Results 8,741-8,760 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: The savings we have decided on at present is almost €2 billion in current expenditure for the remainder of 2009. This is across Departments and includes the pension levy. As Members will have seen in today's newspapers, the Department of Defence has played its part. The savings contributed by the Department of Defence to this year's €2 billion, which is all we have discussed, does not...

Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I made that commitment in good faith. The economic situation changed dramatically since then and the Department of Defence was asked to come up with savings. The only way we could make savings under some subheads was to close a number of barracks. This was done along the Border area where the British had closed practically all of their installations in view of the disappearance of the...

Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Indeed I have.

Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I hope I still do.

Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I passed through it quite recently and a few people waved in a very friendly manner at me.

Army Barracks. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Maybe they were only trying to encourage me to stop. With regard to Deputy Durkan's question there is an arrangement in the Departments of Defence and Finance that the proceeds from the sale of Department of Defence assets go to the Department of Defence. That has been the case traditionally. We use the proceeds to improve the infrastructure and equipment available to the Army. The money...

Defence Forces Pay. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy is aware, the Taoiseach announced yesterday a series of measures taken as part of the implementation of the framework for stabilisation, social solidarity and economic renewal. One measure announced was on the method of achieving savings of €1.4 billion on the public service pay bill. The bulk of the proposed savings will be achieved through a new pension-related payment to...

Defence Forces Pay. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I take Deputy O'Shea's point that many people in the Defence Forces are not particularly well paid. I will not get into an economic debate about it; suffice it to say the levy applies across the public sector. There are staff in other sections of the public sector who could equally be regarded as not being terribly well paid, yet they must also accept the levy. As the Deputy knows, it is...

Defence Forces Pay. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: It will not have an impact on pay. It is an additional €15 million we were asked to find during the course of the recent social solidarity negotiations.

Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 222 together. The Naval Service comprises 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...

Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I do not foresee any diminution of the service we are providing. On the enhancement of coastal surveillance, the Deputy will be aware I am doing my best at Government level to obtain replacement vessels for the Naval Service that will be more effective than some of those used at present. This, in itself, will certainly enhance the service.

Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I accept what Deputy O'Shea said. It was decided in the early 1990s to set up a joint task force comprising the Revenue Commissioners, who have primary responsibility in this regard, the Naval Service and the Garda Síochána. When intelligence is received on a possible drug importation into the country, the task force gets together to monitor the situation, to prevent the drugs coming in...

Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I do not disagree with much of what Deputy Sheehan is saying. I am satisfied with the sufficiency of manpower and facilities to patrol not only the south-west Cork coast, but the coast generally. I am satisfied also that the best possible use is being made of the existing facilities and that the customs officers and the Coast Guard in particular are doing a tremendous job. Of course, if we...

Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: As I already outlined, the position is that when something comes to the attention of the Garda Síochána, a task force is put together involving the Naval Service.

Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: No. What happens if something comes to the attention of the Naval Service is that it contacts the Garda Síochána and takes direction from it. That is my understanding of how the system operates. Regarding the €15 million to which Deputy O'Shea adverted earlier, that will not affect our programme of Naval Service vessel replacement. We are evaluating tenders on the replacement of those...

Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: Regarding Deputy O'Shea's question, military intelligence is involved but I do not know to what extent. I do not know what percentage of its time is allocated to people trafficking or drug trafficking. It puts a heavy focus on internal security of the State, as the Deputy is aware, in regard to members of foreign-based terrorist groups in particular.

Crime Prevention. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I appreciate that. With regard to Deputy Durkan's comments on air surveillance, the navy can get involved in one scenario outside the structure of a task force. The CASA aircraft occasionally carry members of the drug teams in an observational capacity to monitor and so on. I cannot disagree that if we had sufficient resources, more air surveillance would be useful.

Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 146 together. I was pleased to launch the second report of the Independent Monitoring Group, IMG, on 17 December last. I would like to especially thank Dr. Doyle, the members of the IMG and all the other parties, both within and beyond the Defence Forces, who contributed to the completion of this comprehensive and timely report. The IMG was...

Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with the Deputy regarding the major cultural change and I appreciate his acknowledgement of the progress made. A total of 40 recommendations arise from the 2008 report and, with regard to his question on the timescale, a new report will be made at the end of 2013. I take his point about the difference between the barracks setting and the field setting. There has been controversy...

Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Feb 2009)

Willie O'Dea: When I took on this job in 2004, it coincided with the first IMG report, Response to the Challenge of a Workplace. The change in attitude and culture since has been significant. There is a recognition and realisation throughout the Defence Forces from top to bottom that bullying, harassment and inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated. As the Deputy acknowledged, two systems are in...