Results 10,121-10,140 of 12,646 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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...

Written Answers — Naval Service: Naval Service (4 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: All Naval Service officers are assigned to appointments in the Defence Forces Establishment as shown in the Defence Force Gazette and Naval List and Directory. There are no officers assigned to a ship that does not exist or is no longer in service.

Written Answers — Ministerial Expenses: Ministerial Expenses (3 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The amount of money paid directly in expenses to the Minister of State in my Department and the headings under which they were paid for each of the past five years are detailed in the table set out below: Year Travel Subsistence Total 2002 Nil Nil Nil 2003 Nil Nil Nil 2004 â'¬139.98 Nil â'¬139.98 2005 Nil Nil Nil 2006 Nil â'¬114.46 â'¬114.46

Written Answers — Defences Forces Recruitment: Defences Forces Recruitment (3 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The position is that enlisted personnel of the Defence Forces who hold the appropriate qualifications are eligible to apply for appointment as Aeronautical Engineer Officers through open competition. The military authorities have advised me that there are three vacancies for Aeronautical Engineer Officers in the Air Corps. As has been normal practice, qualified officers in the Permanent...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: New rates are in the process of being finalized and I will forward the relevant rates to the Deputy shortly.

Written Answers — Irish Red Cross: Irish Red Cross (2 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Red Cross Society is an autonomous body, established in accordance with the Red Cross Act, 1938, with full powers to manage and administer its affairs through its governing body, the Central Council. The terms and conditions of service of employees are matters for the Society itself. The Minster for Defence has no function in the administration of the Irish Red Cross and does not...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I refer to the tables below, detailing the boards, bodies, authorities and agencies under the remit of my Department; the date of establishment; the number of members and the staff and budget for each of the past ten years. Coiste an Asgard Established 1968 Year (as of 31 Dec) Board Members Staff Budget 1998 15 3 £350,000 1999 15 3 £360,000 2000 14 3 £473,000 2001 14 3...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There have been no abolitions of boards, bodies, authorities and agencies in my Department in the past ten years. There are no quangos under the remit of the Department of Defence.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (2 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I have re-appointed two members to the Board of Coiste an Asgard since 1 July 2007. There have been no further appointments to State boards, agencies, bodies and authorities in my Department. There are no quangos under the remit of the Department of Defence.

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (2 Oct 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Permanently occupied military installations in the border region are located at Rockhill House, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal; Lifford, Co. Donegal; Finner Camp, Bundoran, Co. Donegal; Monaghan Barracks, Monaghan; Dún Uí Néill Military Barracks, Cavan and Aiken Barracks, Dundalk, Co. Louth. The Government, in July, 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered...