Results 1,881-1,900 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces Property. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: To answer the first of Deputy Costello's questions, no agreement has been entered into by, or on behalf of, the Department with any third party. The matter was subject of an application to the local authority for planning permission and that permission, subject to conditions, was granted some time ago. One of the conditions stipulated that the development must be carried out solely within...

Defence Forces Property. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The military has informed me that the current accommodation is quite suitable. Refurbishment works have been carried out in the RDF facilities in Thurles this year. As a result of the modernisation, the facilities now include offices, a lecture room and a reception area. It is intended to provide modern office furniture, floor covering and IT facilities in 2007.

Defence Forces Property. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: It is going pretty well and we are on target. It is currently under review and we have not had too many complaints. However, when involved in a process such as this, one will inevitably get some complaints. We are doing our best to meet any complaints that arise.

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 12, 41, 46, 57, 59, 177 and 178 together. I have on many occasions in the House set out the background to EU battle groups, the development of which is strongly endorsed by the United Nations, and Ireland's position on them. Following the Government decision agreeing to Ireland entering into discussions with like-minded nations on a possible contribution...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Ó Snodaigh referred to the speech by the general secretary of PDFORRA. I am very familiar with the speech; I listened to it as it was delivered and, along with everybody else in the hall, applauded enthusiastically when it ended. It was a very good speech. Regarding compulsory deployment, the general position has been that when the Army wants people to take part in an overseas...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: People who volunteer will not be deployed in that case. If we were short a vital member of staff such as an explosives expert, engineer or medic we would not be able to deploy them. We would have to go without them if we did not get somebody to volunteer. I am sure the ordinary troops and those specialists will volunteer but it is a residual right of the Government. We are signed up to be...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: That is not possible. The Attorney General has advised that no foreign troops bearing arms under foreign command are entitled to be on Irish soil.

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Those troops are passing through. The situation postulated will not come to pass. The deployment of the assembly will be within the framework nation and everything will happen quickly after that.

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 65 together. I am keen to increase the number of women applying to join our Defence Forces. To facilitate this, with effect from 1 September 2006, I reduced the minimum height requirement for entry into both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force from 162.56 cm, 5'4", to 157.48 cm, 5'2". This change, which applies to both males and...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Ministers always say this when they do not want to answer a question but I am glad Deputy Timmins asked me that question.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No, I want to enlighten Deputy Timmins. The research will be available in eight weeks' time. Regarding the second question, the Department wrote to a list of organisations and I was disappointed with the response. The only group to respond with concrete proposals was, believe it or not, the ICA.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Other groups wished us well and thought it was a good idea. The Department also invited submissions from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, and have not had a response from either.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: We sought proposals in the middle of last year. Most groups, apart from PDFORRA and RACO, responded but the responses did not advance the cause. A response that congratulates us on the idea is very different from one with concrete suggestions. I propose to issue a tabular statement on the number of women working in the Defence Forces. The latest figures available show 9,837 males in the...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The number of females applying has increased. Some 5% to 6% of the Army is female, but last year 9.5% of applicants were female and 10.5% of recruits were female. The number recruited is proportionate to the number applying. We are trying to increase the number of females applying by increasing the pool from 60% to 90% and by carrying out research to determine what other measures must be...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I do not see any objection to that and will discuss it with my officials. I intended to commission research in any case and had sought Government approval for it. The responses provided no new ideas and this disappointed me, in view of the range of organisations contacted.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I look forward to discovering the results of the research. I wrote to the organisations and asked for their suggestions on how to attract more women into the Defence Forces. The research will go deeper than this aspect. Women who have served in the Defence Forces will be interviewed about their experience of life there and women who have not served in the Defence Forces will be interviewed...

Bullying in the Workplace. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I assure the Deputy that any allegations of bullying and harassment in the Defence Forces are treated with the utmost seriousness. There are extensive processes in place to protect the rights of Defence Forces personnel, including PDFORRA officials. These procedures give robust protection and I urge PDFORRA officials to avail of them if they feel there are issues to be resolved. As I have...

Bullying in the Workplace. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As Deputy Ó Snodaigh rightly acknowledged, the situation was examined by Dr. Doyle in 2002. She discovered a number of difficulties in respect of people making complaints about bullying. She made a number of recommendations, which were implemented, as outlined, in 2004. The situation is being kept under review because the Chief of Staff has a very personal interest and takes a hands-on...