Results 7,781-7,800 of 12,593 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I congratulate Deputy O'Shea on his ingenuity in seeking a further response to a question he raised earlier.

Overseas Missions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: A helpful Chair is essential. I have already given the Deputy a concession in arranging for my officials to meet the people concerned and we will see if anything arises from that meeting.

Overseas Missions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: They are more than welcome.

Overseas Missions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Two concessions in one Question Time is not bad.

Overseas Missions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: In regard to Chad, I have no information that the situation has changed in any material way. There is ongoing low level criminal activity in camps but it is at nothing like the level that obtained prior to the arrival of the United Nations. We must consider a number of factors in deciding overseas missions. We obviously must have regard to the financial situation and the need to work...

Defence Forces Review. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 75, 86 and 87 together. The PA report is an important milestone in addressing the challenges to the provision of medical services in the Defence Forces. Implementation will take time and commitment. On receipt of the report in June 2009, I accepted the recommendations and asked that implementation of the recommendations proceed immediately. The report...

Defence Forces Review. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I will investigate the matter involving the chemist and revert to the Deputy on it. It has been widely accepted for years that the medical corps is in an unsatisfactory state for a number of reasons but we have lacked a roadmap for the solution. I decided to jump-start the process by appointing consultants and I have now received a report. I previously advised Deputy Deenihan that some of...

Defence Forces Review. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Every six weeks, the Deputy asks me what progress is being made but all I can tell him is that the changes that are being introduced cannot be measured over six week intervals. I could speed up matters by refusing to consult representative organisations because I have the power to impose change by dictat.

Defence Forces Review. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Some of the Deputy's colleagues previously claimed they were under consulted.

Defence Forces Review. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: It is difficult to strike the correct balance. The same departmental officials who are overseeing the moratorium, a reduction of staff and decentralisation to Newbridge while preparing a value-for-money report into the Reserve Defence Force and a new White Paper are also responsible for implementing the PA report. Given the radical nature of the recommendations, we cannot expect instant...

Army Barracks. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 111 together. The Defence Forces' property portfolio is kept under review by my Department to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the forces. The closure of Army barracks and the consolidation of Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the...

Defence Forces Deployment. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77, 98, 119, 264 and 270 together. The Defence Forces, which include the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, in their role as aid to the civil power, that is, the Garda Síochána, and to the civil authorities, that is, local authorities, the Health Service Executive and so on, recently provided emergency assistance in an effort to alleviate the problems caused...

Defence Forces Deployment. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Deputy O'Keeffe for his remarks. I assure him I will pass on what he said to the Army. The answer to Deputy Collins's question is most emphatically that there was no formal request from Limerick County Council for assistance from the Army to the CO at Slattery Barracks and if such a request had been made, help would have been forthcoming. In reply to Deputy O'Shea, I do not know why...

Defence Forces Deployment. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Question Time is over, a Cheann Comhairle.

Defence Forces Deployment. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: In 2008 I submitted a document to Government, which is available to all Departments, which indicated a wide range of potential emergencies such as severe flooding, oil spillages and terrorist attacks. I outlined the lead Department in each case. As things stand, it is up to the lead Department to initiate a meeting of the emergency response committee. Perhaps that has to change. Lessons...

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Resulting from the Government decision regarding the reduction in public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, recruitment, promotions and acting up appointments in the Permanent Defence Forces were suspended. I made a submission to my colleague, the Minister for Finance, in June 2009 regarding the implications of the measures for the Permanent Defence...

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy is wrong on a number of points as usual.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I had no conversation with the Irish Independent.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I have not spoken to the Irish Independent for several days.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I have more to be doing in my Department than ordering inquiries. I announced this two months ago.