Results 8,401-8,420 of 12,593 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 447 together. The strength of the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service as of 31 December 2008 is set out in the tabular statement. The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009. In this context and given the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, all recruitment to the Defence...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 98 together. As the Deputies are aware, there has been very significant investment in equipment and infrastructure in the Defence Forces over the past twelve years. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. It is, however, imperative that my Department and the Defence Forces look to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009. In this context and given the reduced budgetary provision available for 2009, recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force has been suspended for the present. I am advised by the military authorities that the number of recruit enlistments to the Reserve Defence Forces in 2009 prior to...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 441 and 442 together. Following Government approval in July 2007, notice of a tender competition for the purchase of replacement vessels for the Naval Service was sent to the Official Journal of the European Union on 24 August 2007. The competition is for the purchase of two Offshore Patrol Vessels (OPV's) with an option of a third and one Extended Patrol...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 113 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 sustainable...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Promotions: Defence Forces Promotions (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The savings measures on public service numbers were introduced by the Government on 27 March as part of the response to the current unprecedented economic challenges. I am sensitive to the career aspirations of the many excellent members of the Permanent Defence Force. I understand that the impact of the moratorium will lead to disappointment. However, it must be set against the dramatic...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Deployment: Defence Forces Deployment (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I wish to refer the Deputy to my reply to question 91 on Tuesday 10th March last. There have been no further developments since then.

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

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by the Military authorities that the Director of the Defence Forces Medical Corps has recommended that all personnel should be discouraged from the use of dietary supplements/muscle building agents of any kind unless taken under medical advice. The Director has also advised that their use by personnel deployed on overseas duty should be forbidden. Any person who believes that he...

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

Willie O'Dea: The EU operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Operation "Althea" - was established in December 2004, under the authority of UN Security Council Resolution 1575 of 22 November 2004, to replace the NATO-led Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR). On 20 November 2008, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1845 (2008) renewing EUFOR's mandate for a further period of 12 months....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is not compiled in the manner requested. Each Brigade of the Defence Forces records information on calls out in its own area. The total number of calls out responded to by each Brigade for 2008 and to the period ended 24 April 2009 is set out in the following table: Brigade 2008 2009(as at 24/04/09) East 111 34 South 37 4 West 20 10 DFTC (Curragh)...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which includes Ministers, senior officials of government departments, senior officers of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces and officials of other key public authorities, which have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning. The Government Task Force meets on a regular basis. The most recent meeting took place...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The number of cash in transit escorts provided by the Defence Forces in 2008 was 2,210. The average number of personnel per escort was 8 and the average duration of an escort was 10.9 hours. This gives a total of approximately 193,000 personnel hours expended by the escort teams on cash in transit escorts in 2008. Costs in respect of the service provided in the twelve month period to the...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Ministerial Air Transport Service is provided by the Air Corps to facilitate members of the Government in fulfilling their official engagements at home and abroad. The Service is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. The Gulfstream IV was acquired in December 1991, and the Learjet 45 entered service in January...

Written Answers — Drug Testing Programme: Drug Testing Programme (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On 11 March last I signed into effect new Regulations covering the operation of the Compulsory Random Drug Testing programme (CRDT) in the Irish Defence Forces. The Irish Defence Forces policy on drug and substance abuse or misuse is based on the premise that unlawful possession, supply or use of a controlled drug is incompatible with membership of the Defence Forces. Any member who tests...

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

Willie O'Dea: In exercising his statutory duty of care to his troops, the Irish Commander of the 99th Infantry Battalion deployed with the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic and Chad (MINURCAT) conducted a risk assessment of all activities, including sporting activities, carried out by personnel deployed in the theatre of operations. It was the Commander's assessment that the risk of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: 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 the seas where State jurisdiction applies. The primary...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: An amount of €100,000 has been provided in Subhead A7 of Vote 36 for expenditure on consultancy services in 2009. The outturn for this Subhead in 2008 was €60,000. The total gross provision in Vote 36 for 2009 is 6% less than the outturn for 2008. The increased provision in Subhead A7 for 2009 is required to support the Department's ongoing programme of value for money and business...

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 a 24 hour general helicopter capability for a variety of tasks, including Garda Síochána support; the provision of a Ministerial Air Transport Service, the provision of fishery protection patrol...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Government's Value for Money and Policy Review Initiative is overseen by the Value for Money and Policy Review Central Steering Committee. Government Department's are required to submit review topics for inclusion in a rolling programme of Value for Money Reviews. The Department of Defence reviews approved by Government for inclusion in the 2009 – 2011 round of Value for Money and...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Ministerial Air Transport Service is primarily provided by the Gulfstream IV and Learjet 45 jet aircraft, which were specifically acquired for that purpose. Until recently, the Beechcraft Super King Air 200 turbo-prop aircraft was also used as a back up aircraft for short and medium haul Ministerial Air Transport missions, in addition to its primary pilot training role. The 2 x CASA...