Results 7,801-7,820 of 12,646 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Staff: Defence Forces Staff (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by the Military Authorities that no dental hygienist is currently employed in the Defence Forces. However, it is intended to appoint a dental hygienist in the coming weeks. The overall structure of the dental service and the requirement for dental hygienists is being considered in the context of the restructuring of the Medical Service.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Staff: Defence Forces Staff (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The services of civilian medical practitioners, including on occasion retired Defence Force medical officers, are used in the delivery of medical services to the Defence Forces. I am advised by the Military Authorities that 12 former military medical officers - ten doctors and two dentists - provided medical services in 2009 at a cost of €538,532.

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260, 262 and 263 together. Emergency planning in this country is developed on the "lead Department" principle. This means that each Department is responsible for planning for and responding to those emergencies that fall within its area of responsibility. In my capacity of Chairman of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I brought a document,...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue region. In accordance with the roles assigned to them by the Government in the White Paper on Defence, the Defence Forces are committed to providing support to the civil authorities including in relation to search and rescue. In this regard, the Naval...

Written Answers — Overseas Assistance: Overseas Assistance (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy will appreciate that in the context of the current disaster in Haiti there are a number of responses that can be made by Ireland, the EU, and other international organisations. The immediate EU response to the earthquake in Haiti and its terrible consequences was dealt with at an emergency meeting of EU Development Ministers on Monday of this week attended by my colleague the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Following the closure of the Army Apprentice School in 1998, and in order to ensure the availability of the requisite levels of technical skills in the Defence Forces, a Trainee Technician Scheme and an Apprentice Scheme were introduced. Personnel already serving in the Defence Forces enter the Trainee Technician Scheme while civilian personnel who join the Defence Forces to begin their...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years across all facets and elements of the Defence Forces. This investment has been facilitated by the re-investment both of pay savings arising from the reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force in the context of...

Defence Forces Deployment. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I would like to respond to that briefly. Every county and city manager in this country has been informed about the framework for emergency planning. Every county and city manager knows a mechanism is in place for establishing a local plan. They also know that one must respond to circumstances such as those described without being directed, as the Deputy suggests, without anyone declaring a...

Defence Forces Deployment. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The primary requirement was to have a local response. As the situation evolved, however, a national response became appropriate.

Defence Forces Deployment. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: If roads in Limerick, Kerry or Waterford freeze up, it is not necessary in the first couple of days to have someone sitting in the national co-ordination office. It is a matter for the local authority in the first instance.

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 73 together. The Irish Red Cross Society is an autonomous body established by the Irish Red Cross Society Order 1939 pursuant to the Red Cross Act 1938 and is an independent, self-governing charitable institution. By resolution passed by its council of delegates in November 2007, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,...

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I concur with the Deputy that the bad press is extremely regrettable. I am in a difficult position as Minister because, under the terms of the Geneva Convention, the Government is obliged by law to ensure the independence of the Red Cross. Although the Government provides the Irish Red Cross Society with a grant-in-aid of almost €1 million per annum and supplies a building owned by the...

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Regarding the final question, it is not my responsibility. The Red Cross is statutorily independent but I will find out for Deputy Deenihan how much it collected and when it will be distributed. I wish to correct the record of the House. Deputy Deenihan quoted me as saying I can do absolutely nothing. Anyone who has been in the House for the past two or three minutes knows that is not...

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I said I cannot get involved in the internal running of the Red Cross. It is not Irish law that prohibits me but a commitment-----

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: That does not mean I cannot do anything. That does not mean I cannot introduce legislation to allow necessary changes in governance. That is different to doing nothing.

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has a member on the executive council who regularly reports to the Department. I have a fair idea of the situation without commissioning separate investigations. The board appointed a committee to carry out an investigation and has made recommendations. My job is to make legislative changes to enable the board to make those changes. It is not rocket science. Surely Deputy...

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: As regards getting involved in investigations and making changes, under the Geneva Convention Ireland is committed to maintaining an independent Red Cross. An independent Red Cross means an autonomous organisation that runs its own show, whose executive council deals with governance matters and matters that have come out in the media in recent times. That is the law and that is what we...

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Radical proposals have been made to change the governance structures of the Red Cross, which are the subject of much controversy as referred to by Deputy O'Shea. My role is to examine the recommendations, see which ones require legislative change and provide and pass the appropriate legislation in the House.

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I do not agree with any responsibility being taken from the President.

Irish Red Cross Society. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I do not want to get into specific recommendations. Much has been made of the chairman's resignation. Some time ago, the chairman told me he wanted to wait until the report recommending reform of the Red Cross had gone through the system and that he would then offer up his position. That is precisely what happened. The Secretary General wanted to return to the Department of Justice,...