Results 9,261-9,280 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It still is.

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (9 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There will be no representatives from my Department visiting Bejing in an official capacity, to coincide with the 2008 Olympic Games.

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (9 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is detailed in the accompanying table: Name of Publication/Booklet Details of Publication Breakdown of Costs â'¬ Cadetship Competitions 30,000 Booklets, 10,600 Application forms 15,500 Apprenticeship Competitions 15,000 Booklets, 10,000 Application forms 7,000 General Service Recruitment 10,000 Leaflets 1,100 Naval Service Questions and...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (8 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I would refer the Deputy to the answer I gave to Parliamentary Question 191 on July 7th 2008 concerning Columb Barracks, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. The same situation applies to the other military barracks the Deputy mentions. 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...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 775 to 777, inclusive, together. The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. Name Date of Appointment Salary Scale Derek Mooney (Special Adviser) 7 May 2008 €84,066 – €103,982 Suzanne Coogan (Press Adviser) 7 May 2008 €84,066 – €103,982 Press Office Position Held Number Salary Scale Press Officer 1 €64,565 –...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Value for Money Review of Clothing Procurement in the Defence Forces was published in September 2007. This review has identified potential for increased efficiency and effectiveness in the clothing storage and distribution system. An implementation group, tasked with drawing up a detailed implementation plan has been established. The anticipated improvement in inventory turnover ratios...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Value for Money Review of the usage of military training land is currently being progressed and is scheduled for completion by the end of December 2008. As the review group have not completed their deliberations, I cannot comment on any potential value for money improvements that may arise.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following table: Date Total Employed Number Without Office Space/ Work Station 30 June 2008 *424 NIL *This figure represents the total number of officers serving in my Department, including those officers who are worksharing, those who are in temporary employment and those who are working on a contract basis.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (8 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 781 and 782 together. When demolition of the steelworks at Haulbowline commenced in the summer of 2005, it was agreed by all interested parties that dust monitoring equipment be installed on the Naval Base. The monitoring equipment selected and installed in two locations on the Base was as follows: 1. Bergerhoff dust deposition gauges: These record on a...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The relevant bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board, Coiste an Asgard and the Army Pensions Board. The estimated administrative costs of each agency for 2008 is outlined in the following table: Agency Name Estimated Administrative Costs in 2008 â'¬ Civil Defence Board 1,740,000 Coiste an Asgard 124,884 Army Pensions Board 111,000

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The salary levels of all staff in my Department exceed the minimum wage.

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (8 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined as follows: 2002 — A Report on The Nature and Extent of any Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination and Sexual Harassment in The Defence Forces was commissioned (the 'Doyle Report'). The report was drawn up under the aegis of a Group chaired by Dr. Eileen Doyle. The Group also included civil servants from the Department of Defence as...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (3 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A Working Group, comprising civil and military representatives, was established in July 2004 to review the Department's existing property portfolio, taking account of White Paper implementation, the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force and current military requirements, and to make recommendations accordingly. All properties within my Department's property portfolio were considered by...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (3 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In general terms, medals are currently awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria such as their length of service, for service overseas and for acts of bravery associated with such service both at home and overseas. Members who serve overseas, subject to certain criteria, are currently eligible for the award of the UN Peacekeepers Medal. This medal is only...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy will be aware that the Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin-based civil service staff, together with a number of military personnel, to Newbridge, Co. Kildare and the transfer of Defence Force Headquarters (DFHQ) to the Curragh. Approximately 83% of clerical/administrative staff are now in place in preparation for the move to...

Written Answers — Efficiency Reviews: Efficiency Reviews (3 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In line with the Budget 2008 announcement, my Department has engaged in the efficiency review exercise with a view to identifying possible savings on administrative spending. The issues arising on foot of this exercise are currently being considered in the context of preparation of the 2009 estimates.

Written Answers — Hazardous Waste: Hazardous Waste (3 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government is responsible for the remediation of the former ISPAT site. In view of the concerns being raised about the site, my Department has instructed a contractor to conduct soil and air analysis. This analysis is independent of any other analysis being carried out. There are a number of air monitors at the Naval base that were put...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A total of seven members of staff of the Department of Defence have received support to participate in postgraduate educational courses in the years 2004 to 2008. This figure includes one member of staff whose course is in progress.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Ombudsman: Defence Forces Ombudsman (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 98, 105, 123 and 133 together. I welcome the second annual report of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces covering the period January 2007 to December 2007. This is a further milestone in the development of the Office which became operational on the 1st December 2005 and which itself represented a significant development in the modernisation of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 95 together. An order for two (2) man portable mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Systems, commonly referred to as UAVs, was placed with Aeronautics Defence Systems Limited from Israel, in May 2007. The value of the order was in the region of €780,000, inclusive of VAT. The award of the contract followed on from a two stage tender competition in which eight...