Results 9,381-9,400 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Regulatory Impact Analysis: Regulatory Impact Analysis (17 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: My Department did not undertake any screening or full regulatory impact analysis during the years in question.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (17 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The availability of gym facilities for members of the RDF is subject to Health and Safety restrictions and requires co-ordination by unit commanders. The availability of qualified PDF physical training instructors to supervise physical fitness training in the RDF is contingent on their work demands in the PDF. The military authorities have informed me that a Reserve Defence Force physical...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (17 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have informed me that a Reserve Defence Force physical training policy is currently being developed. As the development of this policy is a work in progress, the range of issues and challenges associated with raising the standard of physical fitness in the RDF and proposals to address those challenges are actively being considered by the military authorities. A four...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (17 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A four week personal training programme, to guide reserve personnel who wish to prepare for Defence Forces fitness tests required for certain RDF courses and the Integrated Reserve, has been introduced on a pilot basis in 2008. The use of the programme in their preparation is dependent on the individual choice of each reservist. The military authorities estimate that 160 reserve personnel...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (17 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that the disposal of obsolete military equipment takes place on an ongoing basis as the need arises. The disposal of such equipment usually follows from the recommendation from a military Board of Survey, which confirms that the equipment is of no further value to the Defence Forces. In the majority of cases old but operable weaponry is decommissioned by members of the Defence...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (17 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation in December 2003 provides for the transfer of all my Department's Dublin based Civil Service Staff to Newbridge, County Kildare. The contracts have been signed and work has commenced on the building. The construction of the Department's new headquarters is expected to be completed at the end of 2009. I am informed that the total estimated cost of...

Written Answers — Departmental Projects: Departmental Projects (17 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise the living, training, operational and accommodation facilities available to the Defence Forces both Permanent and Reserve. The programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings. Since 1999 over €250 million has been...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The expenditure in 2007 on public relations in my Department was €214,000. This was in respect of preparatory work for the Public Information and Awareness Campaign on Emergency Planning. The contract for this campaign was awarded following an EU-wide tender competition. The contract provided for the development of the emergency planning website, the drafting, publication and...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (5 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. The relevant bodies within the remit of my Department are the Civil Defence Board, the Board of Coiste an Asgard, the Central Council of the Irish Red Cross and the Army Pensions Board. I wish to state that there have been no advertising campaigns to promote policies or programmes being implemented by those bodies or by my Department in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested is set out in the following table: Year Total Interest Paid Top Three Beneficiaries Interest Amount (€) (€) 2003 3,935.96 Coillte Teoranta 649.76 Kilrush Creek Marina Ltd 280.11 Mater Private Hospital 245.34 2004 2,924.01 Compass Catering Services 394.35 Irish Shell Ltd 267.82 Esso Irl Ltd 191.92 2005 2,353.74 Tedcastles Oil Products 880.35 ...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (4 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The strength of the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) as a percentage of it's establishment is in the region of 90% and has been so for the period in question. The strength is sufficient to meet anticipated operational requirements. For security and operational reasons it has not been military practice to publicise exact details of the establishment or actual strength of the ARW. There is an existing...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (4 Jun 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 Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (4 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Forces Review Implementation Plan provides for the development of an Integrated Army Reserve. A pilot scheme for the Integrated Reserve was commenced in 2007 and this scheme has been extended into 2008. The military authorities have advised me that members of the RDF are trained in all military equipment appropriate to their corps and rank in accordance with the Annual...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (4 Jun 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that the name of the contractor engaged by the Defence Forces to transport Defence Forces equipment from Cameroon to Chad is SDV Bollore, a French company. The contract was awarded in early April following a tender competition and the transportation of the equipment commenced in mid April 2008 and is due to be completed by the end of this week.

Written Answers — Departmental Projects: Departmental Projects (4 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Common Defence and Security Policy: Common Defence and Security Policy (29 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The provision on common defence in the Lisbon Treaty largely carries forward the existing Treaty provision on the possibility of the development of an EU common defence. The term is not further defined in the Treaties. However, any decision to move to a common defence would have to be taken by unanimity, providing Ireland with the right to veto any such proposal. There is currently no...

Written Answers — European Defence Agency: European Defence Agency (29 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The European Defence Agency was set up in 2004 during Ireland's Presidency of the EU. Its mission is "to support the Member States in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future". Ireland participates in the framework of the Agency and is...

Written Answers — European Defence Agency: European Defence Agency (29 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The European Defence Agency was established under a Joint Action of the Council of Ministers on 12 July, 2004 "to support the Member States and the Council in their effort to improve European defence capabilities in the field of crisis management and to sustain the European Security and Defence Policy as it stands now and develops in the future". The EDA is an Agency of the European Union....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (28 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There is a comprehensive range of national and EU legislation dealing with employment rights and protection of employees. Members of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) are not "employees" or "workers" in the generally accepted meaning of those terms. The Defence Acts 1954 to 2007 prescribe that the Defence Forces shall consist of a Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and a Reserve Defence Force....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (28 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Members of the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) who are injured in the course of their duties may apply for compensation under a non-statutory compensation scheme administered by my Department. Typically, this would cover injuries sustained on official duty while participating in annual camp, field days, overnights, exercises, parades and courses of instruction. Compensation is payable under...