Results 7,961-7,980 of 12,630 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (26 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence property portfolio consists of a diverse range of facilities from conventional military barracks to forts, camps, dwelling houses and training lands. The principal assets are 23 permanently occupied barracks. The Department also owns 26 premises that are used by the Reserve Defence Forces. A further 51 properties are rented for use by the Reserve. The property portfolio also...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (24 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The sum of €3.8m, representing the insured value of Asgard II, has been received by my Department. A decision on the question of funding the procurement of a replacement vessel for Asgard II will be made in the context of finalising the Estimates for my Department for 2010. That process is on going and it would not be appropriate for me to comment any further on the matter at this stage.

Written Answers — National Library: National Library (24 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces do not hold the documents referred to. I have made enquiries into the matter and I have been informed that the papers are held in the National Library, Kildare Street, Dublin 2 and are available for viewing.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (24 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The premises leased by my Department for use by the Reserve Defence Forces are outlined in the tabular statement. Rents paid for these premises are based on a number of factors including size, location and quality of the facilities and vary considerably. Information on the rents paid in respect of these premises is commercially sensitive and therefore not available. However, the...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (24 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: 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. The Order sets out the basis on which the Society shall be governed. It provides that there shall be a Central Council which shall exercise the powers of the Society, organise the Society and control and manage the affairs of the Society. Membership of...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (24 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In 2008 and to date in 2009, my Department has spent a total of €14,199.56 on translation of documents in order to fulfil the requirements of the Official Languages Act 2003. As the printing costs for combined Irish language / English language documents are not disaggregated by language, the specific printing costs of the Irish language elements are unavailable. In line with good business...

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

Willie O'Dea: Ireland has participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 5 July 2002, following the Government Decision of 2 July 2002, authorising the provision of seven (7) members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the force. Since then, the Government has reviewed and approved, on an annual basis, the continued participation by seven (7) members of...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Defence Forces policy on drug and substance abuse or misuse is based on the premise that unlawful possession, supply or use of a controlled drug is incompatible with membership of the Defence Forces. Any member who tests positive is liable to be removed from the Defence Forces. A Compulsory Random Drug Testing (CRDT) programme aimed at deterrence was introduced in October 2002....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The allocation for my Department for 2010 will be decided by the Government in the context of the on-going Estimates and Budgetary process.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces have improved in every respect since 2000 through the implementation of the White Paper. This represents a significant public service success story and has been acknowledged by both the Taoiseach and myself. Arising from the White Paper on Defence, we have created a modern well-equipped Defence Forces capable of meeting the needs of Government and the public and ensuring...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17, 35, 36, 42, 46, 141, 142 and 143 together. 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 Service and 8,426 for the Army. The recent Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended that the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The level of expenditure on Defence in any particular country is influenced by a variety of factors, including that country's political and security environment, its history, demography and economy. The most recent available statistics on Defence expenditure in the EU indicate that in 2007 Defence spending in Ireland, as a percentage of GDP, was the lowest in the E.U. at 0.53%. In 2008...

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

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Unit No. of PDF Cadre No. in Receipt of an RDF Allowance 1 Southern Brigade RDF HQ 9 8* 31 Res Artillery Regiment 12 12 31 Res Cavalry Squadron 3 3 Sp Coy 32 Res Infantry Battalion 5 5 * Of the 9 PDF Cadre servicing 1 S Bde RDF HQ, 1 Private is attached long term to HQ and, as such, is not in receipt of an...

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

Willie O'Dea: Over my term of Office as Minister for Defence, I have visited all the major overseas operations where contingents of the Defence Forces are serving. In 2008, I conducted four visits to our overseas missions in Kosovo (2 visits), Chad and Bosnia and Herzegovina. In February this year, I again visited the mission in Chad, our largest overseas operation. My objective in visiting the missions...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the Irish Times article relating to a report by Amnesty International on violence against refugee women in eastern Chad; I have not received nor am I aware of any other reports in this matter. I understand that Amnesty International Ireland has contacted my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in regard to the above-mentioned report. The Government shares the concern of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision of December 2003 in relation to decentralisation provides for the transfer of the Department of Defence and of Defence Force Headquarters (DFHQ) to Newbridge, Co. Kildare and the Curragh, Co Kildare, respectively. My Department's Dublin-based civil servants, together with about 55 military personnel, will relocate to Newbridge. DFHQ will relocate to the Curragh....

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The mission of the Army Equitation School, as assigned to it on its establishment in 1926, is to promote the Irish horse abroad through participation in international competitions. The school has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad, it has successfully promoted...

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 25, 34 and 49 together. Although, I am aware of the magazine article to which the deputy refers I am restricted in the manner in which I may comment on its contents. As Minister for Defence, I have responsibility for enacting any legislation in respect of the Irish Red Cross Society. However, I have no function in the day-to-day administration of the Irish...

Written Answers — Air Accident Investigations: Air Accident Investigations (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 33 together. I would like to begin by expressing my sincere sympathy to the families and colleagues of Captain Derek Furniss and Cadet David Jevens who lost their lives in this tragic accident involving an Air Corps PC-9 in Cornamona, Co. Galway on the 12 October, 2009. The Preliminary Report into this fatal air accident was published by the Air...

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

Willie O'Dea: In the context of the production of the first White Paper on Defence (2000 - 2010), the issue of deploying the Air Corps assets on peace support operations was considered. It was decided that, given the resources of the Air Corps and the demands on their services at home, it would not be feasible for them to participate beyond the domestic environment. Individual members of the Air Corps will...