Results 9,321-9,340 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In regard to Deputy Wall's first question, comments were made to an Irish newspaper on 18 June by a representative of the UNHCR. Within hours of the statement, the UNHCR officially contacted the Chief of Staff and me to apologise for those remarks and to thank the Army for the work it has done on the ground. Later that day, I met the regional representative of the UNCHR in Camp Ciara in Goz...

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The cost will be €57 million, a large part of which covers the transportation of equipment to the region. Normally, contributing countries to UN-led missions are reimbursed for most of the costs they incur. If a mission is organised by the European Union or the African Union at the behest of the UN, each country carries its own costs. I do not know whether a hybrid arrangement can be...

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I visited Chad from 16 to 18 June 2008 to see at first hand the work of Defence Forces personnel serving with EUFOR. I was accompanied on my visit by the Secretary General of my Department, the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lt. General Dermot Earley, and Kyle O'Sullivan, Ireland's ambassador to Nigeria, accredited to Chad. On arrival in N'Djamena, I met with Chad's Secretary of...

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Two helicopters, which have not yet been allocated, will be provided to the Goz Beida area. I appreciate Deputy Deenihan's remarks in that regard. Also, I appreciate his remarks in regard to what has been done to date. I will pass on his comments to the Army. I take this opportunity to inform the House that I visited the camp and was very impressed, taking into account the distances and...

Overseas Missions. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with the Deputy that much of the €57 million was spent on transporting the equipment to Chad, a factor which will have to be taken into account in consideration of a request for an extension to the mission.

Waste Disposal. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In June 2007, I was asked by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, if the Defence Forces would provide explosives for use in the disposal of a number of hydrogen cyanide cylinders in the possession of a private company and for a site on which they could be disposed of safely. The disposal of commercial hazardous waste is not a matter for the Department of Defence or...

Waste Disposal. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: While I can understand the logic of the questions raised by Deputy McManus — I know she is representing her constituency and wants to get answers for her constituents — I must respectfully suggest that many of them would be better addressed to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and South Dublin County Council. The Department of Defence involvement in this...

Waste Disposal. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy McManus correctly stated that four sites were examined. The site was selected on the basis that the other three sites did not meet the criteria in terms of safety. I do not know the locations of the other sites. However, I will obtain that information and communicate it to the Deputy. The Deputy is correct that the burn-off and explosion was cancelled as a result of sabotage on the...

Waste Disposal. (2 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The answer is "No". I do not have it yet, but I will have it before the actual procedure takes place. If it had taken place last Monday as planned, I would have insisted on having that indemnity before we allowed it to go ahead on our property.

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (1 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Programme for Government 2007-2012 sets out the Government's intentions in this regard and includes plans to: establish the GPO as a museum of celebration of Irish progress and achievement across a broad spectrum as a landmark 1916 centenary project; support the creation of programmes of events in all cities and towns in Ireland;. make available to historians and to the public, records of...

Written Answers — Ambulance Service: Ambulance Service (1 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A Service Level Agreement between my Department and the Department of Health and Children for the provision of an Air Ambulance Service by the Air Corps was signed in September 2005 to formalise the arrangements for the existing service in relation to the provision of an air ambulance service. The signatories to the agreement are the Department of Health and Children, the Department of...

Written Answers — Waste Disposal: Waste Disposal (1 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I was approached last year by a private company requesting assistance under Major Emergency Management for the disposal of hazardous hydrogen cyanide cylinders. The company wrote to me on a number of occasions outlining concerns regarding the cylinders, the importance of disposing of them appropriately and requesting the assistance of the Defence Forces in this regard. The company was...

Written Answers — Ethics in Public Office Act: Ethics in Public Office Act (1 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: On occasion token gifts are exchanged between dignitaries on Ministerial trips abroad. I can confirm that I received no gift during or following my meeting with President Sirleaf on 1 March 2006.

Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (1 Jul 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In June 2006 (S180/20/10/0839B), the Government approved a schedule of Value for Money and Policy Reviews for the period 2006-2008 replacing the previous Expenditure Review Initiative and strengthening the institutional arrangements underpinning this process. Four reviews were scheduled for completion by the Department of Defence in this period. The Reviews and their current status are as...

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (26 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A site has been agreed in relation to the location of a new second level school at the Curragh. However, some details have yet to be finalised and officials from my Department will arrange to meet with both the Curragh Post Primary School and Co. Kildare VEC in the near future to finalise these matters.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Health Services: Defence Forces Health Services (26 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The medical care and treatment of enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force is provided either directly by the Medical Corps or, where considered appropriate, by Medical Corps referral to public facilities provided by the Health Service Executive. There is no provision to meet the cost of private medical care for enlisted personnel of the Defence Forces. Enlisted personnel, if they...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The details of grants-in-aid paid by my Department in 2007 and to date in 2008 are as follows: Payable To 2007 Expenditure 2008 Estimate Provision Expenditure to end May 2008 â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m Civil Defence Board 6.099 6.248 3.568 Irish Red Cross Society 0.931 0.951 0.541 Coiste an Asgard 0.879 0.803 0.515

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: On 21 July 2004 the Government approved the Heads of Bill following a recommendation by the Inter-Departmental Task force on the future management and development of the Curragh of Kildare. The Bill is with the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to the Government for drafting. My Department is reviewing the strategic, procedural and technical issues relating to the role of the proposed...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (25 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has issued no European Directives.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (24 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: During the period 28 February, 2006, to 2 March, 2006, I visited Liberia where I met with the Irish personnel of the 94th Infantry Battalion, United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). The primary purpose of my visit was to see at first hand the work of the Irish Defence Forces Personnel serving with UNMIL and to convey to them, on behalf of the Government and the people of Ireland, the deep...