Results 9,761-9,780 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government Decision on decentralisation, announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement on 3 December 2003, provides for the transfer of all my Department's Dublin based Civil Service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of posts to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. No staff have yet transferred to that location. The Civil Defence Board, which is a State Authority...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (13 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has not paid in advance for works or services that will not be commenced before the end of 2007.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 81 together. On 7 November 2007, I visited Sweden to attend the Final Exercise (FINEX), carried out by the Nordic Battlegroup (NBG). The exercise, which commenced on 21 October 2007 continued until 12 November 2007. The total number of Irish Defence Force personnel who participated in the exercise was 93 and included the Improvised Explosive Device...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The annual leave entitlements for members of the Defence Forces are as follows: a.Senior Officers 43 days b.Junior Officers 31 days c.Enlisted Personnel 29 days. These annual leave entitlements are reduced by a set amount while the member of the Defence Forces is on an overseas tour of duty. The reduction is 3.5 days per month for senior officers, 2.5 days per month for junior officers and 1...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 46.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: A claim to increase the mandatory retirement age to 60 years for officers serving in ranks up to and including Lieutenant Colonel was received from the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The claim has been the subject of correspondence between the Department and the Representative...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I would like to assure the House that any allegations of victimisation in the Defence Forces are treated with the utmost seriousness and there are extensive and robust complaints and grievance procedure processes in place to protect the rights of all Defence Forces personnel, including PDFORRA officials. In addition, on interpersonal relationships, the Defence Forces and the Department have...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 80 together. 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...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Following Government approval to go to tender, notice of a competition for the purchase of replacement vessels for the Naval Service was sent to the Official Journal of the European Union on 24 August 2007. The competition for the purchase of two Offshore Patrol Vessels, with an option on a third and one Extended Patrol Vessel, with an option on a second, uses a Restricted Procurement...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 94 together. Following a Road Traffic Accident involving a military vehicle near Granard in June of this year, the Defence Forces established a Study Group to examine the possible introduction of Roll Over Protection Systems in Troop Carrying Vehicles. The Group was asked to consider the implications of a number of matters that could arise from the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Appointments: Defence Forces Appointments (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The appointments of Chief of Staff, Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations), and Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) are governed by the provisions of Section 12 of the Defence Act 1954 as amended by the Defence (Amendment) Act 1998. The Chief of Staff is appointed by the President. My Department prepares a Memorandum for Government whereby I recommend that the Government advise the President as to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Dec 2007)

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 — Military Medals: Military Medals (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Of some 670 enquiries made to date, my Department has received 512 completed application forms for Medal certificates in respect of Veterans of the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence. Following examination, entitlement to certificates has been established in 374 cases, resulting in the issue of a total of 1,156 certificates in both official languages. Certificates are being issued on...

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces is proactive in the development and promotion of the Irish language. The following measures have been taken in this regard: An Chomhairle Gaeilge ( Irish Language Council) was established in 2003; The Defence Forces Official Languages Policy in the form of an Administrative Instruction was launched in 2004; Scéim Óglaigh na hÉireann (Defence Forces Scheme) under the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Promotions: Defence Forces Promotions (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Discussions between my Department and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) commenced in April 2006, on revised promotion arrangements for Non-commissioned Officers have been ongoing for some time. The Deputy will appreciate that as discussions are confidential to the parties involved it would not be appropriate for me to comment further on the matter...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: On 27 November 2007, I addressed the Biennial Delegate Conference of the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO). I sought to make my address relevant, positive and informative and I discussed topics of interest to the military delegates, their colleagues and to the wider community. The topics included amongst other things the Government's commitment to the continued...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces and the Department have taken a wide variety of initiatives and have devoted extensive resources to this issue, since Dr Eileen Doyle and the External Advisory Committee presented their original report "The Challenge of a Workplace" in March 2002. This independent report addressed the entire range of interpersonal issues within the Defence Forces. Its contents and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by the military authorities that the ratio of commissioned officers to non-officers in the Defence Forces over the past ten years is as shown in the table. Year Ratio 1996 1 : 7.33 1997 1 : 7.45 1998 1 : 7.64 1999 1 : 7.74 2000 1 : 7.49 2001 1 : 7.47 2002 1 : 7.31 2003 1 : 7.06 2004 1 : 6.90 2005 1 : 6.75 2006 1 : 6.43 Nov 2007 1 : 6.64 My Department does not...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Details on the average ages, by rank, have been maintained on an annualised basis since 2001. The table provides the details for Officers and Enlisted Personnel. Average Age by Rank in the PDF as at 31 December 2001 and 6 December 2007 Officers Rank 2001 2007 Increase/ Decrease (years) Lieutenant General 60.88 60.62 -0.24 Major General 58.66 60.11 1.45 Brigadier General 58.20 57.49...

Written Answers — Child Care Services: Child Care Services (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: A request to provide crèche facilities for members of the Defence Forces has been made by the Defence Forces Representative Associations. The Defence Forces Partnership Steering Group, which was established following on from Partnership 2000, has tasked a Partnership Sub-Committee with examining the issue of the provision of childcare facilities under a number of headings, including demand...