Results 8,381-8,400 of 12,593 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330 and 334 together. The closure of barracks and the consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training. It also imposes increased and unnecessary overheads on...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force is a part-time, voluntary organisation whose primary activity is training. Members are free to determine their own level of participation in Reserve activities and may resign from the Reserve at any time. Their service is provided entirely on a voluntary basis with no compulsion to attend. Members of the Reserve undergo both paid and unpaid training. A gratuity...

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The property in question is owned by my Department and is used by the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) on a part-time basis, for training purposes. There are no specific plans for the future use of this property. However, the matter will be kept under review in my Department.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I have not employed consultants or lobbyists to act for my Department outside the State in the past five years.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (12 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In the period from 1 January 2004 to date the Houses of the Oireachtas passed and subsequently signed into law the following legislation pertaining to my Department: Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 Defence (Amendment) Act 2006 Defence (Amendment) Act 2007. None of these Acts were initiated to fulfil EU obligations.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (7 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The recent government Decision on savings measures on public service numbers is being implemented in the Defence Forces. In this context all promotion within the Reserve has been suspended for the present. The implications of the Government Decision are currently under consideration by my officials in consultation with the military authorities and the Department of Finance. While the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: From 2004 to date, one member of staff of my Department has been dismissed.

Written Answers — Air Corps Operations: Air Corps Operations (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The role of the Air Corps as set out in the White Paper on Defence is to provide a range of military and non-military services in support of the State. These services include the provision of an air ambulance service on the basis of agreed arrangements with the Department of Health & Children, and the provision of assistance in relation to civil emergencies in response to requests from the An...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The proposal to launch a European Military young officers exchange scheme, modelled on Erasmus, was one of the major initiatives of the French EU Presidency and was formally adopted by the Council of the European Union in November 2008. The European Military Erasmus initiative seeks to establish a military exchange programme for European military officers undertaking their initial training...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In the first instance I must reject the suggestion that the officers in question are being housed in steel containers. The facilities provided to the officers are individual containerised accommodation units which are of the highest standard and meet all health and safety requirements. Each of the units contain a bedroom and study area, with desk and chair, and separate ensuite toilet and...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I had several formal meetings with RACO and PDFORRA since my appointment as Minister for Defence. I have also attended the Delegate Conference of both associations. On taking this appointment I was determined that I would operate an "open door" policy. I wanted, as far as practicable, to be available to the Representative Associations to listen to their concerns and, where possible, to...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It is my intention to proceed with plans to replace Asgard II. In that regard, the Board of Coiste an Asgard has initiated planning for the procurement of a new steel hulled vessel similar in design to Asgard II. A firm estimate of the cost of a new vessel is not available at this stage. It is expected that tenders for the new vessel will be sought before the end of the year.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Corps: Defence Forces Medical Corps (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The position is that there are a number of physical and medical standards laid down by the Military Authorities for entry to the Defence Forces. These requirements are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training undertaken by members of the Defence Forces. The Medical Corps regularly reviews...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 106 and 457 together. Medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria such as their length of service, for service overseas and for acts of bravery associated with such service both at home and overseas. Members who serve overseas on UN missions or UN mandated missions, subject to certain criteria, are eligible for the...

Written Answers — Military Medals: Military Medals (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The arrangement in question remains in place and my Department continues to issue Medal certificates signed by me in cases where the 1916 Medal or other War of Independence-related Medal has been lost, stolen or destroyed. Since its introduction in 2006, 1,364 certificates have been issued including 128 in 2008 and 50 to date in 2009.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 102 and 464 together. The development of the Medical Corps 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 I stated in my answer to a question on this issue in March the final report from PA Consulting on the review of the...

Written Answers — Ombudsman for the Defence Forces: Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Office of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. On the 19th September 2005, Ms. Paulyn Marrinan Quinn SC was appointed by the President, upon the recommendation of the Government, as the first Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. Her term of office was extended for a further three years from 19th September 2008. The function of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 80, 92 and 110 together. On 15 March 2009, MINURCAT, the United Nation's led mission in Chad and the Central African Republic assumed operational control of the United Nations force of 2,085 personnel, including 1,877 troops re-hatted from eight EUFOR contributors. An Irish officer, Brigadier General Gerald Aherne, has been appointed Deputy Force...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: A total of nine civilian employees are employed by my Department under short term contracts to work with the Defence Forces. Contracts relating to two of these employees are due to expire by the end of 2009. My Department is currently considering the implications of the Government decision on the savings measures on public service numbers announced by the Minister for Finance on 27 March 2009...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The refurbishment programme on the Creidne for use as a sail training vessel by Coiste an Asgard is nearing completion. The work is being carried out by the Naval Service at the Naval Base, Haulbowline, Co. Cork. The Creidne is due to commence a programme of sail training cruises on 3 July.