Results 8,141-8,160 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (13 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The former military detention centre in the Curragh was used as a civilian prison by the Irish Prison Service from 1996 to 2008. At the end of that period responsibility for the facility reverted to my Department. I have no immediate plans for any refurbishment of the prison. The provision of civilian prison accommodation is, in the first instance, a matter for the Irish Prison Service and...

Written Answers — Sail Training Vessel: Sail Training Vessel (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 24 together. The report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended that plans to build a replacement vessel for Asgard II should be deferred indefinitely, and that the national sail training scheme should be discontinued. Planned expenditure levels for my Department will be considered as part of the budgetary...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 44 together. The recommendation in the Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes was that the Naval Service Vessel Replacement Programme be extended over a longer timeframe than initially envisaged. In effect, we are in compliance with this recommendation, when you consider that the ships are supposed to have a...

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 36 and 56 together. 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...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 33 together. In the past, personnel of the Army Ranger Wing have been successfully deployed as part of Defence Forces contingents to overseas peace support operations, for example in Liberia, East Timor and Chad. In all cases, the conditions, known as the "triple lock" were satisfied, i.e. the operation was authorized/mandated by the United Nations and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 46, 55, 163 and 167 together. Ireland has offered, through the UN Standby Arrangements System (UNSAS), to provide up to 850 military personnel for overseas service at any one time. This figure equates to some 10% of Ireland's standing Army (excluding Reserves) and demonstrates Ireland's commitment to the cause of international peace. This is the maximum...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Following an accident involving a troop carrying vehicle in Granard, Co. Longford in June 2007, a study group was formed to advise on the introduction of a Roll Over Protection System for troop carrying vehicles incorporating roll bars and safety belts. Arising from the report of the study group a number of different options were fitted to different vehicles for testing and evaluation to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 65 together. The Report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes recommended that the number of personnel in the PDF be reduced by 500 over a 2 to 3 year period as "operational requirements allow". The reality is that based on current trends numbers are already reducing within the PDF. The PDF strength as of 30/09/09 is...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 53 and 63 together. The current Cadetship competition was advertised on 9th August 2009 with the closing date for receipt of applications being 21st August 2009. It is intended to award thirty (30) Army and twelve (12) Naval Service Cadetships as a result of this competition, which is currently underway. I am advised by the Military Authorities that for...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The recommendations in the report of the Special Group on Public Service Numbers and Expenditure Programmes in relation to staffing levels in my Department will be considered as part of the Estimates and budgetary process for 2010. Decisions on these recommendations will be a matter for the Government. However, I can state that the current staffing level of my Department is 361 compared...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Comórfar céad bliain Éirí Amach na Cásca agus imeachtaí eile i dtréimhse na Saoirse, trí chlár cuimsitheach a chuirfear i bhfeidhm i gcaitheamh an iliomad blianta. D'fhonn clár cuimhneachain cuí a chur le chéile tá iarrtha ar Ranna Rialtais tionscnaimh ina réimsí cúraimí ar leith a mheas a d'fhéadfaí a úsáid chun imeachtaí céid a chomóradh. Tá súil agam, ach...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Question Nos. 27 and 164 together. At the request of PDFORRA I met with the Association's General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary and President on 30th September last. I was accompanied by the Secretary General and Assistant Secretary of my Department, the Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff (Support). During the course of the meeting a broad range of issues were...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Question Nos. 28 and 42 together. The assistance provided by the Defence Forces to both the civil power and civil authorities is wide and varied. The actual costs of all services provided have not been recorded separately to date. The compilation of such material on a retrospective basis would involve a disproportionate amount of time and work. Costs are recovered for...

Written Answers — Register of Electors: Register of Electors (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Permanent Defence Force by virtue of the nature of their duties and the likelihood that they could be posted away from their home base or overseas for lengthy periods, have a particular need for postal voting. While members of the Reserve Defence Force play a valuable role in the military organisation, the same considerations do not apply to them. I have been advised by the Military...

Written Answers — PDFORRA Conference: PDFORRA Conference (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Yesterday 7 October 2009, I addressed the Annual Delegate Conference of the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA). I sought to make my address relevant, positive and informative. I addressed such diverse issues as the current budgetary situation, Defence expenditure and our overseas commitments. I emphasised that the Defence Forces, like all areas of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 50 together. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force on 30 September 2009 was 10,081. This breaks as Army 8,231, Air Corps 812 and Naval Service 1,038. In the context of the Government decision on the implementation of savings measures and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, all...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 35, 48, 59 and 61 together. Despite the current difficult economic circumstances, the Government continues to support and commit resources and personnel, wherever it can, to support peace, security and development in troublespots throughout the world. Following on from Ireland's participation in the EU-led mission to Chad, the mandate of which expired on...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Services: Defence Forces Medical Services (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The PA report is an important milestone in addressing the challenges to the provision of medical services in the Defence Forces. Implementation will take time and commitment. This is being achieved in consultation with the representative associations. On receipt of the report in June this year, I asked that implementation of the recommendations proceed immediately. The PA report reviewed...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Pilatus PC9M trainer aircraft operated by the Air Corps has a limited air defensive capability appropriate to its turbo prop flight envelope. While it is not an interceptor aircraft, it could catch and intercept certain aircraft. Each aircraft has the capability to be fitted with two point 5 machine guns and two rocket launchers. In addition to the Air Corps capabilities the Defence...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In the context of the Government decision on the implementation of savings measures on public service numbers and the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, recruitment to the Permanent Defence Forces has been suspended. As I have already stated in the House I have made a submission to my colleague the Minister for Finance regarding the implications of the measures for the...