Results 7,641-7,660 of 12,593 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Defence Force Regulations have always allowed for the recruitment of foreign-nationals to the Defence Forces. Non-Irish Nationals have been and are currently employed in the Permanent Defence Force, but this has mainly been in certain specialised areas. Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the Cadetship Competition, Apprenticeship Competition, General Service Enlistment or...

Written Answers — Air Corps Recruitment: Air Corps Recruitment (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: As I have already stated in the House within the available resources, I am committed to maintaining the strength of the Defence Forces at a level of 10,000 all ranks, for which I have secured Government approval in the context of Budget 2010. This reflects the reductions in personnel recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes. I am...

Written Answers — Ministerial Orders: Ministerial Orders (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The setting of fees or charges by way of Ministerial Order does not arise in the context of the business carried out by my Department.

Written Answers — Ministerial Orders: Ministerial Orders (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Information relating to charges levied by my Department is set out as follows. Financial institutions are charged for the costs incurred by the Defence Forces for the provision of cash escorts. The cost includes pay and allowances, subsistence and the cost of transport and aerial surveillance charged on an actual time usage basis. Costs in respect of each 12 month period to end-December,...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard. In the context of settling the Estimates for my Department for 2010, the Government decided that the national sail training scheme operated by Coiste an Asgard would be discontinued as recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and...

Personal Explanation by Minister (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I thank the Acting Chairman for his indulgence in accommodating me. I wish to give the House a brief explanation in response to the unfounded allegations made against me in recent days. On 21 December, a defamation action taken against me by a Sinn Féin councillor in Limerick city, Maurice Quinlivan, was mutually agreed and settled in the High Court. The case followed from remarks I had...

Personal Explanation by Minister (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I have openly and fully acknowledged that my recollection of some of what I said in the interview as described in my original affidavit was mistaken. I corrected the mistake when I realised it. I admitted the mistake and apologised for it.

Personal Explanation by Minister (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I agreed a settlement in which, as I have already outlined, the other party fully accepted that there was no intention to mislead on my part. The matter was a personal one between me and a Sinn Féin representative in Limerick. It did not pertain to my responsibilities as a Minister or to Government policies in any shape, way or form. It was born out of heated political exchanges between me...

Personal Explanation by Minister (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I was not, as asserted, found out by the production of a tape recording of my interview as if the interview had been surreptitiously recorded.

Personal Explanation by Minister (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I knew the interview was being recorded.

Personal Explanation by Minister (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I did not have a transcript of the interview when I made my statement but as I had seen the report of it in the newspaper, I felt sure a transcript of that tape recording would vindicate my recollection. I was wrong. I have never denied saying what was reported in the newspaper. I knew I had made the remarks reported in the paper but I did not recollect going beyond them. My mistake...

Personal Explanation by Minister (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I took the initiative. I went to my solicitor and immediately corrected my affidavit. I was not forced or pressed to do this. I did so of my own volition because I became aware that my original affidavit was wrong. I openly acknowledged and apologised for my mistake and agreed a settlement in which the other party accepted that there was no intention to mislead. What has happened in this...

Personal Explanation by Minister (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: -----about an interview I gave, knowing that the newspaper and journalist had a tape recording of the interview? The settlement we mutually agreed was brought before the High Court on 21 December and was read out in full before the open court. The judge was satisfied that the settlement laid before the court resolved the matter and that as there were no outstanding issues, the proceedings...

Order of Business (16 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Some chance of that.

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (10 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: In the context of settling the Estimates for my Department for 2010, the Government decided that the national sail training scheme operated by Coiste an Asgard would be discontinued as recommended in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure. As a result of that decision, the sum of €3.8m representing the insured value of Asgard 11 has been transferred to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (10 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The property in question is surplus to military requirements and my Department is in the process of disposing of its interest in the property to the stakeholders on site. A dispute has arisen with one such stakeholder that may take some time to resolve and as a result the disposal of all the sites has been delayed. However, my Department will continue to work to bring the matter to an...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (10 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Family Income Supplement (FIS) is a weekly tax-free payment available to married or unmarried employees with at least one child. It gives extra financial support to people on low pay. The circumstances surrounding an application for FIS and the payment of the supplement is a private matter between the applicant and the Department of Social and Family Affairs. My Department would not be...

Written Answers — Departmental Procurement: Departmental Procurement (9 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 and 556 together. Details of all contracts in excess of €10 million in value awarded by my Department in the period 2000 to date are set out below. Year Name of Company Project Contract value, inclusive of VAT. 2000 Appledore Shipbuilders Ltd., UK Purchase of new Naval Service Ship - LE Niamh. €25m 2002 Mowag GmbH, Switzerland. Purchase of...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (9 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought is set out below. 1. Magnum Opus is currently working for my Department providing project support services for the National Emergency Coordination Centre which is managed by the Office of Emergency Planning. 2. FGC Consulting was engaged by my Department to undertake a Value for Money Review of Military Training Lands. The draft report is currently being finalised and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (9 Feb 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The Curragh Place of Detention was used by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform for civilian purposes from 1996 to 2003. The facility was returned to the Department of Defence in 2008. While it has been available as a military detention facility since November 2009, no military prisoner has been detained in the facility to date.