Results 8,461-8,480 of 12,646 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force Review implementation Plan provides for the phased enhancement of the Reserve over the period from 2004 to end 2009. Significant progress has been made to date in implementing the plan. The Reserve has been re-organised along similar lines to the Permanent Defence Force, there has been increased investment in the Reserve with new equipment and clothing and...

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

Willie O'Dea: The detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (6 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 — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) are required to pass an annual Test of Elementary Training and fire their annual range practice in their assigned weapon. These typically include the Styre, Pistol and General Purpose Machine Gun. Members are also required to pass an annual Fitness Test, with the level of fitness required determined by age. In addition to these Tests, PDF members...

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

Willie O'Dea: The number of members of the Permanent Defence Force by rank who have retired or resigned to date in 2009 and the number of personnel by rank who are currently on predischarge leave or have sought to retire early are outlined in the following tables: DISCHARGES 2009 TO DATE OFFICERS REASON BRIG GEN COL LT COL COMDT CAPT 2/LT TOTAL VOLUNTARY RETIREMENT 2 3 1 4 1 11 RETIREMENT ON AGE...

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

Willie O'Dea: As a result of the re-organisation of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) in 2005 the establishment of the Cadre staff was reduced to figures of 298 in the Army Reserve and 22 in the Naval Service Reserve. The strength of the RDF comprises three elements: Personnel who retained their pre-2005 appointments following the re-organisation. Personnel who held appointments pre-2005, but whose...