Results 4,681-4,700 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The cost, in 2008, of heating the Department's offices in Dublin, Galway and Roscrea amounted to about €88,500. The cost of heating the various military barracks and premises throughout the country amounted to €3,500,000.

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (2 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: 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 control and manage the affairs of the Society. Membership...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (3 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government's White Paper on Defence sets out the role the Defence Forces might play in the provision of support and services to other public agencies and the community in general. The Defence Forces can provide assistance in the maintenance of essential services during natural disasters and in major accidents and emergencies. The level of support that can be provided by the Defence...

Estimates for Public Services 2009 (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I move the following Supplementary Estimates:

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Final Dáil approval is being sought for a series of Supplementary Estimates proposing net additional voted expenditure of €291.207 million in 2009. Nine of these Estimates were originally introduced into the House on 25 November. A subsequent technical Supplementary Estimate for the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs was moved on 1 December. All of these...

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I thank all Members who contributed. Deputy O'Donnell referred to Vote 30 and the repayments to RTE. The Deputy will note that it is only a technical Supplementary Estimate. This means there is no increased provision for the Department; it is being done with savings within the Department. I take the point about nine years being a long time for reconciliation.

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I understand the amount was being continually disputed. Perhaps there is a more rational explanation but it does not require an increased allocation for the Department.

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I take that point; it involves money that could be spent in other areas. On the Garda Síochána, 258 retired in 2008 so we expected around 400 retirements this year. Unfortunately, the figure has reached 800. It is important to retain people who have knowledge but Garda promotions are still taking place and senior posts are being sanctioned and filled. My colleague, the Minister for...

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: My advice is that the Government proposes to maintain the size of the force as it currently is; it will not be increasing.

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The same thing applies to the Army.

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I will find out and let the Deputy know.

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: If the Deputy knows the answer, why is she asking the question?

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In the face of this whining and whingeing, these bean sí interventions, I am trying to answer.

Vote 41 - Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs (Supplementary) (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On asylum seekers, it is taking longer to move people. They are exercising their right to seek a judicial review. The numbers have not increased but those who are there are spending longer in accommodation while pursuing their legal rights. Deputy O'Donnell said the temporary employment subsidy scheme is very restrictive and I agree. There are two factors - the scheme must be flexible...

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

Willie O'Dea: The position is that potential candidates for positions in the Defence Forces are required to complete and sign a Garda Vetting Application Form. This form pursuant to Section 8 of the Data Protection Act, 1988, authorises the Garda Síochána to furnish to the Defence Forces either, a statement that there are no convictions recorded against a candidate, or a statement of convictions, as the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (8 Dec 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 Force 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 Permanent...

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

Willie O'Dea: The number of staff in my Department who received financial assistance to pursue courses in further or higher education in each of the past five years is detailed in the following table: Academic Year Number of Staff 2004/2005 17 2005/2006 14 2006/2007 10 2007/2008 8 2008/2009 12 The Performance Management and Development System (PMDS) provides a framework within which the training and...

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

Willie O'Dea: Following on from Ireland's participation in the EU-led mission to Chad, the mandate of which expired on 14 March 2009, Ireland's initial commitment to the follow-on United Nations Mission in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic (MINURCAT) is for a period of 1 year to 14 March 2010. The additional annual costs to the Defence Vote arising from participation in the MINURCAT...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: 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. As the Society is an independent, self-governing charitable institution, I have no responsibility for the day-to-day running of the organisation. Therefore, I have no involvement in the matters raised by the Deputy. However, as we are all aware, many...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (8 Dec 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As you are aware, 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 Central Council of the Society (as provided for in the Order) controls and manages the affairs of the organisation. Therefore, I have no responsibility for the day to day running of the Society. The Society has vast experience...