Results 8,001-8,020 of 12,593 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces Equipment. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I do not immediately see a role for the Army next Tuesday but we have looked at that. Arrangements are in place whereby the Army can be called upon if needed. There are well-known lines of authority in that regard and long-standing arrangements which can be put in place.

Overseas Missions. (19 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I can assure the Deputy and the House that I am fully aware of the audit report by the Comptroller and Auditor General into the leasing of helicopters by the Defence Forces for Chad and I am advised that the findings of the report have been accepted in full by my Department. The findings outlined by the Comptroller and Auditor General are broadly in line with the findings of the...

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are no agencies under the remit of my Department who have the power to make statutory instruments.

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Under the provisions of subsection (4) of section 2 of the Statutory Instruments Act 1947 (No. 44 of 1947) the Attorney General may, if of the opinion that certain statutory instruments are of limited application, exempt such statutory instruments from the provisions of subsection (1) of section 3 of the Act. On 22 October 1954 the then Attorney General made a declaration that statutory...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised that as at the beginning of November 2009, 200 recruits had been attested since the embargo on recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force was lifted. The Directorate of Reserve Forces has approval to proceed with further recruitment to replace existing members of the Reserve leaving and being discharged in the normal manner. As with the broader public...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of Defence and Defence Forces Annual Report was published in November 2009. The report covers the many functions and activities of both the civil and military elements of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. The report was therefore produced in close co-operation of both the civil and military elements of the Department with editing and re-drafting, as required,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Properties: Defence Forces Properties (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision of 14 October 2008 approved a programme for consolidation of Defence Forces formations and included the closure of St. Bricin's. This closure of St Bricin's is linked to previous decisions regarding decentralisation, rather than the barrack consolidation programme. At this stage, it is necessary to arrange to transfer the services provided in St. Bricin's to the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Properties: Defence Forces Properties (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision of December 2003 in relation to decentralisation provides for the transfer of my Department and Defence Force Headquarters (DFHQ) to two separate locations in county Kildare. My Department's Dublin-based civil service staff, together with about 55 military personnel, are being decentralised to Newbridge, Co. Kildare and DFHQ to the Curragh, Co Kildare. Construction...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The vacancy for the post of military pharmacist, Collins Barracks, Cork, has arisen as a result of the retirement of the previous incumbent. Following discussions with the Department of Finance, sanction has now been received to permit my Department to recruit a civilian pharmacist to fill the position on a temporary basis. Arrangements are being made to complete this process as soon as...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Arrangements are being made for a meeting of the Oireachtas Consultation Group to be held on 2nd December 2009. The Group will be briefed on progress of commemorative projects during 2009. It is also proposed to arrange site visits that day to view some of the works in progress.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 349 and 352 of 10 November 2009 where I stated that I have decided not to proceed with the establishment of the Authority, which was a primary focus of the Bill. I also stated that the way forward will involve a review by my Department of the varying usage of the lands by a range of different interests in the Curragh, not...

Written Answers — Air Corps Aircraft: Air Corps Aircraft (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: An accident involving an Air Corps Pilatus PC9 aircraft occurred in Cornamona, Co. Galway on the 12th October, 2009 resulting in the tragic loss of the lives of Captain Derek Furness and Cadet David Jevens. The Air Accident Investigation Unit of the Department of Transport is investigating the cause of the accident. The Air Corps grounded the PC9 fleet following the accident as a...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised that as at 31 October 2009, the First Line Reserve (FLR) comprised 360 personnel (132 Officers, 31 Non-Commissioned Officers and 197 Privates). The FLR is intended to provide a pool of trained personnel who are available at short notice to supplement Permanent Defence Force (PDF) units in times of emergency. The FLR is a potentially valuable resource...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested is being compiled by my Department and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I sincerely thank all Members for their interest in the Bill and for their contributions to the debate. The effect of the legislation will be to increase openness and transparency in decision-making at EU level. It will provide for appropriate public debate on Ireland's participation in EDA projects and, in the future, on permanent structured co-operation, should that prove to be a...

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Senator O'Toole dealt very well with the record of some of those countries, such as Sweden and Switzerland, which are held up as models of neutrality. Senator Doherty wanted to know what our definition or concept of neutrality is. I could give a long dissertation on this subject but I will keep my remarks simple. Ireland's traditional policy of neutrality is that we do not participate in...

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The effect of the three amendments is to require the approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas in respect of any decision to participate in an EDA project or programme or in a permanent structured co-operation one. Much as I would like to accept the amendments, my advice is that I cannot. The proposal that any such decision would require the approval of both Houses was considered by the...

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Flattery will the Senator everywhere. A copy of the Constitution has been handed to me. The relevant article is Article 28.3.1o . Whatever about the Finance Bill, Article 28.3.1o of the Constitution states: "War shall not be declared and the State shall not participate in any war save with the assent of Dáil Éireann". The article goes on to deal with what happens in the case of actual...

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Whatever about the divergence of views on the Constitution between the Attorney General and Senator Norris, I must proceed with the Attorney General's view.

Seanad: Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages (18 Nov 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There is a second point. Under the Defence (Amendment)(No. 2) Act 1960, the deployment of troops overseas requires only the consent of Dáil Éireann. The deployment of troops would be regarded as a more serious matter than simply getting involved in a particular EDA project and the same argument applies in this case. Even before the amendment was acceptable in any case and even without...