Results 761-780 of 12,629 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Defence Forces personnel have been serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, since 1964. To date, military personnel have completed a total of 9,656 individual tours of duty with the mission. One officer of the Permanent Defence Force is serving with UNFICYP. He is due to complete his tour of duty with the mission on 31 May 2005. I am advised by the military...

Written Answers — Departmental Charges: Departmental Charges (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A review of all charges and fees levied by my Department has been carried out and I am satisfied that there is an adequate legal basis for all such charges and fees.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Clancy Barracks, Dublin. The sale of 97 acres approximately at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, was completed in 2003 for a total of €42 million. The bulk of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together. The unsatisfactory age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force was commented upon by the Gleeson Commission in its report in 1990. The matter had also been of serious concern to the military authorities for a number of years. The age profile was also the subject of severe criticism by PricewaterhouseCoopers consultants, who had...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare, and Clancy Barracks, Dublin. The sale of 97 acres approximately at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, was completed in 2003 for a total of €42 million. The bulk of...

Written Answers — Security Resources: Security Resources (18 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate, for reasons of security, for me to comment on the exact nature of the deployment to Shannon Airport on 10 May 2005. However, it is estimated that the overall cost to the Defence Forces was approximately €28,000.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: To date, a total of 15 schools have been granted permission to use the Curragh swimming pool. Additional applications to use the facility have been received in respect of a further eight schools and a total of nine swimming clubs. It is intended to expand the use of the pool as soon as possible and it is hoped to facilitate those applications at that stage.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have been unable to furnish the information sought by the Deputy in the time provided. As soon as the information is available I will forward same to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin based Civil Service staff to Newbridge, County Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. A total of 385 personnel, of whom 78 are currently serving in the Department, have declared an interest in relocating to Newbridge. The Office of Public Works is currently in discussions...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Facilities: Defence Forces Facilities (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There has been an unprecedented level of expenditure on infrastructure and equipment for the Defence Forces in recent years. This was made possible by the Government's decision that pay savings arising from the reorganisation of the Defence Forces set out in the White Paper of 2000, along with proceeds from the sale of surplus properties, would be reallocated for investment in modern...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of 300 Defence Forces headquarters staff to the Curragh, County Kildare. A site for the Defence Force's headquarters at the Curragh has been selected and preliminary planning in connection with the design of the building has commenced. It is envisaged that the relocation will take place in 2007.

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (24 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Castlebar military barracks is primarily a reserve Defence Force facility and provides training facilities, office accommodation and storage facilities for Permanent Defence Force cadre and unit personnel of units stationed in the barracks. I have no plans to change the current position, as previously outlined. On 26 July 2004 my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith, officially launched the...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (25 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The steering board of the European Defence Agency held its third meeting in Brussels on 2 March 2005. The steering board is the principal decision making body of the agency, on which the 24 participating member states are represented. Denmark is not a member. The meeting, in the formation of national armaments directors, NADs, was chaired on behalf of Javier Solana by Eero Lavonen, the...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: At this time, I have no plans to bring forward legislation regarding overseas training. When I last spoke in the House on this matter I stated that, to reach the requisite level of interoperability, and taking account of the short timeframes envisaged for the deployment of the EU's rapid reaction elements, it seemed to me that the various forces and elements comprising a battle group would...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy is right about our very long and proud record of service to the United Nations, and I emphasise that it will continue. The battle group concept is that a relatively small force should go in very quickly to stabilise a situation. Later, there would be ordinary UN involvement, and we will of course continue to play a role in that. The Deputy said the concept of the battle groups had...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: On 27 April 1981, an observation post in South Lebanon manned by two members of the Irish battalion serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, Private Hugh Doherty and Private Kevin Joyce — Seoighe — came under attack. Private Doherty was later found dead from gunshot wounds, and Private Seoighe was missing. Some equipment was also missing. The attackers are...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the delegation and will of course ask it to raise the matter with the Palestinian authorities. That said, the Minister for Foreign Affairs raised the matter with the Palestinian authorities quite recently, without any positive conclusion. In a "Léargas" programme, broadcast on RTE on 25 April 2005, Brigadier General Sultan Al Anien indicated that he knew of the burial site of...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I accept that completely. We will continue with our efforts. We had communication from members of the Joyce family in light of current events. That communication is confidential and I do not wish to go into it here. I am arranging for the chief of staff to speak to the family and all our efforts will continue on this matter as the family deserves closure.

Defence Forces Property. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has written to the Irish Aviation Authority to express concerns about possible developments at Weston Aerodrome. The Irish Aviation Authority has not received an airspace change proposal for Weston Aerodrome. If and when the authority receives such a proposal, my Department will be consulted and the matter will be addressed in light of potential implications for the safety and...

Defence Forces Property. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy has some very interesting information and I would appreciate if she would furnish me with copies of the documentation in her possession. The ultimate control of those using airspace or extending an aerodrome rests with the Irish Aviation Authority. This is supposed to be done legally. If someone wishes to extend an aerodrome, he or she must submit an airspace change proposal to the...