Results 6,401-6,420 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: A three brigade structure was retained from the 1990s onward, when there were 11,500 full-time Defence Force personnel. This structure was also retained on foot of the White Paper on Defence published in 2000, which reduced the strength of the Permanent Defence Force to 10,500. It is no longer viable to retain the structure. Some 1,772 Army personnel - 24% of its total strength - have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Reorganisation (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The indicator for all of this is the situation in which we find ourselves nationally as a result of the mismanagement of the State's finances by the Government of which the Deputy's party was a part. The figures I supplied earlier relate to 2010, when Fianna Fáil was in power. At that time, the then Government reduced the proportion of GDP spent in this area. There are no figures...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Accident Investigations (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I wish first to extend my sympathies to the families of the deceased. There have been three separate reports into this tragic accident. The air accident investigation unit of the Department of Transport conducted an inquiry and published its report on 24 January 2012. It found that the probable cause of the accident was spatial disorientation of the instructor-pilot in conditions of poor...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Accident Investigations (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I again offer my deepest sympathies to the families of Cadet Jevens and Captain Furniss in respect of this awful tragedy. I reiterate that the Minister for Defence, Deputy Shatter, has arranged for all of the relevant issues that were raised to be forwarded to the Attorney General for advice. The Minister is available to meet the families of the deceased at any time. In the context of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Air Accident Investigations (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I accept the points Deputy Higgins has made and I will ensure they are brought to the attention of the Minister, Deputy Shatter. All of the issues raised up to now, and I am not familiar with all of them, have been addressed in the context of being sent for legal advice but if there are any other submissions the Deputy or the families wish to make, I have no doubt that on receipt of them the...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, 18 and 21 together. On 26 February 2013, the Government approved the deployment of approximately eight members of the Permanent Defence Force to the EU training mission in Mali, which has been authorised by the United Nations under UN Security Council Resolution 2071 (2012), to provide military training to the Malian armed forces. The...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I reiterate that we are in the country on a United Nations mission. The personnel will not be involved in combat operations. The mission will consist of 250 instructors and approximately 200 additional military personnel to provide support and security. The role of personnel deployed to the mission will be to provide military training to the armed forces, as well as training and advice on...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: The key issue is that this country is in serious strife. There has been a coup d'état and human rights abuses on both sides. We have a United Nations resolution that we should try to help resolve that matter. We have a commitment from the existing Government in Mali to have free and fair elections. It is worthwhile being involved in that, and I am proud of Ireland's involvement in...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: There is no meeting of minds here. The strong view of the Government is that this is an international peace mission. It is creating peace and free and fair elections. It is concentrated on ensuring there is a democratic government in that country and that all minorities are included in whatever government is elected. That is our job and I am very proud of it. I cannot accept that Deputy...

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Speakers have brought up Libya. It is clear to everybody that Colonel Gadaffi's government supported the Lockerbie bombers. We know what abuses happened there.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: It cannot legitimately be argued that bringing a country to peace and democracy is not a good thing.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: One cannot support the type of regime operated by Colonel Gadaffi and people like him and the crimes they commit.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I am saying that Colonel Gadaffi-----

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Let us be clear.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Let us be very clear, Deputy. You brought up Colonel Gadaffi, I did not.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: Libya with Colonel Gadaffi. The facts are that the IRA semtex explosives came from Colonel Gadaffi.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: You and people belonging to you know all about that.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: And that is it.

Other Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: You are outrageous.

Other Questions: Army Equitation School (14 Mar 2013)

Fergus O'Dowd: I propose to take Questions Nos 9, 14 and 33 together. I confirm that no member of the Army Equitation School is paid in excess of €80,000 per annum. The costs associated with running the school since 2006, including the cost of its participation at international events, are set out in the following tabular statement. The cost of running the school in 2012 was €2.2 million....