Results 9,521-9,540 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Order of Business (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It could be worse. It could be the Deputy.

Order of Business (13 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: What if Deputy Enda Kenny was in charge?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Who writes Senator Kelly's scripts?

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I sincerely thank Senators for their comments and will try to address each of them as best I can. First, however, I want to outline to the House the economic context of the legislation. The Bill is being presented against the backdrop of more modest growth in the Irish economy. As is well known, this reflects the significant reduction in house-building activity we are currently going...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: I will get the data on that and forward them to the Senator. I thank the Senators for the constructive debate we have had and I hope I have addressed some of the points raised by them. In accordance with Standing Order 131, I request the Cathaoirleach to direct the Clerk to make two minor corrections to the Bill which are of a formal or verbal nature. In section 24, page 32, line 7, the...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Finance Bill 2008 contains the legislative proposals required to implement the tax changes announced by the Tánaiste in the budget last December. It also contains a range of other tax measures which will contribute significantly to underpinning growth in key sectors of the economy. The principal aims of this Bill are to support enterprise, innovation and employment, to advance...

Seanad: Finance Bill 2008: Second Stage (12 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Doctors should not be exempt either.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (11 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: All Defence Forces units deploying with EUFOR TCHAD/RCA are and will be equipped with extensive communications equipment which will include Very High Frequency, and High Frequency radio's, personal role radio, satellite phones and satellite communications for voice and data. They will also be equipped with global positioning systems (GPS). With regards to maps, in addition to having a supply...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (11 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces, in association with the EUFOR TCHAD/RCA Operation Headquarters, Paris, has in place a logistics operational planning process for the deployment of Irish troops to Chad. As part of the Defence Forces Strategic Plan for the mission, the deployment of the full contingent of Ireland's troops will be by chartered flight. It will be a direct flight from Dublin to Chad and it...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (11 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 set out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force as the strength sufficient to meet all foreseeable military requirements for the period comprehended by the White Paper (i.e. up to 2010). This remains the position. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces....

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (11 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: During the past couple of months I visited Sweden in relation the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG), Irish personnel serving with EUFOR TCHAD/RCA in the Operational Headquarters in Paris and with EUFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. On 7th November 2007, I visited Sweden to attend the Final Exercise (FINEX), carried out by the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG). The other members of the Nordic Battlegroup are...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: A total of 24 people attended courses on stress management between 2005 and 2007. Two lunchtime briefing sessions on the issue of stress awareness were also held in 2007. A wide range of supports and services relating to stress management issues are available to staff on a confidential basis through the department's Employee Assistance Officer. This includes a dedicated web page that...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The relevant bodies under the aegis of my Department are the Civil Defence Board and Coiste an Asgard. The Civil Defence Board which was established under the Civil Defence Act 2002, has responsibility for the management and development of the Civil Defence Organisation at national level. Coiste an Asgard is a company limited by guarantee set up under the Companies Acts in February 1987....

Written Answers — Energy Conservation: Energy Conservation (4 Mar 2008)

Willie O'Dea: In 2007, my Department's offices in Renmore, Galway, were included in the pilot study for the Energy Conservation Campaign. Since that pilot project took place, energy-saving enhancements to the building have been carried out, including the replacement of windows and it is planned to increase the insulation in 2008, which it is hoped will improve the overall energy efficiency of the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (27 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland has a long and honourable history in providing personnel to support peacekeeping operations throughout the world. This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Ireland's first participation in a United Nations peacekeeping mission. A central tenet of Irish foreign policy is support for the multilateral system of collective security represented by the United Nations. In this regard,...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (27 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: The matter is being examined at present and I will be in touch with the Deputy as soon as possible.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Kenny should go on.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: It is not. He did not say that.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Kenny should keep it accurate. He should tell the truth for a change and try to be straight.

Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2008)

Willie O'Dea: We will take no lessons in the truth from Fine Gael members. They would not know the truth if it bit them.