Results 7,961-7,980 of 12,593 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am satisfied that each of the services, Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are fully equipped to meet the roles assigned to them by Government. Significant investment has taken place in recent years across all facets and elements of the Defence Forces. This investment has been assisted by pay savings arising from the reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force in the context of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139, 140 and 145 together. The Permanent Defence Force receives ongoing training to enable them to participate fully in UN, EU and other missions overseas. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of training, designed to help them carry out their peacekeeping mission and to provide for their protection. Pre-deployment training is...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The strength of the Army for each of the past 5 years and as of 31 October, 2009 is set out in the tabular statement below. This statement also provides figures for the Air Corps and the Naval Service for the same period. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval...

Overseas Missions. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Deenihan asked the reason only one company was approached and the normal tendering process not undergone. As I was not personally involved in this, nor were the civilian staff in my Department - this was done by the military - I can only try to guess what happened. To put the matter in context, we were going into a position which, for reasons I have outlined in my reply, air support...

Overseas Missions. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am almost fully certain that the limit has been raised to €1 million.

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 charted an ambitious modernisation agenda for the defence organisation. The White Paper built upon previous reforms, including those introduced in the Defence Forces review implementation plan. The downsizing of the Permanent Defence Force from 11,500 to 10,500, arising from the implementation of the White Paper, allowed for the re-balancing of the pay to...

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: If the Chair admires Deputy Deenihan's ingenuity, I am in awe of it. We must, however, clear up what we are talking about. The Office of Emergency Planning is a permanent office in the Department. Deputy Deenihan is referring to the task force on emergency planning.

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It does not, I chair the task force. The Office of Emergency Planning services the task force. That office is always there. I will get the information on the number of times the task force has met this year.

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It is a permanent office staffed by civil servants. The task force comprises meetings of representatives from the different Departments with the Garda Síochána, the Defence Forces and the emergency services. It has met several times this year, I will get the exact number for the Deputy. The Office of Emergency Planning is well aware of the situation that might pertain next Tuesday. There...

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I would have to guess how many people would leave the Army between now and 31 December, I do not know. We are getting near the 10,000 level. Even the McCarthy report recommends a minimum of 10,000 to be achieved over a two or three year time scale but we are already there. I would like not the Army to drop under 10,000. That is why I have asked for permission to recruit extra personnel....

Defence Forces Strength. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No such matter has been brought to my attention, but I am aware there are a number of difficulties due to the fact that people acting above their rank are not being recognised as such. I have addressed this matter out in some 42 cases in relation to the Chad mission and 20 cases with regard to the Kosovo mission, where people are actually in the field. I am also trying to address this...

Army Barracks. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose taking Questions Nos. 7 and 11 together. The closure of barracks and the consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training. It also imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on...

Army Barracks. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: With regard to individual firms, I believe the security contracts were put out to tender, but I do not know the names of the firms who tendered. However, I will get them for the Deputy. On the question of anti-social behaviour, I have received complaints regarding McKee Barracks, but there is a separate question on that which we shall come to shortly. In relation to community groups I have...

Army Barracks. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: That is a fair point. With regard to the Deputy's first question about the barracks that are being sold to other State agencies, VECs, etc., the procedure will be to have valuers employed by the Department to give a proper valuation on these properties. That is the price we charge, essentially. On the question of whether there is any great indication at the moment re St. Bricin's or other...

Army Barracks. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I wish to make it clear to the House that it did not emanate from me. My view on barracks closures is that the Government is committed to the idea of collective training and obviously, the fewer units one has, the more people will be trained collectively. I acknowledge there has been much difficulty and angst on foot of the recent barracks closures. My approach is to let things settle...

Commemorative Events. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The State ceremonies in which the Defence Forces have participated in the current year to date include the Easter Sunday commemorative event, the 1916 Arbour Hill commemoration ceremony, the national day of commemoration, the national Famine memorial day, presentation of credentials to the President, state visits by prime ministers and foreign Heads of State and state visits by the President,...

Commemorative Events. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I do not envisage an extension or expansion of such activities at present. However, I do not envisage any reduction either. As for 1916, Deputy Deenihan is aware the Government is planning for the centenary. It is a slow process and the next meeting of the long-term planning committee will be held on 2 December. As the Deputy is aware, 1916 is now commemorated on an annual basis. This is...

Commemorative Events. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I have had representations from many parts of the country regarding participation in St. Patrick's Day parades and I have asked the Army to be as generous as possible. In addition to taking part in the aforementioned official events, the Army also takes part in many civic events such as shows, aerial displays etc., as well as sometimes providing tents for organisations that are holding...

Ministerial Transport. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The ministerial air transport service, MATS, provides the Government and the President with an independent flexible and effective air transport service to assist in meeting national and international obligations. The service is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. The Gulfstream IV was acquired in December 1991...

Ministerial Transport. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy said that I occasionally lecture the House on matters of finance. My lecturing days are long behind me. I do not lecture now, I inform. The jets would be called wasting assets for the purpose of capital gains tax. Deputy O'Shea pointed out the undesirability of selling fixed property due to the bad market conditions. I do not imagine there is a good market for a Government...