Results 9,301-9,320 of 12,646 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Arising from the accident in Granard Co. Longford in June 2007, a Study Group advised on the introduction of a roll over protection system for troop carrying vehicles incorporating roll bars and safety belts. The Defence Forces have begun the process of setting up a programme for the purchase of this equipment. A sum of €400,000 has been allocated for expenditure on the systems for 2008 and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87, 115 and 122 together. As deputies will be aware, the days prior to my recent visit to Chad had been particularly tense in the region with ongoing clashes between Chadian Government troops and rebel forces. In response to these clashes, EUFOR immediately reinforced the area between the ongoing engagement and the IDP's/refugee camps and sent ground and air...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I wrote to all party leaders early this year, inviting them to nominate a representative to the All-Party Consultation Group on the commemoration of the 1916 Rising. The nominations have been received and arrangements for the completion of the Consultation Group, including representation of Independent members, will be finalised shortly.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 107 and 130 together. During the period 16 –18 June 2008, I took the opportunity to visit Chad, where 393 members of the Permanent Defence Force are currently serving with the UN mandated European Union military mission to Chad and the Central African Republic, EUFOR TCHAD/RCA. The primary purpose of my visit was to see at first hand the work of the...

Written Answers — Military Escorts: Military Escorts (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: From 1995 to 2004 an annual contribution of €2.86m was paid by the banks in respect of Army escorts. The contribution from the banks was designed to part-cover the total costs to the State of providing cash escorts. The agreement which I signed with the IBF on 11 May, 2005 provides that the banks will pay the total actual costs incurred by the Defence Forces in the provision of cash...

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

Willie O'Dea: The current strength of officers in the Permanent Defence Force and number commissioned from the ranks, as at 27 June 2008, is as follows: Service Strength Number Commissioned from the Ranks Army 1,085 65 Naval Service 152 3 Air Corps 146 4 Total 1,383 72 One of my main priorities as Minister for Defence has been to provide opportunities for enlisted personnel to advance into the...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 113 together. Military medical services and their facilities exist to maintain the health of the Defence Forces and to support them in operational and overseas activities. The focus of the military medical service is on primary care, occupational medicine, acute trauma management, preventative medical programmes and field medical training. The...

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

Willie O'Dea: The State Claims Agency deals with claims arising from accidents involving Defence Forces vehicles. The Agency has provided the information requested which is outlined in the form of a Tabular Statement. The State Claims Agency works with the Defence Forces on an ongoing basis to examine incidents in order to identify and obviate, if possible, any possible risks of injury to civilian and...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (2 Jul 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. In the 2000 White Paper on Defence, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be based on an 8-ship flotilla and committed to a modernisation and replacement strategy to maximise the operational capacity of those 8...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 135 together. Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the Cadetship Competition, General Service Enlistment, Apprenticeship Competition or Direct Entry Competitions which are held to fill vacancies in specialist appointments. Cadet Competition The number of applications received for the Cadetship Competition in 2006, 2007 and 2008 was...

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

Willie O'Dea: One property that was surplus to military requirements at Eldred Terrace, Cork has been disposed of in 2008. Six further properties are in the process of being disposed of. These are the former RDF Premises in Cahir, part of the lands at Renmore, Co. Galway, Ballincollig, Co. Cork, Kilcrohane, Co. Cork and two houses at Orchard Park, The Curragh. Under the Affordable Housing Initiative a...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (2 Jul 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 — Reserve Defence Force: Reserve Defence Force (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The yearly trend from April 2007 to April 2008 indicates a similar proportional decline in numbers for males and females in the Reserve. I have previously acknowledged the fact that numbers in the Reserve have decreased over recent years despite the significant improvements arising on foot of the implementation of the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan. Steps to incentivise...

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

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. On 31 May 2008, the most recent date for which figures are available, the actual total strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 10,364. The Government remains fully committed to the policy of...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 118 and 140 together. 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. Site acquisition, building construction and fit-out costs are borne...

Written Answers — Reserve Defence Force: Reserve Defence Force (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan provides for the re-organisation and development of the Reserve Defence Forces on a phased basis up to the end of 2009. The development of an Integrated Army Reserve is included in the Plan. A pilot scheme for the Integrated Reserve was run in 2007 and while numbers participating were small (180 completed training), very valuable lessons...

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

Willie O'Dea: Initial returns for 2007 indicate that the Defence Forces participated in 37 ceremonial events, including State Ceremonies, during 2007. The total number of personnel involved in all these ceremonies was approximately 6,200. My Department does not compile costs for such events as a matter of course and it has not been possible in the time available to compile the full costs including salaries...

Written Answers — Reserve Defence Force: Reserve Defence Force (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation plan provides for a phased approach to enhancing the capabilities of the Reserve over the period to the end of 2009. The introduction of new RDF organisational structures, the development of new training syllabi, improved equipment and clothing have successfully been delivered as part of phase 1 of the plan. Phase 2 of the Implementation plan is...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for a new Reserve Defence Force. This blueprint outlined a new Reserve with a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF, better equipment and training and opportunities for reservists to serve on overseas peace support missions. An Implementation Plan has been developed that will ensure the realisation of the White Paper...

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

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years across all facets and elements of the Defence Forces. This investment has been assisted by pay savings arising from the reduction in the strength of the Permanent Defence Force in the context of the White Paper of 2000,...