Results 1,641-1,660 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I do not know exactly when they became aware of it. I will check and communicate with the Deputy.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As Deputies will be aware, I established an interdepartmental group comprising representatives of the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General to examine all issues relating to Ireland's potential participation in an EU-led rapid response capability force. As part of its study, the...

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The advice of the Attorney General is that there is no reference to this sort of matter in the legislation. Successive Governments have presumed they are entitled to send people on ceremonial duty for seminars, sports events etc. when they are not part of a United Nations force. The defence legislation only refers specifically to circumstances in which troops are to be sent abroad as part of...

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Attorney General has stated he is almost certain the personnel are serving legally.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: To be doubly sure, we are including the necessary provision so nobody will ever have the slightest doubt about the matter in the future.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Yes.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The KFOR mission and those I discussed with Deputy Costello are part of international United Nations missions, either established or authorised. They are international peacekeeping missions.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I refer to individuals, for example, those in our permanent representation to the EU or the two military personnel serving in the Programme for Peace liaison office in Brussels. These are individuals whereas Deputy Costello's question referred to international peace-support groups.

Hearing Impairment Claims. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: A total of 16,760 claims have been received in my Department from current and former members of the Defence Forces in respect of loss of hearing allegedly caused during their military service. Of the claims, 15,605 have been disposed of, leaving a total of 1,155 outstanding. Some €280.9 million has been paid in respect of hearing loss claims, including €95 million in plaintiffs' legal...

Hearing Impairment Claims. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy Costello that it is a fairly hefty percentage but these were party and party fees. In other words, if the costs were granted against the defendant, he would have been obliged by the Taxing Master to pay them if he was unhappy with the amount. These fees were barely sufficient to enable the plaintiff pursue his legal claim. The 145 complaints are from people whose fees were...

Hearing Impairment Claims. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: To answer the Deputy's first question, our Department provided for medical expenses, including audiologists' reports etc. but——

Hearing Impairment Claims. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Yes but, generally speaking, in a case like that it would only provide for one medical witness or one audiologist's report. In some cases more than one had to be procured to establish the case. That is the difference between party and party costs and solicitor and client costs. Regarding the 1994 Act, I have checked the Act and, unfortunately, whether by oversight or whatever, it does contain...

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The United Nations Security Council Resolution 1671 of 25 April 2006 authorised the EU to deploy a European Union Force, codenamed EUFOR RD Congo, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, DRC, in support of MONUC during the electoral period in the Democratic Republic of Congo for a period ending four months after the date of the first round of the presidential and parliamentary elections there....

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As I indicated to Deputy Costello in reply to an earlier question, the Attorney General's advice was given at a time before I came into the Department, because this matter had happened before that. Nevertheless, I have to accept the advice of the Attorney General. The Government acts on the advice of the Attorney General whenever troops are being deployed abroad. When we are deploying troops...

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Not really, because the legislation covers other matters as well.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The legislation has to cover other matters as well. I should be glad to debate the legislation with Deputy Gormley at any time.

Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am acting on the Attorney General's advice, which is that we are within the terms of the legislation. If Deputy Costello has a different opinion, he is entitled to it, but the person who advises me, as the Minister for Defence, is the Attorney General.

Defence Forces Awards. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I take this opportunity to once again acknowledge the supreme sacrifice of the Air Corps personnel who so tragically lost their lives in the Tramore helicopter crash and to extend my renewed sympathy to their families, friends and also their colleagues in the Air Corps. We all recognise and appreciate the nature of the tragic loss occasioned by their deaths. I also fully understand that the...

Defence Forces Awards. (22 Jun 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Ó Snodaigh makes a very valid point as regards the time. The four-year period should not include the time during which an inquiry is taking place. I shall certainly examine that. It is even more relevant as regards the other type of medal, for gallantry, because there is only a two-year timespan there. As the Deputy has rightly said, these inquiries can take a long time. That is a...