Results 9,861-9,880 of 12,632 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: If the association wishes to have its representation changed it can approach me and I will make the appropriate inquiries. Regarding Deputy Deenihan's comments on pay rates, it is certain that, like all bodies covered by the higher review group, brigadier generals will be paid immediately and will not see their pay increases deferred. I find the attitude of some Members of this House to...

Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I do not deny it.

Emergency Planning. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: As chairman of the Government task force on emergency planning, I have emphasised the importance of raising public awareness of this issue and the work that is being undertaken by Government Departments and public authorities. In October last year the Government approved my proposals to implement a public information and awareness campaign on emergency planning and I am pleased to say that...

Emergency Planning. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: He is not seeking a barracking.

Emergency Planning. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I brought this proposal to Government last October and we did some research that came to some startling conclusions. The vast majority of people think we are unprepared for emergencies and an even greater percentage of people would not know what to do in the event of an emergency. A booklet will be accompanied by an extensive advertising campaign on radio and in newspapers. There will not...

Emergency Planning. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Tallaght has been mentioned twice in 30 seconds and that must be a record. I have taken account of the possible panic the Deputy mentioned. This operation has been done in other countries, such as the UK and Australia, and one must be careful with the terminology used and how information to be given is drafted. The objective is to reassure the public rather than cause panic and I hope we...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 63, 71, 74, 76, 85, 88, 90, 92, 93, 102 and 168 together. Currently, a total of 414 Defence Forces personnel are serving overseas, full details of which are listed in the accompanying statement which will be available to the House. Ireland has offered, through the United Nations standby arrangements system, to provide up to 850 military personnel,...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I am pleased to assure Deputy Durkan on those points. I agree that adequate equipment is necessary. As the Deputy observed, the vastness of the area makes air transport necessary, as well as effective communications. Troops can be easily and quickly isolated in a place of this magnitude. It is a hostile environment. I assure the House that the force commander will not deploy unless he is...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I assure Deputy Collins that military personnel have travelled to Chad on reconnaissance work. They have studied the environment to ascertain what is required in terms of equipment, transport and communications. These are people of the highest expertise who have organised previous foreign missions. They know what is required and will ensure it is supplied. One cannot offer absolute...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: We got €37 million extra for the Chad mission and supplied €20 million from within our own resources. If there was no question of us going to Chad we would undoubtedly have found other ways to spend that €20 million. Perhaps we would have got €20 million less from the Department of Finance. I reassure the Deputy that the amount of money we will spend in upgrading equipment this...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I will answer the specific points raised by Deputy Deenihan in the first instance. I assure the Deputy that although Lieutenant General Nash's formal retirement date is in May, he is to be appointed for the duration of Ireland's participation in the mission. The initial deployment is for a year but it may be extended. That will be a decision for Government when we come to the end of that...

Defence Forces Reserve. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan provides for a phased approach to enhancing the capabilities of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, over the period to the end of 2009. The introduction of new organisational structures, the development of new training syllabi and improvements in equipment and clothing have been successfully delivered as part of phase 1 of the plan. Phase 2...

Defence Forces Reserve. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I will deal shortly with the question on the fall-off in numbers joining the RDF. To answer Deputy Deenihan's initial point, I agree there is a vast reservoir of potential talent that should be utilised. This was the view of the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Board. The Deputy will recall that the implementation plan for the RDF was to be delivered in two phases. Phase 1,...

Defence Forces Reserve. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I agree that the FLR has a vital role to play in attracting people back into the RDF. That is the view of the implementation board. This is one of the uses to which it will be put in our programme. I hope to expand on this in later questions.

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: On 20 November 2007, the Government authorised the despatch of a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the UN-mandated EU operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic. Dáil Éireann approved the necessary enabling motion on 28 November 2007. It was initially expected that a Defence Forces initial entry force, comprising an advance party of...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: To answer the Deputy's last question first, I do not recall receiving anything from the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. Something may have come to my Department but I certainly have not seen it personally. The recent declaration by the rebel forces is obviously a cause for worry. That cannot be gainsaid. However, this is not the first time that one or other of the militias there have...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I do not want to get into numbers. In the Abéché area where the Irish troops will likely be based, we would need at least three med-evac helicopters and one fixed wing med-evac aircraft. More will be needed in other parts of Chad. We are making progress, the signs are hopeful and the operation commander, an Irish general — Lieutenant General Pat Nash — will not deploy the force until...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The proposed deployment of a Defence Forces contingent to the UN-mandated EU operation in the Republic of Chad and the Central African Republic will be the most expensive operation on which the Defence Forces have ever been deployed. As the House will be aware, Chad is landlocked and nearly 2,000 km from the nearest port facility. There are few if any roads or infrastructure over which to...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The cost of the type of aircraft necessary to transfer troops and equipment like Mowags to a destination such as Chad is in the order of €75 million. I am also told that the equipment is expensive to maintain and use. I realise that €20 million for transportation — I can give the Deputy a breakdown — is a great deal of money. This is the most expensive mission in which we have...

Overseas Missions. (12 Dec 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I have told the House again and again that the force commander and the EU Military Committee will not deploy the force, including Irish troops, until they are fully satisfied——