Results 4,861-4,880 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Bomb Disposal Unit: Bomb Disposal Unit (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with an Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power (ATCP), respond when a request is made by an Garda Síochána, to the relevant Brigade, for assistance in dealing with a suspect device or for the removal of old ordnance. I have...

Written Answers — Social Welfare Benefits: Social Welfare Benefits (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Family Income Supplement (FIS) is a weekly tax-free payment available to married or unmarried employees with at least one child. It gives extra financial support to people on low pay. The circumstances surrounding an application for FIS and the payment of the supplement is a private matter between the applicant and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. My Department would not be...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The level of expenditure on Defence in any particular country is influenced by a variety of factors, including that country's political and security environment, its history, demography and economy. Gross expenditure under the Defence and Army Pensions Votes in 2009 was €1,019m. This represents 0.6% of estimated GDP for 2009 (as outlined in the Stability Programme Update of December 2009).

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Organisation is widely recognised as a model of public sector reform. The report of the Special Group on Public Sector Numbers and Expenditure Programmes clearly highlights the fact that the Defence Organisation was unique in the public sector, having downsized over the period from 2001. The downsizing arising from the White Paper on Defence (2000) and previous modernisation...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 117, 122 and 267 together. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. The recent Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended that the number of...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The Naval Service flotilla comprises of eight vessels - the three oldest of which are the L.E. Emer (commissioned in 1978), the L.E. Aoife (commissioned in 1979) and the L.E. Aisling (commissioned in 1980). There is a programme of continuous planned and preventative maintenance to ensure that all Naval Service vessels are kept in a seaworthy condition, and the Naval Service will only send...

Written Answers — Court of Inquiry Report: Court of Inquiry Report (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The General Officer Commanding 1 Southern Brigade received the report of the Court of Inquiry, in the latter part of 2009. On consideration of the Report, he sought clarification on some matters from the Court of Inquiry. He has now received the clarification sought and is currently reconsidering the Report. On completion of his reconsiderations, the report will be forwarded to the Deputy...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Resulting from the Government Decision regarding the reduction of public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, recruitment, promotions and acting up appointments in the Permanent Defence Forces were suspended. In June 2009, I made a submission to my colleague the Minister for Finance regarding the implications of the measures for the Permanent Defence...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have informed me that 2447 Reservists attended training camps in 2009. The number of personnel in each rank who attended training camps is presented in the following table. Lt Col Comdt Capt Lt Total Officers SM BQ CS CQ Sgt Cpl Total NCOs Pte Total 2 95 147 165 409 13 17 78 81 408 415 1,012 1,026 2,447 The figures refer to non-integrated personnel. The...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by the military authorities that a total of 804 personnel have left the Permanent Defence Force in the eighteen month period 1 July 2008 to 31 December 2009. This figure is comprised of 99 Officers, 312 Non-Commissioned Officers and 393 Other Ranks personnel. A breakdown according to rank and per month is provided in the tabular statement. I am keenly aware of the impact that...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (No. 2) Act 2009 provides for the reduction of public service salaries of up to €125,000 by: 5% on the first €30,000 of salary; 7.5% on the next €40,000 of salary; and 10% on the next €55,000 of salary. In addition, the Act provides for a 5% reduction in fixed rate allowances payable to such public servants While the REV (Revised...

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The mandate of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was to examine all current Exchequer spending across all Departments and agencies and to identify where expenditure and staff savings might be made. One of the savings measures identified for the Defence Vote in the Report of the Special Group was the discontinuation of the Army Equitation School. While some...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The All Party Oireachtas Consultation Group on the Centenary of the Rising met in Leinster House on Wednesday, 2 December, 2009. The Group were informed of recent developments and events, including:- (a) Commemorations at a. the General Post Office, Dublin on Easter Sunday, 12 April, 2009 b. the War Memorial Park, Islandbridge, 11 July, 2009 c. National Day of Commemoration, Kilmainham, 12...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (20 Jan 2010)

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 ten 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 into...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: My Department, in conjunction with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel, has commenced the process of drafting a Defence (Amendment) Bill to amend the provisions of Part V of the Defence Act 1954, primarily relating to offences against military law and extended provisions for arrests and detention. The requirement for the amendment to the Act arises from the recommendations of a Military...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Like all areas of the public service, the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces will contribute towards resolving the current challenges facing the country. The Defence Organisation will be required to operate on a reduced budget for 2010 as outlined in the Budget 2010 documentation. I am committed to maintaining the strength of the Defence Forces at a level of 10,000 across all...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: My Department provides five websites. The following table provides the information requested in relation to each of these websites: Site Name Unique Hits (2009) Cost (2009) Department of Defence defence.ie Unavailable â'¬27,340 Civil Defence civildefence.ie Unavailable Unavailable Office of Emergency Planning emergencyplanning.ie 55,817 â'¬14,220 Permanent Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy will be aware that the Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin-based civil service staff, together with a number of military personnel, to Newbridge, County Kildare, and for the decentralisation of the Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh. The new building at Newbridge is progressing well and is expected to be...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Staff: Defence Forces Staff (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by the Military Authorities that no dental hygienist is currently employed in the Defence Forces. However, it is intended to appoint a dental hygienist in the coming weeks. The overall structure of the dental service and the requirement for dental hygienists is being considered in the context of the restructuring of the Medical Service.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Staff: Defence Forces Staff (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The services of civilian medical practitioners, including on occasion retired Defence Force medical officers, are used in the delivery of medical services to the Defence Forces. I am advised by the Military Authorities that 12 former military medical officers - ten doctors and two dentists - provided medical services in 2009 at a cost of €538,532.