Results 8,901-8,920 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Control of Firearms: Control of Firearms (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: An Garda Síochána have the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, an Garda Síochána), which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations and the provision of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A tender competition is well advanced for the acquisition of Light Tactical Armoured Vehicles for the Defence Forces. The intention is that the LTAV will complement the Mowag Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) in the conduct of conventional and Peace Support Operations and will fill a gap that exists between soft-skinned vehicles and the Mowags. The acquisition of Light Tactical Vehicles is...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Administration subheads of the Defence Estimate for 2009 represent a small proportion (less than 3%) of the total Estimate. Pay of the civil service staff of the Department accounts for the bulk of the expenditure under these subheads. In that regard the pay provision for 2009 represents a reduction in real terms of 3% on the 2008 allocation. In the current economic situation, it is not...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As I have said in response to many questions in this House, Defence Forces expenditure and properties are kept under constant review in terms of addressing Defence Force requirements and ensuring the most appropriate organisation of the Defence Forces taking account of the operational requirements and available resources. The procurement and purchasing procedures are designed and operated to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Members of the Reserve Defence Force undertake both paid and unpaid training on a part-time voluntary basis. Given the limited time that members of the Reserve can devote to training, the primary thrust of such training is on developing the requisite military skills. In light of this limited availability, it would be impractical to introduce extensive physical training regimes during periods...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 119 and 215 together. Allianz Plc., with which Asgard II was insured in the sum of €3.8m, has conducted a tender competition for the salvage of the vessel. The proposals submitted are still under consideration. I expect that a decision as to whether to proceed with a salvage operation will be made within about two weeks. The question of procuring a...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The position is that tender competitions are usually run by my Department for the disposal of major assets such as aircraft and ships when they have reached the end of their economic working lives in the Defence Forces. Examples of these are the sales of the Naval Service ship, L.E. Deirdre in 2001 and a Gazelle helicopter, four Dauphin helicopters and six Marchetti helicopters in 2006....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The four Dauphin helicopters, special tools and spare parts were sold following an open tender competition to Rotor Leasing Incorporated in the USA for €311,000 in October 2006. The sale of the helicopters was advertised on the Department of Finance's e-tender website, the tender documents were also available from the Department of Defence's website and were made available to military...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board, the Board of Coiste an Asgard and the Army Pensions Board. It is not my intention to abolish or merge any of these bodies.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As part of the implementation of the Government decision to relocate the Defence Forces HQ under decentralisation, services currently provided by St Bricins Military Hospital will transfer to the Curragh. St Bricins will remain in operation as a military medical facility (MMF) serving the Eastern Brigade until a modern facility suitable for the Brigade is provided. Planning for the new...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The European Union Satellite Centre (EUSC) is an Agency of the Council of the European Union. Formerly operating as the Western European Union Satellite Centre, the EUSC was incorporated as an agency of the EU in 2002 as part of the transfer of functions from the Western European Union (WEU) to the European Union (EU) and more specifically to the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP)....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Organisation conference was held on the 13th November 2008 and was attended by the senior management teams in both the Department and the Defence Forces. The focus of the conference was on effective planning. The topics covered were defence capability development, performance measurement and effective management of the defence budget within the current resource constraints. A...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland has participated in EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina since December 2004, the successor mission to the Stabilisation force (SFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina with which Ireland had previously been serving since 1997. EUFOR was established under the authority of the UN Security Council Resolution 1575 of 22 November, 2004. The Irish contingent with EUFOR currently comprises 44...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The gross total allocation for my Department in 2009 is €1,061 million, comprising €852 million in the Defence Estimate and €209 million in the Army Pensions Estimate. When compared with the allocation for 2008, this represents a reduction of 4% in the Defence Estimate and an increase of 10% in the Army Pensions Estimate, giving an overall reduction of 1.6%. The reduction in the Defence...

Written Answers — National Monuments: National Monuments (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A ceremony to mark the dedication of the "National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces who died in the service of the State" was held at Merrion Square on Saturday 8th November 2008. The ceremony was led by an tUachtarán, Mrs. Mary McAleese, who laid a wreath at the memorial. The ceremony featured a military parade consisting of members of the Army, the Air Corps, the Naval Service,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order rests with an Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Gardaí as required. Requests for aid to the civil power are normally made by a member of an Garda Síochána not below the rank of Inspector. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Team respond when a...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Nominations in respect of the composition of the Oireachtas Consultation Group are now complete. Arrangements are being made for a meeting of the Group to be held at an early date. The inaugural meeting of the re-constituted group will be informed of progress on major projects in commemorative activities and the consideration towards a framework for the Centenary commemorative programme.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I have set out in the table below the number by grade and rank of civil servants in my Department and in agencies under the aegis of my Department: Grade Title Number of Staff 1995 2000 2005 2008 Secretary General 1 1 1 1 Assistant Secretary 2 2 2 2 Head of Corporate Services 1 1 1 1 Principal 8 11 13.8 14.5 Chief Technical Officer 1 1 0 0 Professional Accountant 1 1 0 1 Assistant...

Written Answers — Air Corps Equipment: Air Corps Equipment (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The issue of the replacement of the Air Corps Cessna Fleet is under consideration. The question of funding the replacement programme has to be considered in tandem with the overall equipment requirements of the Defence Forces generally and the funding available for this. As the Deputy may be aware, a very significant level of investment in new equipment for the Air Corps has taken place in...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Nov 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 133 and 216 together. The issue in relation to the certification of the two helicopters for use with passengers arose in September 2008 and was a regulatory, licensing issue relating to civilian registered helicopters. It did not reflect in any way on the safety, technical or operational functions of the helicopters, which continued to be used for cargo...