Results 121-140 of 5,329 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (22 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: To date 85 of the 100 houses at Orchard Park have been sold to the occupants. A contract of sale and deed of transfer have been executed in respect of another case. Two further houses are in the process of being sold by tender and it is expected that these sales will also be completed in 2005. The sales of the remaining 12 quarters to the occupants are being actively pursued.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (22 Feb 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Kildare County Council has advised that the roads, services etc. at Orchard Park will have to be brought up to the required standard before they will be taken in charge. It is hoped to undertake a programme of works later in the year to ensure the facilities at the estate are up to the standard required. In the interim a contractor is being engaged to carry out emergency repairs to the roads.

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 110, 111 and 123 together. As soon as the scale of the recent disaster in south-east Asia became clear, the Department of Foreign Affairs deployed a high level technical assessment team, which included a member of the Defence Forces, to examine the situation on the ground and identify what assistance Ireland should offer to the affected region. Arising...

Written Answers — United Nations Reform: United Nations Reform (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The comments attributed to me were made consequent to the publishing of the UN's Report of the High Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, which issued on 2 December 2004. I refer Deputies to the reply to Question No. 173 given by my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, to this House on 2 February. Briefly, the background is that the high level panel was established in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The focus with regard to new aircraft for the Air Corps this year is on the acquisition of helicopters. I previously informed the House that following a comprehensive tender competition, two contracts have now been signed for the provision of new helicopters for the Air Corps, at a total cost of over €61 million. Four utility AB 139 helicopters are being acquired from the Bell Agusta...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As outlined to the House on 26 January 2005, detailed consideration was being given to the most appropriate form of commemoration for those involved in the events in Jadotville and I am pleased to be in a position to report on the progress made since then. I have decided that a plaque will be situated in Athlone to commemorate the events at Jadotville and the very significant contribution of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 102 together. The Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. It continuously monitors the potential threats to the State arising from international terrorism in co-operation with the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces make contingency plans for a range of scenarios where...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 95 together. The Defence Forces contingent, which was deployed for service with the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, in December 2003, comprises a motorised infantry battalion of 428 personnel. A small number of additional personnel have been also deployed at force headquarters and as military observers. Irish personnel are rotated on a six...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 127, and 393 together. 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...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 101, 108, 125 and 378 together. On 26 July 2004 my predecessor the former Minister, Deputy Michael Smith, officially launched the Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan which is the start of a process that will radically change the structure and configuration of the reserve while preserving its traditional strengths. These include such things as...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 104 together. The Office of Public Works, which has responsibility for the provision of official accommodation for Government Departments, has issued tenders for the fit-out of the leased building in Roscrea, and it is hoped that a contract can be placed shortly. It is expected that this building will be available for occupation later this year. There...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 130 together. At the European Council at Helsinki in 1999, member states set themselves a headline goal, that is, that "by the year 2003, co-operating together and voluntarily, they will be able to deploy rapidly and then sustain forces capable of the full range of Petersberg Tasks as set out in the Amsterdam Treaty", that is, in short, humanitarian,...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97, 100 and 391 together. Ireland is currently contributing approximately 770 Defence Forces personnel to 22 different missions throughout the world, full details of which are listed in the following statement. The main commitments are to the United Nations mission in Liberia, UNMIL, with 434 personnel and to the NATO-led international security presence, KFOR,...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A decision to establish an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments, known as the European Defence Agency, EDA, was formally adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 12 July 2004. The overall aim of the agency is to support member states in their efforts to improve European defence...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 126 together. 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. The Government decision also provides for the transfer of 300 Defence Forces headquarters staff to the Curragh, County Kildare. A...

Written Answers — Military Police Investigations: Military Police Investigations (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military police investigation into the second alleged incident is still ongoing and therefore it would be inappropriate to comment on the matter.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The initial contract for 40 APCs with Mowag of Switzerland was valued at €51 million inclusive of VAT and saw deliveries completed by March 2002. The second contract for an additional 25 armoured personnel carriers was valued at some €33 million. Deliveries of all 25 took place in 2004. This gives the Defence Forces 65 Mowag APCs in total. Some 28 Mowag APCs are currently on operational...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 119 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. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into the...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As of today, 1 March 2005, I have not received the agenda for the forthcoming informal meeting of Defence Ministers, which will take place in Luxembourg on 18 and 19 of March next. However, indications are that the main issues for discussion will be the continued development of capabilities through the headline goal 2010, development of the rapid reaction elements concept, the fight against...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: In the White Paper on Defence, the Government decided that the Naval Service will be developed around the provision of an eight ship flotilla. In recent years, two new ships have been delivered to the Naval Service and the service is operating with the recommended eight ships. LE Roisin was commissioned in December 1999 and her sister ship, LE Niamh, which replaced LE Deirdre, was...