Results 9,061-9,080 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team: Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 61 together. 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 the Garda Síochána not below the rank of Inspector. The...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 36, 43, 49, 51, 52, 56, 57, 62, 69 and 70 together. The EUFOR Tchad/RCA Mission is progressing most satisfactorily. The 97th Infantry Battalion has just completed its four month tour of duty and has been replaced by the 98th Infantry Battalion drawn from the 1st Southern Brigade. The operational situation since July has been relatively quiet due mainly...

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

Willie O'Dea: As part of the implementation of the Government decision to locate 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 — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A meeting of the Oireachtas Consultation Group is being arranged for an early date. I am very grateful for the nominations by party leaders of Deputies Jimmy Deenihan, Joe Costello and Aengus Ó Snodaigh as representatives. A representative of the independent members will be added to complete the Group. The inaugural meeting of the re-constituted group will be informed of progress on...

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

Willie O'Dea: It is not planned to deploy members of the Defence Forces to serve with either the European Union Monitoring Mission (EUMM) or the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Cease-fire Monitoring Mission in Georgia. One of the reasons for deploying troops in particular missions is the opportunity to demonstrate Ireland's support for relevant organisation. In the case of the...

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

Willie O'Dea: The position is that there are a number of physical and medical standards laid down by the Military Authorities for entry to the Defence Forces. These requirements are based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and having regard to the nature of the job, the duties of military service and the training exercises undertaken by members of the Defence Forces. The Medical Corps...

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

Willie O'Dea: Arising from the accident in Granard, Co. Longford in June 2007, a Study Group was formed to advise on the introduction of a roll over protection system for troop carrying vehicles incorporating roll bars and safety belts. The total requirement identified by the Study Group included the fitting of the system to 135 trucks. The fleet is made up of 4 different makes/models of vehicles with...

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

Willie O'Dea: The gross cost of Defence Force Pensions for the years 2003-2007 is set out below. 2003 — €133m (million) 2004 — €143m 2005 — €150m 2006 — €164m 2007 — €177m These amounts include all superannuation type benefits (pensions and gratuities) payable to ex-members of the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) and their dependants. Details of the average ages and service of all...

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

Willie O'Dea: The number of medical staff within the Defence Forces is thirty-two (32) comprised of twenty-two (22) Medical Officers, one (1) Psychologist, four (4) Dentists, one (1) Periodontist and four (4) Pharmacists. In addition, there are twenty-three (23) members of the Army Nursing Service. The number of medical staff who hold a Psychiatric qualification is one (1). The number of medical...

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

Willie O'Dea: 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 1.6%. The reduction in the Defence Estimate will be...

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

Willie O'Dea: The significant decrease referred to by the Deputy is due to the completion of two major projects for the Air Corps during 2008. Firstly, a provision of €14 million was included in the 2008 estimates to complete the purchase of two additional AW 139 helicopters from AgustaWestland in Italy. This contract will be completed this month with the acceptance of the last helicopter and will result...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 66 together. The nature of peacekeeping operations is changing from traditional UN led missions to regionally led peace operations with the onus being placed on regional states to organise and assemble peacekeeping troops for the purpose of discharging a UN Mandate. These missions represent the trend in UN peacekeeping where missions operate under the...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 72 together. The Defence property portfolio is kept under ongoing review by military authorities and the staff in my Department to ensure the most effective use of military resources having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces. This includes ongoing review of the organisation, structure and formation of the forces and the...

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

Willie O'Dea: The reduction of three percent (3%) in payroll costs will apply to the Defence Forces. Recruitment to the Defence Forces will be rescheduled in order to stay within the revised allocation. The Defence Forces will continue to undertake the roles laid down for them by Government. The position will be monitored on an ongoing basis during 2009.

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

Willie O'Dea: The number of personnel serving in Monaghan and Cavan Barracks is 200 and 128 respectively. I am sure the Deputy will join me in welcoming the return to normality in the border area arising from the peace process. A consequence of this has been the withdrawal of the British Army deployments together with reduced paramilitary activity. This in turn has removed the rationale for us retaining...

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...