Results 4,461-4,480 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 53 and 63 together. The current Cadetship competition was advertised on 9th August 2009 with the closing date for receipt of applications being 21st August 2009. It is intended to award thirty (30) Army and twelve (12) Naval Service Cadetships as a result of this competition, which is currently underway. I am advised by the Military Authorities that for...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The recommendations in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in relation to staffing levels in my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. Decisions on these recommendations will be a matter for the Government. However, I can state that the current staffing level of my Department is 361 compared...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Comórfar céad bliain Éirí Amach na Cásca agus imeachtaí eile i dtréimhse na Saoirse, trí chlár cuimsitheach a chuirfear i bhfeidhm i gcaitheamh an iliomad blianta. D'fhonn clár cuimhneachain cuí a chur le chéile tá iarrtha ar Ranna Rialtais tionscnaimh ina réimsí cúraimí ar leith a mheas a d'fhéadfaí a úsáid chun imeachtaí céid a chomóradh. Tá súil agam, ach...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Question Nos. 27 and 164 together. At the request of PDFORRA I met with the Association's General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary and President on 30th September last. I was accompanied by the Secretary General and Assistant Secretary of my Department, the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff (Support). During the course of the meeting a broad range of issues were...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Question Nos. 28 and 42 together. The assistance provided by the Defence Forces to both the civil power and civil authorities is wide and varied. The actual costs of all services provided have not been recorded separately to date. The compilation of such material on a retrospective basis would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. Costs are recovered for...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Permanent Defence Force by virtue of the nature of their duties and the likelihood that they could be posted away from their home base or overseas for lengthy periods, have a particular need for postal voting. While members of the Reserve Defence Force play a valuable role in the military organisation, the same considerations do not apply to them. I have been advised by the Military...

Written Answers — PDFORRA Conference: PDFORRA Conference (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Yesterday 7 October 2009, I addressed the Annual Delegate Conference of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA). I sought to make my address relevant, positive and informative. I addressed such diverse issues as the current budgetary situation, Defence expenditure and our overseas commitments. I emphasised that the Defence Forces, like all areas of the...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 50 together. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 30 September 2009 was 10,081. This breaks as Army 8,231, Air Corps 812 and Naval Service 1,038. In the context of the Government decision on the implementation of savings measures and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, all...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 35, 48, 59 and 61 together. Despite the current difficult economic circumstances, the Government continues to support and commit resources and personnel, wherever it can, to support peace, security and development in troublespots throughout the world. Following on from Ireland's participation in the EU-led mission to Chad, the mandate of which expired on...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Services: Defence Forces Medical Services (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The PA report is an important milestone in addressing the challenges to the provision of medical services in the Defence Forces. Implementation will take time and commitment. This is being achieved in consultation with the representative associations. On receipt of the report in June this year, I asked that implementation of the recommendations proceed immediately. The PA report reviewed...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Pilatus PC9M trainer aircraft operated by the Air Corps has a limited air defensive capability appropriate to its turbo prop flight envelope. While it is not an interceptor aircraft, it could catch and intercept certain aircraft. Each aircraft has the capability to be fitted with two point 5 machine guns and two rocket launchers. In addition to the Air Corps capabilities the Defence...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (8 Oct 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, recruitment to the Permanent Defence Forces has been suspended. As I have already stated in the House I have made a submission to my colleague the Minister for Finance regarding the implications of the measures for the...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Formation Accident Investigation Team, which was established by the General Officer Commanding the Southern Brigade, to investigate the incident at Kilworth Camp range, has completed its report. The report is being examined at present by the relevant military authorities. In accordance with Defence Forces Regulations, a Court of Inquiry was also established to investigate the incident....

Written Answers — Air Corps Recruitment: Air Corps Recruitment (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advised that in relation to the Air Corps in 2008 and 2009 there was no requirement to recruit Air Corps Cadets. This position is a function of the number of serving pilots, the number in training, the number of retirements and other anticipated departures. Question No. 46 answered with Question No. 18.

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

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with an Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Garda as required. Requests for aid to the civil power are normally made by a member of an Garda Síochána not below the rank of Inspector. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team respond when a request...

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

Willie O'Dea: A contract for the supply of 27 Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles to the Defence Forces was awarded to BAE Systems based in South Africa in December 2008. The contract followed on from a detailed tender competition, which was initiated in May 2008 and which concluded with the selection of the RG32M in November 2008. The tender competition has allowed for the option to acquire up to another...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Consideration of the recommendations arising from the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes, and the decisions on all of the issues arising will be a matter for the Government, including the recommendation that Departments be charged the full economic cost of the Ministerial Air Transport Service. It would not be appropriate for me to comment further...

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

Willie O'Dea: I amended the Defence Force Regulations to provide for Targeted Drug Testing (TDT) with effect from 11 March, 2009. Since the introduction of the amended regulatory procedures four members of the Defence Forces comprising two members of the PDF and two from the RDF have failed a Compulsory Random Drug Test. To date no members of the Defence Forces have failed a TDT. The Irish Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (8 Oct 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 do not get involved in the day to day running of its affairs. A range of issues relating to the governance, organisational structures, and...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 and Defence Force Regulations S6 provide for the establishment of representative associations for members of the Permanent Defence Force. Defence Force Regulations S7 provide for representation for members of the Reserve Defence Forces. A scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C & A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force was established in 1993 and...