Results 1,481-1,500 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (25 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I assume the Deputy is referring to the airspace change proposal submitted to the Irish Aviation Authority by Weston Airport Limited in 2005, which includes the use of instrument navigation aids to assist the arrival and departure of aircraft in accordance with instrument flight rules. Use of these landing aids would result in flight paths which would penetrate military airspace. The Irish...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (25 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The person referred to initiated legal proceedings in this matter in 1997. I cannot comment in regard to any substantive issues in this case. The person would be best advised to consult his legal representatives regarding the status of his claim.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (25 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The number of applications received for positions in the Permanent Defence Force in 2005 was 2,472. Of this figure 1,125 were for general service enlistment, 296 for the apprenticeships competitions, 1,004 for the cadetship competition and a further 47 were for direct entry specialist competitions. In 2005 a total number of 479 successful applicants took up positions in the Permanent Defence...

Written Answers — Medical Services: Medical Services (25 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 937 to 939, inclusive, together. The Medical Corps is a combat support service corps of the Defence Forces. The core objective of the Medical Corps is to maximise the medical readiness of the Defence Forces for operational activities and to provide field medical support to brigade structured Defence Forces. The mission of the Medical Corps is to ensure and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (25 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 940 to 943, inclusive, together. The Office of the Deputy Judge Advocate General has been disestablished since October 2004 and replaced by two independent offices, namely, the Office of the Director of the Defence Forces Legal Service and Director of Military Prosecutions, and the Office of the Judge Advocate. The Office of the Director of the Legal Service...

Written Answers — Environmental Assessments: Environmental Assessments (3 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Plans and Programmes undertaken to date in my Department have not necessitated Strategic Environmental Assessments as per the European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004. Future Plans and Programmes will be assessed on an ongoing basis to ensure compliance with the Regulations where necessary.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: My Department does not make Irish national daily newspapers available for staff on-line. The cost of purchases of daily newspapers in 2005 amounted to €9,332.73.

Written Answers — Tribunals of Inquiry: Tribunals of Inquiry (4 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I assume the Deputy's question relates to my official position as Minister for Defence. My Department has not received any notification of a decision by the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters pursuant to paragraph J(2) of its amended terms of reference. I have no official role in relation to any such notifications that may have been issued to individuals on a personal basis....

Written Answers — Departmental Committees: Departmental Committees (4 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Chairman of my Department's Audit Committee is Mr. Brian McDonnell, former Chief Executive of the Irish Aviation Authority. The second external member is Mr. John Blyth, retired Professional Accountant. The other members are the Department's two Assistant Secretaries and Head of Corporate Services; and the Defence Forces' Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) and Director of Administration.

Departmental Staff. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advise that the staff strength of the military archives is three, comprising a commissioned officer, a non-commissioned officer and a private. Two further commissioned officers serving at the military archives retired recently and approval has been granted for their replacement. The military authorities advise me that a strength of five, including suitably qualified...

Departmental Staff. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will have a bigger job then.

Departmental Staff. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am very happy, but one can always do more.

Departmental Staff. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The supplementary question asked by the Deputy about relocation is the subject of Question No. 65, which we will deal with later. I agree that a staff of three is inadequate. The view of the Chief of Staff, who is responsible for the section, is that a staff of five is necessary. Two people retired last October and I have given the authority the go-ahead to have them replaced. Sometimes if...

Overseas Missions. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I undertook during Priority Questions on Thursday, 23 February 2006 to ask the military authorities to revisit this matter in light of the questions raised on that date. The Chief of Staff has appointed a senior officer to examine all aspects of the Niemba ambush in the Congo in November 1960. So far contact has been made with both survivors. One has been interviewed and the other is...

Overseas Missions. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I welcome Deputy Costello to this portfolio. I worked with him when I was a Minister of State in the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and he was spokesperson on justice for the Labour Party. He did an excellent job in that portfolio and was a very effective spokesperson on justice. I am aware of the Deputy's long-standing interest in this matter. The question raised on 23...

Overseas Missions. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The 30-year rule applies to some of the material retained by the military. I will check the files to which that rule applies. I do not know whether it applies to all of the data concerned, but I will check it out.

Overseas Missions. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will have to check it out first.

Defence Forces Property. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Aviation Authority, under the aegis of the Department of Transport, is responsible for the safety regulation of Irish airspace. The IAA is responsible for regulating all matters relating to Irish civil airspace, operators, aerodromes, airports, pilots and air traffic services therein. An airspace change proposal was submitted to the IAA by Weston Limited in 2005 that includes the...

Defence Forces Property. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Formal discussions between my Department and Weston Limited have taken place over the past two years but it was not until last October that a formal group was established to consider this specific proposal and the Air Corps have only participated in the process since January. As regards the proposals currently before the Irish Aviation Authority, the authority will make the ultimate decision...

Overseas Missions. (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland has participated in UNMIL since December 2003, following a decision of the Government on 24 June 2003 and the subsequent approval by Dáil Éireann of the necessary enabling motion. Since then, the UN Security Council has authorised the continuation of UNMIL for successive periods and the Government has approved continued Irish participation. Ireland, together with an infantry company...