Results 10,201-10,220 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (3 Apr 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I thank all the Deputies from both sides of the House who contributed to the debate on the Bill. Subsequent to the debate on Second Stage, I received the finalised report from the Irish Human Rights Commission detailing its observations on the proposals contained in the Bill. The report is comprehensive. I wish to record my appreciation of the valuable work done by the commission in...

Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Report and Final Stages (3 Apr 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I have examined this issue in the intervening period. I have no objection to the Act being reviewed as often as is required. However, I am not persuaded that a statutory provision is the way to do it. It is my intention and that of the Department that the Act be kept under constant review and amended as often as necessary having regard to developments in the law. A phase two process to...

Order of Business (3 Apr 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Resurrection.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (28 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The staff of my Department have access to a voice mail service and are free to leave telephone voice mail announcements in the language of their choice. The current position is that some of the telephone messages are recorded in both Irish and English.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (28 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The establishment of the Reserve Defence Force at commissioned officer level by command and unit, the vacancies that currently exist at commissioned officer level in the Reserve Defence Force by command and unit, the number of Reserve Defence Force officers that have been promoted to Captain since 1 October 2005 and the appointments of these promotions are outlined in the following tabular...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (28 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I do not envisage making or nominating any appointments to State Boards, State Bodies or other like entities in the period 26th March 2007 to 31st May 2007.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (27 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Department is very conscious of the detrimental effects caused to the Curragh Plains arising from the activities referred to in the correspondence submitted by the Deputy and continues to use every means available to deal with the issue. The Government approved the drafting of a Bill to provide for the establishment of a Statutory Body to manage the Curragh, with the exception of the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (22 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There have been no such laws or statutory instruments introduced by my Department.

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (21 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The type of detailed statistical information sought is not readily available. It would take a disproportionate amount of time to compile, as it would necessitate examination of all procurement files over the last twelve months. My Department adheres to both E.U. and National Procurement procedures in procurement matters. Projects are advertised and assessed in line with these procedures....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The amounts paid by my Department in 2006 in respect of Departmental staff, civilian employees and military personnel were of the order of €1.776m by way of car mileage allowances and €0.623m in respect of rail and bus ticket expenses.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The cost of energy used in running my Department's offices was €260,883.10 in 2002 and €373,435.42 in 2006. In terms of the quantity of energy used, this information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Department's new premises in Newbridge will have a range of environmentally friendly energy-saving features that will reduce energy in the long term. The Finance...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The gender balance at each grade in my Department and in agencies that come under the aegis of my Department are as follows: Departmental Staff Grade Total Male Female Secretary General 1 1 0 Assistant Secretary 2 2 0 Principal Officer 14 10 4 Assistant Principal 31 23 8 Properties Officer 1 1 0 Higher Executive Officer 55 24 31 Administrative Officers 2 0 2 Executive Officers 76...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (20 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: This question does not apply to my Department at this time.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (20 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government Decision on decentralisation provides for the relocation of the Dublin-based offices of my Department to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. A total of 200 staff will move to the new location. While the site upon which the new office accommodation will be built will be sold by Kildare County Council to the Office of Public Works and the preferred tenderer to construct the building has...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (20 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There are no specific phone facilities available to persons with hearing disabilities who wish to phone my Department. Contact can be made with my Department via E-mail or by visiting our website at www.defence.ie.

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (8 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I have made no public appointments in the past two months.

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 137 together. Each Presidency hosts an informal Defence Ministers' meeting during the course of its Presidency. The informal meeting is not a decision-making forum, but rather an opportunity to discuss current issues and review ongoing progress on ESDP developments. The German Presidency hosted an informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers on 1-2 March...

Written Answers — EU Battle Groups: EU Battle Groups (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90, 98, 101, 103, 113, 138, 300, 306 and 307 together. Following detailed discussions on Ireland's participation in the Nordic Battlegroup, Sweden, on behalf of the Nordic Battlegroup, advised that it will welcome a contribution from Ireland, subject to Ireland's agreement to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Nordic Battlegroup. The MoU is an...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 119, 141 and 151 together. The Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and the Inter-Departmental Working Group on Emergency Planning meet on a regular basis. The last Government Task Force meeting was held on Wednesday, 14th February. While a date has not been decided for the next Task Force meeting these are normally held every four to six weeks....

Written Answers — Drug Testing Programme: Drug Testing Programme (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 93 and 156 together. A Compulsory Substance Testing Programme was introduced on 1 February 2002 as part of a Defence Forces Substance Abuse Programme. This followed a long consultative process involving the Office of the Attorney General, the Deputy Judge Advocate General and the Defence Forces Representative Associations. Prior to the launch of the...