Results 9,101-9,120 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Departmental Staff. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: That is a very interesting question and the answer is "No". Whatever happens, Army people who need medical assistance will get it. As the Deputy will be aware from the replies to previous questions, in so far as we cannot provide that medical assistance ourselves, we contract it in from outside. The cost of doing that for this year is estimated at approximately €4.5 million. I would...

Departmental Staff. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The answer to the first question is "No". There will be no reduction in personnel. Some 635 troops and 46 civilian staff are being moved throughout the different barracks. The troops will be moved to the different barracks being organised for them. The civilian staff can accept redeployment if redeployment is available for them. At the moment I am discussing with the Department of...

Departmental Staff. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It will reduce it slightly. It is currently at approximately maximum strength. We are at approximately 22 or 23 below the 10,500 to the best of my recollection. It will mean that the average figure of 10,500 will drop slightly. I am told it will not drop very considerably.

Overseas Missions. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 38, 44, 177 and 178 together. Ireland is currently contributing 746 Defence Forces personnel to 13 different missions throughout the world. Full details, including ranks, of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the following tabular statement. While personnel from all services are liable for overseas service and serve overseas, as a...

Overseas Missions. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It is implicit in the Deputy's question that a request will be made by the UN. However, we have been requested by the UN to contribute to the blue hat mission that will follow the EUFOR mission after 15 March. Before making a final decision, we must consider various issues such as the composition of the proposed mission, its mandate, which countries currently involved in Chad will remain...

Overseas Missions. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As Deputy Deenihan pointed out, transporting the equipment overseas was a major factor in the cost of the mission. We have incurred that cost and it would be bad value for money to rush back on 15 March. The Exchequer is paying for this mission but when the UN takes over, it will carry the cost, by and large, although the organisation pays in arrears and is sometimes a good bit in arrears...

Overseas Missions. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Under our UNSAS commitment, up to 850 troops can be deployed overseas at any time. Sometimes that number is slightly exceeded but that is the general position. This equates to 10% of the enlisted personnel in our standing Army. The military authorities manage the figures and I have been assured by them that our commitment to the battle group will not be affected. We can participate in...

Overseas Missions. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There is no contradiction. Ireland is part of the Nordic battle group and our commitment is to 95 troops. A total of 746 troops are deployed abroad currently. If our full complement abroad was maintained and troops were needed to be on stand-by for the Nordic battle group for a period or if troops had to be deployed in one of its operations, we would still be within the 850 troop limit.

Defence Forces Remuneration. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In response to the Comptroller and Auditor General, the Accounting Officer of my Department stated it was the Department's view that the conditions that led to the introduction of Border duty allowance, BDA, no longer exist, and I agree with that assessment. The Defence Forces have played a key role in the Border area in aid to the civil power. The overall nature of the Defence Forces...

Defence Forces Remuneration. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It is not a net cost. Our agreement with the representative associations of the Defence Forces is that members of the Defence Forces who are entitled to security duty allowance for their security duty do not get it if they are also in receipt of Border duty allowance. The net cost is just over half of that €25 million. The best explanation is that the Defence Forces have undergone a...

Defence Forces Remuneration. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It is okay.

Defence Forces Remuneration. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I appreciate that Deputy Crawford has legitimate concerns about the closure of Monaghan barracks. I would prefer to be standing here saying no barracks will be closed.

Defence Forces Remuneration. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The situation has changed considerably, as Deputy Deenihan is aware. We will not discuss that matter now. On negotiations, the Chief of Staff will tomorrow visit all of the barracks affected by the closures and speak with the relevant personnel by Friday at the latest. There is a compensation scheme for those who incur moving costs, including travel expenses and expenses associated with...

Defence Forces Reserve. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 outlines the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, comprising approximately 12,000 personnel. The RDF review implementation plan was formally launched in July 2004 and provides for the phased enhancement of reserve capabilities until the end of 2009. The plan set out the proposed establishment of the reserve. The non-integrated element of the reserve...

Defence Forces Reserve. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I deny that the Government has abandoned the reserve. Everyone understands that numerous savings across different sections and Departments are necessary given the current budgetary situation. Beyond the reserve, there has been a decline in the number of volunteers. This is affecting the reserve's numbers. Another impact stems from the active attempts to remove non-effective personnel from...

Defence Forces Reserve. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Deenihan is correct that the response to date has been disappointing. Perhaps the requirements are too rigorous. However, there is no intention of abandoning the scheme. Instead, we are considering various ways of making it more attractive and easier for people to come forward.

Army Barracks. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 42 together. Defence Forces married quarters are provided to serving members until their retirement or resignation. Defence Forces regulations state the quarters must be vacated within 15 days of leaving the service. The current situation has arisen as a result of a failure to do so. Following previous attempts to resolve the situation regarding the...

Army Barracks. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy Deenihan that the first letter may have been a tad insensitive. When it was brought to my attention, a second letter issued. A meeting with the families is to take place towards the end of October. I am aware of the difficulties for people in securing loans in the current economic climate. I assure Deputies Deenihan and Andrews that I will instruct my officials to be...

Army Barracks. (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Yes.

Morris Tribunal: Statements (Resumed) (22 Oct 2008)

Willie O'Dea: On a point of order, Deputy Shatter has referred to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform as a "gurrier". Does the Acting Chairman consider this in order? Will he give the Deputy an opportunity to withdraw the remark?