Results 9,041-9,060 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces maintain specialist Search and Clearance teams for deployment in each brigade area of the Defence Forces and on most overseas deployments. These teams comprise of specially trained personnel from the Corps of Engineers. They are trained to operate a wide range of specialist detection equipment, including metal detection systems. The Defence Forces provide assistance to An...

Written Answers — Civilianisation Programme: Civilianisation Programme (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence (2000) covers the potential benefits of civilianisation and contracting out of certain military posts. It recognises that civilianisation could "..release personnel for operational duties for which they are specifically trained". It could release them "from essentially administrative and other tasks which can more appropriately be undertaken by civilians." It...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: With regard to Ireland's participation in future Battlegroups, we are committed in principle to participation in the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG), which will be on stand-by for the first six (6) months of 2011. Other contributors to the Nordic Battlegroup are Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia. Informal discussions have also taken place between staff in the...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The lands owned by the Department of Defence at Templebreedy, Co. Cork consist of approximately 37 acres. These lands are surplus to military requirements having been vacated a number of years ago. It is intended to dispose of these lands through a sale on the open market. The Pitch and Putt Club referred to by the Deputy has not operated since October 2005 following an instruction from the...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision of 8th July 2008 set out a requirement for savings to be achieved across the public sector. In this context, the planned recruitment and awareness campaign for the Reserve Defence Force has been postponed. This decision was not taken lightly and it is intended to re-visit this important project when the prevailing budgetary situation permits. As you will be aware there...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Earlier this year the projected figure for recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force in 2008 was in the region of 690 general service recruits, 30 apprentices 45 Cadets. To date in 2008 a total of 506 general service recruits have been enlisted of which 440 were to the Army and 66 to the Naval Service. Following the Cadetship Competition 41 Cadets commenced their cadet training on 29...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A detailed breakdown of the number of recruits enlisted in the Reserve Defence Force and the number discharged since the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force on 1 October 2005 are in the form of Tabular Statements. Recruited to Army and Naval Service Reserve Year Number 2005 1,069 2006 1,124 2007 972 2008 to 31 August, 2008 890 Total 4,055 Discharged from the Army and...

Written Answers — Disposal of Firearms: Disposal of Firearms (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that in the 1990s the Defence Forces provided storage facilities in Clancy Barracks, Dublin for weapons and small arms ammunition belonging to the Garda Technical Bureau. This arrangement was for the purpose of storage only and lasted up until the closure of Clancy Barracks in December 2001. The Defence Forces did not destroy any weapons or ammunition on behalf of the Garda...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland participated in the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG), which was on stand-by from 1 January 2008 to 30 June 2008. The other members of the Nordic Battlegroup were Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia. The Defence Forces contribution to the NBG was an Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Improvised Explosive Device Disposal (EOD/IEDD) contingent with its own security...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces receive ongoing training and equipment to enable them to participate fully in UN, EU and other missions overseas. Troops selected for overseas service undergo a rigorous programme of training, designed to help them carry out their peacekeeping mission and to provide for their protection. Pre-deployment training is provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force and is...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: 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 in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies. The Naval...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 180 and 181 together. The gross total allocation for my Department in 2009 is €1,061m, comprising €852m in the Defence Estimate and €209m 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...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment and facilities for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years in this regard and this investment will continue in the future taking into account the financial situation year on year. The unprecedented level of expenditure on equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force as the strength sufficient to meet all foreseeable military requirements for the period comprehended by the White Paper (i.e. up to 2010). This remains the position. In common with other areas of the public service a payroll cut of 3% has been applied to the Defence Forces for...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In keeping with the commitments in the White Paper on Defence it is intended that the Defence Forces will continue to be modernised over the coming years. Any revenue accruing from the disposal of surplus Defence property will be used to finance equipment acquisition and infrastructure projects within the Defence Forces.

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: No decision has been made yet on the disposal of these Barracks. However, in keeping with Government policy the proceeds of any disposal will be reinvested in the Defence Forces.

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The consolidation of the Defence Forces formations into a smaller number of locations is a key objective of the White Paper on Defence. The proposals announced in the Budget have been developed in full consultation with the military authorities. The dispersal of personnel over an extended number of locations is a major impediment to essential collective training. It also imposes increased...

Toxic Waste. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Deenihan mentioned my assurance to the House. I am simply communicating to the House the results of the report. To reiterate, a joint meeting will be convened in Haulbowline, hopefully next week when the report is ready, between representatives of the naval staff and civilians and the details of the report will be explained to them. I will then immediately publish the report and...

Toxic Waste. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: My interpretation, from what I have been told of the report, is that there is no risk at all. Unless there is some other impediment to using the pitches, personnel should not be prevented from using them on the premise the report has discovered it is in any way dangerous to use them. My information is the report appears to give an absolutely clean bill of health to the site. The report...

Child Care Facilities. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A request to provide crèche facilities for members of the Defence Forces has been made by the Defence Forces representative associations. The Defence Forces partnership steering group, which was established following on from Partnership 2000, has tasked a partnership sub-committee with examining the issue of the provision of child care facilities under a number of headings, including demand...