Results 4,601-4,620 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces Recruitment. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by the Chief of Staff and the Army command that the Army remains fit for purpose for whatever duties might be assigned to it either at home or abroad.

Defence Forces Equipment. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with the Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the gardaí as required in a range of duties, which include the provision of troops for cash escorts, prison escorts and the provision of military guards at a number of vital installations. As part of the aid...

Defence Forces Equipment. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Army has two roles domestically - aid to the civil power, which we have been discussing, and aid to the civil authority, which means the Army can be called in in the event of an emergency. The emergency planning committee meets approximately once every month or six weeks; a meeting is due to take place in the next week or so. The last meeting was three or four weeks ago. There are...

Defence Forces Equipment. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I do not immediately see a role for the Army next Tuesday but we have looked at that. Arrangements are in place whereby the Army can be called upon if needed. There are well-known lines of authority in that regard and long-standing arrangements which can be put in place.

Overseas Missions. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I can assure the Deputy and the House that I am fully aware of the audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General into the leasing of helicopters by the Defence Forces for Chad and I am advised that the findings of the report have been accepted in full by my Department. The findings outlined by the Comptroller and Auditor General are broadly in line with the findings of the...

Overseas Missions. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Deenihan asked the reason only one company was approached and the normal tendering process not undergone. As I was not personally involved in this, nor were the civilian staff in my Department - this was done by the military - I can only try to guess what happened. To put the matter in context, we were going into a position which, for reasons I have outlined in my reply, air support...

Overseas Missions. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am almost fully certain that the limit has been raised to €1 million.

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 charted an ambitious modernisation agenda for the defence organisation. The White Paper built upon previous reforms, including those introduced in the Defence Forces review implementation plan. The downsizing of the Permanent Defence Force from 11,500 to 10,500, arising from the implementation of the White Paper, allowed for the re-balancing of the pay to...

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: If the Chair admires Deputy Deenihan's ingenuity, I am in awe of it. We must, however, clear up what we are talking about. The Office of Emergency Planning is a permanent office in the Department. Deputy Deenihan is referring to the task force on emergency planning.

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It does not, I chair the task force. The Office of Emergency Planning services the task force. That office is always there. I will get the information on the number of times the task force has met this year.

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It is a permanent office staffed by civil servants. The task force comprises meetings of representatives from the different Departments with the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the emergency services. It has met several times this year, I will get the exact number for the Deputy. The Office of Emergency Planning is well aware of the situation that might pertain next Tuesday. There...

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I would have to guess how many people would leave the Army between now and 31 December, I do not know. We are getting near the 10,000 level. Even the McCarthy report recommends a minimum of 10,000 to be achieved over a two or three year time scale but we are already there. I would like not the Army to drop under 10,000. That is why I have asked for permission to recruit extra personnel....

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No such matter has been brought to my attention, but I am aware there are a number of difficulties due to the fact that people acting above their rank are not being recognised as such. I have addressed this matter out in some 42 cases in relation to the Chad mission and 20 cases with regard to the Kosovo mission, where people are actually in the field. I am also trying to address this...

Army Barracks. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose taking Questions Nos. 7 and 11 together. The closure of barracks and the consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training. It also imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on...

Army Barracks. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: With regard to individual firms, I believe the security contracts were put out to tender, but I do not know the names of the firms who tendered. However, I will get them for the Deputy. On the question of anti-social behaviour, I have received complaints regarding McKee Barracks, but there is a separate question on that which we shall come to shortly. In relation to community groups I have...

Army Barracks. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: That is a fair point. With regard to the Deputy's first question about the barracks that are being sold to other State agencies, VECs, etc., the procedure will be to have valuers employed by the Department to give a proper valuation on these properties. That is the price we charge, essentially. On the question of whether there is any great indication at the moment re St. Bricin's or other...

Army Barracks. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I wish to make it clear to the House that it did not emanate from me. My view on barracks closures is that the Government is committed to the idea of collective training and obviously, the fewer units one has, the more people will be trained collectively. I acknowledge there has been much difficulty and angst on foot of the recent barracks closures. My approach is to let things settle...

Commemorative Events. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The State ceremonies in which the Defence Forces have participated in the current year to date include the Easter Sunday commemorative event, the 1916 Arbour Hill commemoration ceremony, the national day of commemoration, the national Famine memorial day, presentation of credentials to the President, state visits by prime ministers and foreign Heads of State and state visits by the President,...

Commemorative Events. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I do not envisage an extension or expansion of such activities at present. However, I do not envisage any reduction either. As for 1916, Deputy Deenihan is aware the Government is planning for the centenary. It is a slow process and the next meeting of the long-term planning committee will be held on 2 December. As the Deputy is aware, 1916 is now commemorated on an annual basis. This is...

Commemorative Events. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I have had representations from many parts of the country regarding participation in St. Patrick's Day parades and I have asked the Army to be as generous as possible. In addition to taking part in the aforementioned official events, the Army also takes part in many civic events such as shows, aerial displays etc., as well as sometimes providing tents for organisations that are holding...