Results 8,601-8,620 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Personal Injury Claims: Personal Injury Claims (24 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Information regarding personal injury claims is not recorded in a manner which would enable my Department to extract the information required by the Deputy without examining each individual claim file since 1975. Accordingly, I regret that it is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (24 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On the basis of information available in my Department, the only occasion on which my Department hired a private plane for Ministerial travel since 2005, was when former Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern T.D., travelled to Africa between 14th and 17th January 2008 (see table below). My Department was requested by the Department of the Taoiseach to organise an air taxi for a party of 50 people on...

Written Answers — Departmental Allowances: Departmental Allowances (24 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In reply to the Deputy I wish to state that there are no semi-State bodies reporting to my Department.

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (24 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: A submission was received by my Department on 19 March concerning difficulties being encountered by residents adjacent to the Curragh particularly in relation to unauthorised use of motorbikes. Permission has not been sought or granted concerning the use of motorbikes on the lands owned by my Department at the Curragh and my Department is aware of the danger and possible damage being caused....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (24 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: In line with the provisions of the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan, it is hoped that a small number of Reservists will be able to undertake overseas service in late 2009. As the number of personnel from the Reserve who are likely to serve overseas is small, it was anticipated that the required number of Reservist could be met, for initial pilot deployments, from personnel...

Written Answers — Departmental Licences: Departmental Licences (12 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No licences or permits are issued by my Department or by a body under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (11 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 168 together. There are a total of ten helicopters in operational service with the Air Corps at present, comprising six AW139 utility helicopters, two EC135 P2 light utility helicopters and two Garda Air Support Unit EC135 T2 helicopters, which are owned by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and operated by the Air Corps. All ten...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Staff: Defence Forces Staff (11 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the individual concerned was a qualified driver in the Cavalry Corps of the Permanent Defence Force until his discharge in 1972. The facility whereby a member of the Permanent Defence Force could apply for a driving licence on foot of a military driving permit was introduced by virtue of the...

Written Answers — Compulsory Retirement Age: Compulsory Retirement Age (11 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: There are 13 male and 18 female civil servants in my Department who are not subject to a compulsory retirement age of 65 years in accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 2004.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The position is that under the terms of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 1990 the Defence Forces Representative Associations are prohibited from being associated with or affiliated to any trade unions or any other body without the consent of the Minister. Accordingly, the Representative Associations, RACO and PDFORRA cannot be affiliated to ICTU at present. A similar arrangement applies to the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 365 to 367, inclusive, 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Revised Estimates Volume for 2009 has not yet been submitted for Government approval. Consequently, the final provision for my Department for 2009 has not been settled. I can confirm, however, that my Department will not be found wanting in meeting Government targets for savings in administrative costs.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Rules of Engagement (ROEs) for peace support missions are based on the United Nations Security Council Resolution for the mission, the Concept of Operations and the Operation Plan. Accordingly, each peace support mission has ROEs specific to that mission. In general, the nature of the ROEs will depend on whether the mission is a UN Chapter VI type mission (peacekeeping), or a UN Chapter VII...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55 and 354 together. As part of the reply is in the form of a tabular statement, I propose to include that part in the Official Report. The Air Corps helicopter fleet comprises two light utility EC135 helicopters and six utility AW139 helicopters. The Alouette helicopters were withdrawn from Air Corps service in September 2007. The helicopters are operated by...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strategy Statement: Defence Forces Strategy Statement (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: On foot of changes to the Government in May 2008, I approved a revised Strategy Statement for the period 2008 — 2010 in August 2008. The revised Statement updated the Strategy Statement for 2008 — 2010 that had been published in February 2008. Clearly, the economic environment has deteriorated dramatically in the period since the Strategy Statement was published. As with the public...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 64 together. In common with other areas of the public service a reduction of 3% in payroll costs has been applied to the Defence Forces. Recruitment was suspended in late 2008 pending consideration of the best means by which to achieve this reduction. My officials and the military authorities are keeping the situation under close review on an ongoing...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos 59, 71, 77, 79, 81, 86 and 89 together. The mandate of the European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA, established under the authority of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1778 (2007), is due to expire on 15 March 2009. Ireland is the second largest contributor to the mission with 439 Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Coiste an [i]Asgard[/i]: Coiste an [i]Asgard[/i] (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister for Defence is ex-officio a director of Coiste an Asgard. At present the other members of the board are: Ms Joannes Berkery Mr Brian Byrne Mr James Gleeson Mr Pat Hogan Mr Gerard Kiely Commodore Frank Lynch Mr Paddy Madden Mr Gerry McMahon Mr Seamus McLoughlin Ms Kalanne O'Leary Mr Eoin O'Mahony Mr Joe McPeake Mr Noel Ryan I am satisfied that all of the directors have relevant...

Written Answers — [i]Asgard II[/i] Replacement Vessel: [i]Asgard II[/i] Replacement Vessel (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy will be aware, I have accepted the unanimous recommendation of the board of Coiste an Asgard not to proceed with the salvage of Asgard II. The main reason for that decision was that I considered that the risks were too great to commit to spending a sum in the region of €2 million at this time on a salvage effort where the outcome is uncertain. I also had to consider the cost...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 90 together. In the 2000 White Paper on Defence, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be based on an 8-ship flotilla and committed to a modernisation and replacement strategy to maximise the operational capacity of those 8 vessels consistent with the roles assigned to the Naval Service. The White Paper specifically provides that "New...