Results 7,841-7,860 of 12,646 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: There is a slight difference.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: I am sorry the Deputy is unable to count because that was two months ago. I do not know how well aware the Deputy is of the issues but the military authorities have been reallocating and reorganising their position to take account of the moratorium.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The Army authorities could not allocate these posts until they knew how many posts they would have to allocate. They are now ready to do this.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, but some must be filled immediately while others must not.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The remaining ten promotions will be made in the coming months. It is always the practice in such a scenario to hold back a number of people for contingencies that may arise and those affected will be appointed in the next few months.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: If the Deputy tells me he keeps in touch with the representative organisations, I accept that but that makes it all the more surprising he gets so much wrong.

Defence Forces Promotions. (20 Jan 2010)

Willie O'Dea: The number of promotions could be increased from 30. I appreciate the need to extend the acting up provisions and that is why I am in contact with the Department of Finance in this regard. I also accept that 50 promotions are not adequate but this is the first instalment and I expect further news on this shortly. With regard to the health and safety issues, the military authorities say the...