Results 1,381-1,400 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (21 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of Defence holds property in counties Laois and Offaly as follows: County Laois, Reserve Defence Forces premises, Portlaoise, comprising approximately 0.8 acres; County Offaly, site at Crinkill, Birr, comprising approximately 4.9 acres.

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (21 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, is the principal base of the Air Corps. No change in this regard is contemplated. Periodic interest by the private sector has been expressed during the past decade or so regarding the use of Casement Aerodrome for civil aviation purposes. The establishment of facilities for civil aviation purposes is primarily a matter for the Minister for Transport. Under the...

Written Answers — Departmental Documents: Departmental Documents (21 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The position remains as outlined in my reply of 7 March 2006 in that it is not intended to remove the material referred to in the earlier parliamentary question from the Department's website. The website will, however, be updated to reflect the court judgment regarding the report of the Judge Advocate General by placing a copy of the judgment and the related High Court order, dated 27 July...

Leaders' Questions. (22 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government Members are now allowed to speak.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (22 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I have not received any representations from nor have I had meetings with any representatives of the Open Republic Institute.

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There are no immediate plans to extend the retirement age of officers and other ranks in the Defence Forces. The White Paper on Defence 2000 and the earlier Defence Forces review implementation plan recommended a reduction in retirement ages in an effort to address the age profile and fitness of the Defence Forces. More recently, however, the retirement age for people recruited to the public...

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The statistics for retirement by commandants on age grounds, as opposed to voluntary retirement, show that 26 retired voluntarily in 2000, while only three had reached the age of retirement. In 2001, five retired on age grounds, with 29 retiring voluntarily. That is the trend. Many of the commandants are retiring voluntarily and are not compelled on reaching the stipulated age. In other...

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: We will keep the matter under review.

Overseas Missions. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Following a request from the United Nations, the EU is examining the provision of a supporting operation, under an EU flag, for MONUC, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Various options for the mission are being considered within the EU, which has indicated that it is positively disposed towards supporting MONUC. Fact-finding missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo and...

Overseas Missions. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will answer the Deputy's last question first. If Irish troops are committed, it is envisaged that the mission will last approximately four months. I appreciate the Deputy's comments regarding the security situation on the ground. The Deputy will appreciate that a heavy force is already in the Democratic Republic of Congo. MONUC consists of almost 17,000 appropriately armed troops. The...

Overseas Missions. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am delighted Deputy Sherlock takes that view because I also believe it is a vital mechanism and should be maintained. Deputy Gormley agrees, meaning there is virtual unanimity in the House that it should be so, and I assure him that every time Irish troops are committed abroad the requirements of the triple lock will be rigidly adhered to. The first element of the triple lock involves a...

Overseas Missions. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: All three elements of the triple lock apply when more than 12 troops are committed overseas. When there are less than 12, two elements apply and they have been applied in this case.

Defence Forces Deployment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda Síochána, which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations, the provision of certain...

Defence Forces Deployment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the incident to which Deputy Gormley refers. I do not have much detail on it but believe it was a minor incident. In such situations the Garda Síochána requests the assistance of the Army, which is entitled to go to the aid of the civil power, namely the Garda, when they are in need of assistance. The Garda made such a request in this case, as is normal when a Head of State,...

Defence Forces Deployment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I said the Army, including the Rangers.

Defence Forces Deployment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: It does.

Defence Forces Deployment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: It entails a number of elements. First, the medical fallout will be dealt with by the Department of Health and Children, which has an emergency public health plan to deal with such situations. The Army and the Garda Síochána have had specific training to deal with such an eventuality. It is impossible for me to guarantee we can successfully prevent a terrorist attack. Larger countries than...

Naval Service. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The role of the Defence Forces is set out in the White Paper on Defence. The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. Arising from the White Paper the primary role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a...

Naval Service. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I spoke to officials in my Department today about the replacement of the three ships. Arrangements are being put in place to effect this. We must decide if we are to replace like with like or introduce new ships. I do not know how many civil servants deal specifically with the Naval Service but most of them probably also deal with other issues. I will retrieve the information and revert to...

Naval Service. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I appreciate the confidence Deputy Timmins has in my ability to wrest extra responsibility from the Department of Foreign Affairs.