Results 8,501-8,520 of 12,593 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are a number of issues in the Deputy's statement. I do not know whether this restriction is being imposed on other missions, but I can find out for him. The force commander has a responsibility and a duty of care to look out for the health and safety of troops under his command. The reality in Chad is that the ground is extremely hard. Some of the sports are played out on open...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I said 34 or 35.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No, I meant 34 or 35 in total.

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: While I do not believe health and safety should be the sole criterion in this regard, we cannot totally ignore it. As far as I am aware, one soldier suffered a serious injury as a result of engaging in sport. Anybody who has visited the region will know that the ground in the area is not suitable for sports involving bodily contact. The commander, the Government and I as Minister have a...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria, including length of service, service overseas and for acts of bravery associated with such service at home and overseas. Members who serve overseas on UN missions or UN mandated missions, subject to certain criteria, are eligible for the award of the United Nations peacekeepers medal. This medal is awarded...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I understand that people who served 30 days and moved from the EUFOR mission straight into the MINURCAT mission will be entitled to an ESDP medal. The question is whether they will have served sufficient time to also get a MINURCAT medal. As the Deputy knows, only one medal is recognised per tour of duty. The Deputy says that those involved would regard it as more appropriate to get the...

Overseas Missions. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: We will be talking to the representative associations about the matter. Some people may be entitled to the ESDP medal but fall just short of the service required for the MINURCAT medal. Some people might not even be entitled to the ESDP medal and also fall short of the service required for the MINURCAT medal, although I do not think that situation arises. If such people believe the...

Defence Forces Equipment. (6 May 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The reduction in the provision for the Air Corps this year should be seen in the context of the very significant investment in new equipment for the Air Corps in recent years. This comprehensive investment programme included the delivery of eight Pilatus training aircraft at a total cost of €60 million, inclusive of VAT; two light-utility EC135 helicopters acquired from Eurocopter SAS at a...

Written Answers — Reserve Defence Forces: Reserve Defence Forces (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are no plans to disband the Reserve Defence Force. The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th March 2009 and, as with the public service generally. The Defence Organisation is required to operate with reduced funding. In this context, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force has been suspended for the present. While the...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: My Department produces an Annual Report on the performance of the Department and the Defence Forces in accordance with the Public Service Management Act, 1997. In addition, I receive Annual Reports from the Civil Defence Board and from the Board of Coiste an Asgard. These reports are laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy in relation to reports commissioned by my Department in the past five years is as follows: In 2004, my Department commissioned a report from an Independent Monitoring Group which was set up to give effect to the recommendations of the Doyle Report (2002) concerning Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in the Defence Forces. The...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27 March 2009. As with the public service generally, the defence organisation is required to operate with reduced funding for 2009. In this context, all recruitment to the Reserve Defence Force has been suspended for the present. I accept that this will disappoint many individuals who have applied...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (30 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The closure of Rockhill Barracks was completed on 29 January 2009. A private security firm has been employed to provide security at the barracks in the short term with effect from 30 January 2009. As the appointment of this contractor is temporary, for commercial reasons it would be inappropriate to state the cost at this stage. It is not anticipated that a Private Security firm will need...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (29 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are no plans to stand down the Reserve Defence Force. The budgetary provision for training of members of the Reserve has been reduced but will provide sufficient funds to allow all current members of the Reserve to undertake paid training. Summer training camps have not been discontinued. The Government introduced a moratorium on recruitment to the Public Service with effect from 27th...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (29 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are no plans to introduce a voluntary early retirement scheme in the Defence Forces. The existing enhanced pension arrangements for members of the Defence Forces differ significantly from the normal public service arrangements.

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to share my time with Deputy Nolan.

Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (29 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am glad to be able to address the House on this issue. I had the opportunity to listen to my constituency colleagues, Deputies Noonan and Kieran O'Donnell, and I have taken very careful note of what they said. Deputy Noonan made a point about the Garda Reserve and the Reserve Defence Forces and the apparent mismatch between sections 4 and 13. The Minister can deal with that matter in his...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In the period from 1 January 2007 Dáil Éireann approved the following legislation pertaining to my Department: - Defence (Amendment) Act 2007. This Act was not initiated to fulfil EU obligations.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (28 Apr 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 outlines the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan provides for the phased enhancement of Reserve capabilities over the period to the end of 2009. In accordance with the Plan, revised organisation structures came into effect in October 2005. The Reserve has been re-organised along similar lines to...