Results 9,481-9,500 of 12,631 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Estate Management: Estate Management (8 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together. Officials of my Department met with the residents of Orchard Park on 11th February 2008. At that meeting issues of concern were raised by the residents and it was agreed that work was needed to be done to improve the estate. It was requested that the residents put forward a proposal of works for the Department's consideration. In the...

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

Willie O'Dea: The average time taken to make payment to suppliers of goods and services to my Department, the Defence Forces, the Civil Defence Board and Coiste an Asgard for each of the years in question is as follows: Year Average Payment Period in Days 2004 12 2005 11 2006 15 2007 9 2008 (to date) 8 My Department complies with the provisions of the Prompt Payment of Accounts Act 1997 and the...

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

Willie O'Dea: Kickham Barracks is used on a full time basis by the Permanent Defence Forces and is the Head Quarters for 1 Southern Brigade, Reserve Defence Force. The Barracks is currently required by the Defence Forces. However, my Department's property portfolio is kept under on-going review. Properties deemed surplus to military requirements are disposed of and the funds invested to meet the...

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (8 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Since 2000, apart from routine meetings in relation to the Estimates for my Department, no pre-budget meetings were held between my Department and the Department of Finance and the Department of An Taoiseach.

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

Willie O'Dea: In 2004, my Department implemented a new payroll system for the payment of Reserve Defence Force (RDF) personnel at a cost of almost €51,000. There have been no other new payroll implementations during the years in question. The costs of maintaining, developing and upgrading all Departmental payroll systems (including hardware costs) during the years in question are given in the following...

Written Answers — Military Medical Services: Military Medical Services (8 May 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Military medical services and 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 challenges in the medical arena have been recognised for some time...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 May 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, Co. Kildare. The construction of the Department's new headquarters is not expected to be completed until the second half of 2009. The Government decision also provides for the transfer of Defence Forces Headquarters staff to the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (29 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Day-to-day administration of recruitment to the Defence Forces is the responsibility of the Chief of Staff. I have been informed by the Military Authorities that the Defence Forces ceased using the form AF340 on 1st February 2008 and now use the Garda Vetting Application Form.The form permits the applicant to give consent to the Garda Síochána to furnish to the military authorities a...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (29 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The requirement for the Defence Forces to charter civilian ships normally arises in the context of the logistical transport of military equipment abroad for the purpose of participation in peacekeeping and peace support operations. The most recent charter was the MV Zeran, which was used to transfer military equipment to Chad. I am advised that all ships chartered by the Defence Forces meet...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The procurement of software for my Department and the Defence Forces is carried out in accordance with government procurement and accounting procedures, from initial order to final payment. Within these procedures, the issue of certification does not arise.

Written Answers — Departmental Surveys: Departmental Surveys (29 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Military medical services and 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 challenges in the medical arena have been recognised for some time...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (29 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 391 and 393 together. On Monday 14th April 2008, An Taoiseach, Mr. Bertie Ahern T.D., launched a Public Information and Awareness Campaign on Emergency Planning at the National Emergency Coordination Centre. The main focus of the campaign was the publication and distribution of a handbook — 'Preparing for Major Emergencies'. The handbook was distributed...

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (29 Apr 2008)

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

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (29 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos.394 and 396 together. The drug in question is considered one of the most effective anti-malaria drugs for the type of malaria our troops are exposed to in Chad and C.A.R. Troops being administered the drug are informed of its effects and its use is closely monitored by the military medical authorities. The Military Authorities have assured me that they are...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (29 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The property in question is surplus to military requirements and consideration is being given to its disposal. In this connection, Cork County Council has been contacted to ascertain if the Council would have an interest in acquiring the property. The matter remains under consideration in my Department.

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (29 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I understand that eight countries in the EU are not currently members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). These are Bulgaria, Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Romania and Slovenia. Both Estonia and Slovenia have begun accession talks, which will ultimately lead to membership of the organisation. I am constantly in touch with all my EU colleagues...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (24 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There are no Veterans of the War of Independence in receipt of pensions from my Department, the last such recipients having died in 2006. Some 500 spouses of deceased Veterans are in receipt of monthly allowances from my Department. These allowances are not increased on the occasion of pay and pension increases granted to serving and retired military personnel. They are specially reviewed...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (24 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of all of my Department's Dublin based Civil Service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is about 200. A total of 338 personnel have applied to decentralise to Newbridge. The vast majority of these are Dublin based applicants. None of the 152 Newbridge bound staff currently...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 30 on the 10th April 2008, there are no proposals for cutbacks in the level of services provided by or through my Department in 2008. The gross total allocation for my Department in 2008 is €1,078m, comprising €888m in the Defence Vote and €190m in the Army Pensions Vote. This represents an increase of 7% on the 2007 allocation. The Defence...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Apr 2008)

Willie O'Dea: There was no expenditure in 1997 on leadership training for the civil service staff of my Department.