Results 8,161-8,180 of 12,593 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I think he worked off the figure at the beginning of the year, approximately 7,500. Therefore, he was talking in terms of having a reserve of approximately 2,500.

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I think it is the figure at the beginning of the year, which was approximately 7,500.

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, but I will double check the situation for the Deputy. When the moratorium was first introduced, we were advised by the Department of Finance it also applied to the reserve. We had a situation where we had a certain number of non-effective people each year - people who do not turn up for training etc. - and numbers were continually dropping, so I got sanction from the Department of...

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I find myself, once again, in total agreement with Deputy Deenihan. We should be encouraging people to rejoin the reserves. The changes we have made in terms of better equipment, training, uniforms, etc., are an encouragement in itself, as well as the fact that we have targeted gratuities - the more training one does the more one earns, or as near as possible. Basically we are going...

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As regards Deputy OShea's question, I stand open to correction. I thought that if somebody in receipt of social welfare wanted to become part of the Reserve Defence Force, that would not interfere with his or her entitlement. That was my understanding of the position.

Defence Forces Reserve. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I take the Deputy's point and we should use the Reserve Defence Force more in relation to the unemployed in terms of reskilling, etc. That is something I shall think about. With regard to Deputy Deenihan's point I was not aware that there were great numbers of people flooding across the Border to join the reserve in the North. However, I shall take his word for it. As far as I am...

Public Expenditure Review Report. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 12, 14, 26, 41 and 60 together. The Defence property portfolio is kept under ongoing review by military authorities and the staff in my Department to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces. This includes ongoing review of the organisation, structure and formation of the...

Public Expenditure Review Report. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Anybody reading that would have to interpret it in his or her own way. All I can say is that my interpretation might not be that far from Deputy O'Shea's. I agree with him that it is a very bad time to be disposing of a property such as Cathal Brugha Barracks. It is an enormous property, very well located in Dublin and would have yielded a fortune if disposed of a couple of years ago...

Public Expenditure Review Report. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: While I do not have the information to hand, I will get the complete up-to-date position for the Deputy in regard to the plans for barracks that are closed, the maintenance costs and so on. During the last period of barrack consolidation, we made some facilities available to local communities, as the Deputy is aware. Times are tougher now and most of those properties will be sold off by...

Public Expenditure Review Report. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: That is a useful suggestion, which I will certainly discuss with my officials.

Defence Forces Property. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 10 together. Defence Forces married quarters are provided to serving members until their retirement or resignation. The Defence Forces regulations state that the quarters must be vacated within 15 days of leaving the service. There are 52 married quarters currently overheld throughout the country - 39 in the Curragh, 11 at Cathal Brugha Barracks,...

Defence Forces Property. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree. Ten of the 11 properties at Cathal Brugha Barracks are under negotiation at present with the current occupants at a very competitive price. The other overholders will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis and we will be as sympathetic as possible.

Naval Service Vessels. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The following are the ages of the eight ships in the current flotilla: LE Emer, 31 years; LE Aoife, 30 years; LE Aisling, 29 years; LE Eithne, 25 years; LE Ciara, 25 years; LE Orla, 24 years; LE Róisín, ten years; and LE Niamh, eight years. Naval vessels have a minimal lifespan of approximately 30 years. Accordingly, three ships are due for replacement now and over the next few years - LE...

Naval Service Vessels. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On Deputy Deenihan's first question, I recall that interview which took place at Haulbowline naval base. A number of members of the media to whom I spoke on that occasion asked what was the position on the ship replacement programme and I told them I was seeking funding from the Government to replace, over a period of time, three ships that are nearing the end of their useful lifespans....

Naval Service Vessels. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On the Deputy's first question, I am obviously concerned with health and safety and I am assured by the Naval Service that it has done the appropriate repairs to the LE Emer. I am further assured by the Naval Service that it will not send a ship to sea unless it is satisfied beyond any shadow of doubt that the ship is seaworthy and safe. However, as I stated, problems are developing in the...

Defence Forces Review. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Priority Questions Nos. 2 and 5 together. 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...

Defence Forces Review. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Naturally, I do not accept the Deputy's contention that there is no urgency. I have informed the Department and the Defence Forces that I want progress in this area as a matter of urgency. As the Deputy recognises, it involves a revolutionary change in the provision of medical services within the Army. It is a sea change; we are turning the whole system, which is no longer adequate, on its...

Defence Forces Review. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Deenihan is right in that the timescales for many of the recommendations in the report are short term or urgent. That is true for the most part, but there are also recommendations that will require some time to implement. As I said, I am aiming for a timescale of 12 to 18 months, which is short in view of the revolutionary nature of the report. We are talking about moving from a...

Defence Forces Review. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy O'Shea expressed the urgency of this matter, of which I am aware. My Department is represented on the steering and progress groups. I will keep in touch with staff of both groups. The Army medical service, developed in the 1930s and 1940s and perhaps suitable for the prevailing situation then, has not kept pace with change. I agree there is non-alignment between the strategy of the...

Ministerial Transport. (8 Oct 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 more flexible than commercial air travel in that it is not bound to set routes, timetables or schedules. This flexibility can be very important in a wide variety of...