Results 8,321-8,340 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (23 Jun 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. National emergency plans are in place for a number of specific emergency scenarios such as a nuclear incident or an influenza pandemic. The Framework for Major Emergency Management is the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The most important defence against any terrorist attack is detection and prevention by the security forces. While an Garda Siochána have the primary responsibility for law and order, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, an Garda Síochána. The various components of the Defence Forces are...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces have available to them equipment for monitoring and protecting their members in dealing with Nuclear, Biological or Chemical (NBC) threats should such arise. They hold an extensive range of modern NBC equipment that meets their current requirements. This range includes NBC suits and a sufficient stock of Respirators for each individual soldier. They also have the most...

Written Answers — Air Corps Strength: Air Corps Strength (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are no plans to increase the strength of the Air Corps. The saving measures on public service numbers, introduced on 27 March 2009 are being implemented in the Permanent Defence Forces. I am in contact with my colleague, the Minister for Finance about the implications of the measures for the Permanent Defence Force. My focus is on the ongoing operational capability of the Defence...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy is aware, a very significant level of investment in new equipment for the Air Corps has taken place in recent years. The comprehensive investment programme included the delivery of eight Pilatus training aircraft at a total cost of €60m, the acquisition of two light utility EC 135 helicopters from Eurocopter S.A.S. at a cost of €12.8m, the acquisition of six utility AW 139...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Accommodation: Defence Forces Accommodation (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are currently no minimum international or national standards for military accommodation. However, all accommodation provided is measured against standards established by the Defence Forces in 1992. My Department is currently finalising a report to establish a 'desirable standard' to be applied across the Defence Forces.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: We have improved the conditions of the Reserve. There is better training and it is now better organised, has better clothing and equipment. As the Deputy knows, there is a proposal in the White Paper to have an integrated element in the Reserve and for it to be integrated with the Reserve Defence Forces. So far, recruitment to that has proved disappointing and only 300 people have been...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, that is under consideration.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree. I have made submissions to my colleague, the Minister for Finance, and I hope to meet him shortly in that regard. Like previous years, I am advised of a high level of interest this year in the cadet school. We are still not too late. If a decision is made in the next couple of weeks, we will be able to have a cadet class this year.

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 51 together. 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, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, was suspended. Following a subsequent review and examination of RDF personnel numbers and budgets for 2009, I was satisfied...

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy Deenihan regarding the promotional structure, which is under consideration. Any perception that the reserve is being undervalued is mistaken. An entire section of the White Paper addressed the reserve and made various recommendations. For example, the recommended re-organisation has been undertaken. The White Paper recommended better uniforms, training, systems of...

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with the latter point. Criteria have been drawn up by the director of the reserve and the questions of where people came in on the chain, whether they have had medicals done and when they applied will be important. I understand it will be done in chronological order. I do not want to get specific about numbers. How many we will take on depends on how many drop out or join the...

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I will have to speak to the chief of staff about that. I understand that the Army command is considering ways in which it can make some use of the integrated reserve. I do not know why that has not happened to date. I will revert to the Deputy when I have spoken to the chief of staff about it. I think that perhaps the Army command was a little underwhelmed by the number of people it...

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am not an expert on how the Garda Reserve works but we have to be in a position whereby the money we are allocated each year for paid training days is sufficient to accommodate the number of people we have on the books. That is our duty. It would be irresponsible of me to say that we can recruit 1,000 or 2,000 people more than those for whom we can provide a reasonable number of paid...

Defence Forces Reserve. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I assure the House that the Army has every intention of making the fullest possible use of the people who have been trained as members of the integrated reserve. I will speak to the chief of staff about when that will happen and over what timescale and I will revert to the Deputy.

Defence Forces Medical Corps. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The development of the medical corps in the Defence Forces forms part of the agreed programme for Government. I am committed to providing a sustainable medical service to meet the needs of the Defence Forces both at home and abroad. As the Deputy is no doubt aware, the challenges in the medical arena have been recognised for some time and a review of the provision of medical services has...

Defence Forces Medical Corps. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I do not accept the report is a damning indictment of the Defence Forces medical services. It is clear from the report that medical treatment is available to members of the Defence Forces when they need it, whether that be from within the Defence Forces or outside. I agree with Deputy Deenihan that there is considerable outsourcing, particularly in the physiotherapy area, and 30% of dental...

Irish Red Cross Society. (23 Jun 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 am not involved in the day-to-day running of its affairs. I am not aware of any allegations of underperformance of the Irish Red Cross in...

Irish Red Cross Society. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I apologise to the Deputy and I will reply to his query. The governance committee of the Irish Red Cross Society is currently examining various issues of governance and I will await the outcome of its deliberations. The chairman is appointed for a three-year term and this is the fourth time he has been reappointed. However, I have been informed that the general view, except for one or two...

Irish Red Cross Society. (23 Jun 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No communication I have received from that person has indicated to me that there are problems. There are problems in every organisation but no problems on the scale referred to by the Deputy have been indicated to me.