect, we are in compliance with this recommendation, when you consider that the ships are supposed to have a...

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 36 and 56 together. The mission of the Army Equitation School, as assigned to it on its establishment in 1926, is to promote the Irish horse abroad through participation in international competitions. The school has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation and numerous successes in equitation...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 33 together. In the past, personnel of the Army Ranger Wing have been successfully deployed as part of Defence Forces contingents to overseas peace support operations, for example in Liberia, East Timor and Chad. In all cases, the conditions, known as the "triple lock" were satisfied, i.e. the operation was authorized/mandated by the United Nations and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 46, 55, 163 and 167 together. Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army (excluding Reserves) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Following 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. Arising from the report of the study group a number of different options were fitted to different vehicles for testing and evaluation to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 65 together. The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended that the number of personnel in the PDF be reduced by 500 over a 2 to 3 year period as "operational requirements allow". The reality is that based on current trends numbers are already reducing within the PDF. The PDF strength as of 30/09/09 is...