Results 9,441-9,460 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, a publicity and awareness campaign to promote recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces is being prepared and will be carried out later in the year. The campaign is likely to include advertising in print, broadcast media and via the Internet. A Request for Tender issued in March 2008 and seven tenders have been received. The...

Written Answers — Air Corps Equipment: Air Corps Equipment (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As Minister for Defence I am delighted with the level of investment in new equipment for the Air Corps in recent years. The comprehensive investment programme included: The delivery of eight Pilatus training aircraft at a total cost of €60m, inclusive of VAT. Two light utility EC 135 helicopters acquired from Eurocopter S.A.S. at a cost of €12.8m, inclusive of VAT. Six utility AW 139...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The position is that the day to day administration of recruitment in the Defence Forces is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff. I am informed by the military authorities that the Army Equitation School has an establishment of thirty-four (34) other ranks and vacancies presently exist for two (2) Non-Commissioned Officers and ten (10) Privates (Grooms). The 2008 recruitment process is...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The ongoing investment in modern equipment and facilities for the Defence Forces will continue in 2008, as will the major programme to provide modern accommodation for the Defence Forces, which has been ongoing over recent years. From the Army's perspective the major investment has been in the contracts for Mowag Armoured Personnel Carriers. In the period from 2001 to 2007 the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In accordance with the recommendations of the Independent Monitoring Group's report, "Response to the Challenge of a Workplace", a review group was established in February this year to review progress within the Defence Forces on the implementation of the recommendations of the original Doyle Report. The group is working under the chairmanship of Dr. Doyle and includes representatives of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I have had no specific discussions with the Department of Education and Science regarding the Defence Forces visiting schools. Defence Forces recruitment teams, on occasion, visit schools and third level institutions to provide briefings. These briefings include an explanation of the peacekeeping role of the Defence Forces throughout the world. The briefings also outline the Defence...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Organisation of National Ex-Servicemen and Women, or Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann Teoranta (ONET) has enjoyed the long-standing official recognition of the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. ONET is dedicated to looking after the welfare of all ex-service personnel of the Irish Defence Forces. A main objective of ONET is to ensure the welfare of ex-servicemen and women by...

Written Answers — Departmental Records: Departmental Records (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: An Taoiseach Mr. Bertie Ahern, T.D., announced in the context of the 90th Anniversary celebrations of 1916 that the Government had decided to make the Military Pension Archive, covering the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence, available to historians and to the public. It is the intention of the Government that the records will be made available in good time for the 100th anniversary of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In response to the Deputy's questions I wish to state that ministerial cars are driven by members of An Garda Siochána. Such vehicles are exempt from tolls under Section 62 of the Roads Act 1993. Accordingly, no cost arises to the Exchequer.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A claim for the payment of Instructors allowance to qualified MT Instructors with the Transport Company, Collins Barracks, Cork was received from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme (C&A Scheme) for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The claim is the subject of correspondence between the Department...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: On the issue of training, I am very satisfied that military training techniques are up to date in all respects. Defence Forces training plans are structured to provide the capabilities needed to execute the roles assigned to them by Government under the White Paper on Defence of February 2000. The challenges of preparing military units for participation in international peace support...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Security Escorts: Defence Forces Security Escorts (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Following a detailed formal agreement with the Irish Bankers Federation, which was signed on 11 May 2005, the banks pay the total actual costs incurred by the Defence Forces in the provision of cash escorts. Costs in respect of each 12 month period to end-December, are paid the following year on or before the 1st June. This is to allow for the compilation of returns from the brigades and...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As of 20 May 2008, a total of 792 members of the Permanent Defence Force are serving overseas. Of the 792 currently serving overseas, 13 are Air Corps personnel and 4 are members of the Naval Service. When full deployment to Chad is completed on 1 June 2008 a further 10 members of the Air Corps and 16 members of the Naval Service will have been deployed overseas. No Air Corps or Naval...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: With regard to Ireland's participation in future Battlegroups, we are committed in principle to participation in the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG) which will stand up again in 2011. Other contributors to the Nordic Battlegroup are Sweden, acting as Framework Nation, Finland, Norway and Estonia. Informal discussions have also taken place between staff in the Department of Defence and...

Written Answers — Coastal Surveillance: Coastal Surveillance (22 May 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. The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships. All eight ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies. The Naval...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy will be aware, significant investment has been made in Defence Forces equipment in recent years to provide them with the most modern equipment to undertake tasks assigned to them by Government. The equipment issued to the Defence Forces is in keeping with the most modern requirements from the health and safety perspective. Ongoing investment in the Defence Forces will ensure...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland is currently contributing 763 Defence Forces personnel to 15 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas on UN mandated operations, observer missions or undertaking representative or staff postings are listed in the tabular statement. The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are deployed, are the UN Mandated EU...

Overseas Missions. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: If a medical emergency arises, the most important aspect is that the troops in question have immediate access to appropriate medical care to treat any injuries and, if necessary, stabilise the patient. In the case of the Defence Forces contingent in Chad, three doctors, along with a team of fully trained emergency medical technicians, will be deployed with the force in Goz Beida at all times...

Overseas Missions. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I understand Deputy Deenihan's question but he appears to have a misconception of what is meant by the golden hour. The golden hour is the availability of immediate medical treatment and, as I said in my initial reply, any Irish patrol going out on operation will be accompanied by one or more medical officers and a number of other people who are medically qualified, some of whom will be...

Overseas Missions. (22 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: ——the situation in Liberia where the helicopters were based in Monrovia, which was about twice as far away from where the Irish troops were patrolling. We had fewer medical facilities, fewer air assets and further distances to travel in Liberia. This is one of the best supported missions from the point of view of safety in which we have ever engaged.