Results 8,621-8,640 of 12,646 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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...

Written Answers — Air Corps Investigation: Air Corps Investigation (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by General Officer Commanding Air Corps that a comprehensive investigation into the precautionary landing of an Air Corps AW139 helicopter on 2 March has been initiated. A full report into the incident will be provided to me following technical discussions with the helicopter manufacturer, and on foot of analysis and interpretation of the Flight Data Recorder held on board the...

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

Willie O'Dea: From 1995 to 2004, an annual contribution of €2.86m was paid by the banks in respect of Army escorts. The contribution from the banks was designed to part-cover the total costs to the State of providing cash escorts. On 11 May 2005, I signed a formal agreement with the Irish Bankers Federation, which provides that the banks pay the total actual costs incurred by the Defence Forces in the...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 362 to 364, inclusive, together. 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...

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

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility for the maintenance and restoration of the public peace rests with An Garda Siochána. Among the assigned roles to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is to aid the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, An Garda Siochána). The Defence Forces Annual Training Plan provides for training in a broad spectrum of activities, including...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Staff: Defence Forces Medical Staff (10 Mar 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The number of medical staff within the Defence Forces is thirty-three (33) comprised of twenty-four (24) Medical Officers, one (1) Psychologist, four (4) Dentists, one (1) Periodontist and three (3) Pharmacists. In addition, there are twenty-two (22) members of the Army Nursing Service. The number of medical personnel serving in Ireland is thirty (30). The number serving or assigned for...