Results 10,101-10,120 of 12,635 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The question of the recruitment of foreign nationals to the Defence Forces is not a new one and Defence Force Regulations have always allowed for the recruitment of foreign nationals to the Defence Forces. Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the Cadetship Competition, Apprenticeship Competition, General Service Enlistment or Direct Entry Competitions which are held to fill...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In recent years recruitment to the Reserve Defence Forces (RDF) has been satisfactory. In 2006 there were 1,124 recruits and in 2007 to date, there have been 847. The RDF is going through a process of change with the implementation of the recommendations of the White Paper on Defence and the RDF Implementation Board Report. The Implementation Plan is being rolled-out on a phased basis up to...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 114 and 115 together. Ireland receives requests from time to time in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. Consideration is currently being given to possible Defence Forces participation in UN mandated military operations that may arise in Africa. At present, the proposed ESDP mission to Chad...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 and the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan (2002) set out the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) together with an Implementation Plan extending to 2009. The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) now has a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), better equipment and improved training. The...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (4 Oct 2007)

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 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 way of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: An order for two (2) man portable mini Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, commonly referred to as UAVs, was placed with Aeronautics Defence Systems Limited from Israel, in May 2007. The value of the order is in the region of €780,000, inclusive of VAT. The award of the contract followed on from a two stage tender competition in which eight proposals were initially received and three tenders...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: On 25 September, 2007, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1778 establishing a multi-dimensional UN mission in Chad and Central African Republic that will help strengthen security in the region. Resolution 1778 (2007) establishes the mission, to be known as MINURCAT, for a period of one year. MINURCAT will consist of three components: a UN multidimensional presence,...

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The mission of the Army Equitation School, as assigned to it on its establishment in 1926, is to advertise the Irish horse abroad through participation in international competitions. The school has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years, and through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad it has successfully promoted...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Corps: Defence Forces Medical Corps (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The military medical services and their facilities exist primarily 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, acute trauma management, preventative medical programmes and field medical training. The development of the capacity of the Medical Corps forms part of the...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity and equal treatment for men and women in the Defence Forces (Army, Air Corps, Naval Service) including the Reserve Defence Force, and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. In effect, this means that women are eligible, on the same basis as men, for participation in operational and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Investigations: Defence Forces Investigations (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: An extensive investigation is being carried out by the Defence Forces into the circumstances surrounding the accident. The investigation report is expected to be completed shortly. The issue of safety belts on troop carrying vehicles will be considered on the basis of the final outcome of the report.

Written Answers — National Archives: National Archives (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Taoiseach announced in the context of the 90th Anniversary celebrations of 1916 that the Government had decided to make the Military Pension Archive 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 the 1916 Rising in 2016. An Interdepartmental Working Group chaired by the...

Written Answers — Compensation Claims: Compensation Claims (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Details of the amount paid by my Department in settlement of non-hearing loss compensation claims and associated legal costs over the period in question are shown in the following Tabular Statement. The figures in the Tabular Statement represent the amounts paid in settlement of actions against the Minister for Defence. They include payments to serving and non-serving members of the...

Written Answers — Civilianisation Programme: Civilianisation Programme (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Agreed Programme for Government (June 2007) contains a commitment to fast track the civilianisation of all outstanding agreed posts in the Defence Forces. This issue is also included in the Modernisation Agenda agreed with the Defence Forces Representative Associations in the context of Towards 2016. The matter will be progressed by my department and the military authorities accordingly.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Review: Defence Forces Review (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence 2000 and the Reserve Defence Force Review Implementation Plan (2002) set out the blueprint for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) together with an Implementation Plan extending to 2009. The Implementation Plan is being rolled-out on a phased basis up to 2009. There has been significant progress to date in implementing the detailed recommendations of the Plan e.g. a...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The use of military firing ranges by An Garda Síochána is subject to the operation/training requirements of the Defence Forces. That said, the Defence Forces have facilitated An Garda Síochána down the years, providing them with significant access to military firing ranges nationwide on an ongoing basis. These arrangements do not encompass the use of indoor firing ranges as the type of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland is already committed to participate in the Nordic Battlegroup which will be on standby from the 1st January — 30th June 2008. On the 26th April 2007, I issued a letter of Accession to all participating members of the Battlegroup to join the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The Nordic Battlegroup Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is an agreement between the participants comprising...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 to 111, inclusive, together. The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Naas, Castleblayney, Kildare, and Islandbridge, Dublin. The sale of 97 acres approximately at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In the latter part of 2006, 8000 units of body armour for the individual soldier on operational duties were delivered. The new body armour provides significantly greater protection, comfort and coverage than the old model as well as a doubling of the range of sizes available. The total value of the contract was in the region of €8m. The body armour is available for distribution throughout...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The safety of Irish personnel serving overseas is always of paramount concern to me. While no absolute guarantees can be given with regard to the safety of troops serving in missions, it is my policy and practice to ensure that Defence Forces personnel are appropriately trained and equipped to carry out their mission. All possible precautions are taken to ensure the safety of our troops. In...