Results 8,181-8,200 of 12,646 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

Willie O'Dea: I amended the Defence Force Regulations to provide for Targeted Drug Testing (TDT) with effect from 11 March, 2009. Since the introduction of the amended regulatory procedures four members of the Defence Forces comprising two members of the PDF and two from the RDF have failed a Compulsory Random Drug Test. To date no members of the Defence Forces have failed a TDT. The Irish Defence Forces...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Red Cross Society is an autonomous charitable body with full powers to manage and administer its affairs through its governing body, the Central Council. I have no function in the day to day administration of the Irish Red Cross and, as such, I do not get involved in the day to day running of its affairs. A range of issues relating to the governance, organisational structures, and...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 and Defence Force Regulations S6 provide for the establishment of representative associations for members of the Permanent Defence Force. Defence Force Regulations S7 provide for representation for members of the Reserve Defence Forces. A scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C & A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force was established in 1993 and...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 64 together. 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 members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the force. Since then, the Government has reviewed and approved, on an annual basis,...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: My Department is engaged in an on-going capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces both Permanent and Reserve. The programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising of the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings. Projects in the Capital...

Written Answers — Military Training: Military Training (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The International Institute of Humanitarian Law, which has its headquarters in San Remo, Italy, was founded in 1970 as a private, independent and non-profit organisation with the primary objective of promoting the application, development and dissemination of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) in all its dimensions and to contribute to the safeguard and respect of human rights and...

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

Willie O'Dea: As at the 1 October 2009, there were 21 civil service vacancies in my Department and its agencies as follows: Grade Department Civil Defence Board Principal Officer 1 Assistant Principal Officer 1 1 Higher Executive Officer 2 Executive Officer 4 Staff Officer 1 Clerical Officer 9 Services Officers/Attendants etc 2 Total 20 1 The average length of vacancies is 5 months. My...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (8 Oct 2009)

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

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Emergency planning in this country is developed on the "lead department" principle. This means that each department is responsible for planning for emergencies that fall within its area of responsibility. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform is the lead government department in relation to national security related incidents (including terrorism). The Government Task Force on...

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

Willie O'Dea: The numbers of female personnel serving in the Defence Forces over the past five years and in 2009 to date by rank is set out in the tabular statement under:

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

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces receive 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 provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force and is updated on an...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171 to 173, inclusive, 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. I am advised by the military authorities that on 30 September 2009, the most recent date for which figures are available, the...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together. The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships. All eight ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part of...

Ministerial Transport. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The total to date in 2009 is 387.25 hours.

Ministerial Transport. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No, that was the total for everything.

Ministerial Transport. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Am I answering a question or is this an exchange across the floor?

Ministerial Transport. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The total to date in 2009 is 387.25 hours. I will issue a tabular statement to the Deputy that includes all years from 2002. We had only a few days to put the information together but he will get it all. I have answered dozens of questions and freedom of information requests on this and all the information the Deputy is seeking is already in the public domain. We will, however, make it...

Overseas Missions. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: 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 Ireland's participation in the EU-led mission to Chad, the mandate of which expired on 14 March 2009, Ireland's initial commitment to the follow-on United...

Overseas Missions. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree this has been a successful mission. There were initial doubts due to the logistical difficulties, the absence of air access and difficult terrain. General Nash and his people overcame those difficulties and the mission has been an outstanding success. Foreign missions are indeed the lifeblood of a peace-keeping defence force, which is what our Defence Forces are. I take the point...

Overseas Missions. (8 Oct 2009)

Willie O'Dea: If after the budgetary process the mission continues beyond 14 March 2010, and even in the interim, I will ensure that matter is attended to.