Results 10,221-10,240 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 97, 99, 104, 106, 108, 117, 134, 143, 146, 155 and 298 together. During the period 28 February, 2007, to 1 March, 2007, I took the opportunity to visit Lebanon where I met with the Irish personnel of the 34th Infantry Group serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). The primary purpose of my visit was to see at first hand the work...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Air Corps retain a number of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft for historical purposes in an Air Corps Museum at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel. Details of the aircraft in the Museum are set out in the tabular statement below, which I propose to circulate in the Official Report. In addition, the Air Corps has two aircraft on loan to the National Museum of Ireland in Collins Barracks,...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The gross 2007 Estimate (capital and current) for the Defence Vote represents an increase of 4.9% on the 2006 Estimate and an increase of 6.4% on actual expenditure in 2006. The corresponding percentage increases for the Army Pensions Vote are 5.3% and 4.4%, respectively. The Department of Finance forecast for Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation for 2007 is an annual average increase of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Communications: Defence Forces Communications (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 133 together. The question of public comment on official matters by any member of the Defence Forces is governed by Paragraph 27 of Defence Force Regulation A.7, which prohibits the airing of individual opinions on service matters, public business or politics. This prohibition is supplemented by a direction that "comment, if any, . . . touching on...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Niemba ambush occurred almost forty-six years ago. It was the first such action involving the horrific deaths of Defence Forces personnel on a scale which still remains unique. It has never been very far from public consciousness and I would like again to publicly acknowledge the sacrifice made by all the members of the patrol at that time and extend my deepest sympathies to the families...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109, 127 and 152 together. As the Deputy will be aware, specific responsibility for emergency planning functions remains with the relevant lead government department and it is a matter for each department to implement its own structured exercise programme. It is also the responsibility for the lead department organising the exercise to decide who should...

Written Answers — Military Arbitration Schemes: Military Arbitration Schemes (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 153 together. Defence Force Regulations S.7 and its enabling legislation, the Defence Amendment Act, 1990, provide for representative structures for members of the Defence Forces including the Army and Naval Reserves. The question of a Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the ranks represented by the Reserve Defence Representative Association...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 120, 293 and 310 together. Ireland is currently contributing 808 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas on UN mandated operations, observer missions or undertaking representative or staff postings are listed in the tabular statement attached. The main overseas...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: A contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been serving with United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) since December 2003, when a motorised infantry battalion of some 430 personnel was first deployed. The Irish contingent operates as the Force Commander's Rapid Reaction Reserve. The role of the Irish personnel is the provision of an immediate response capability, deployable in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence outlines the blueprint for a new Reserve Defence Force. An Implementation Plan has been developed that will ensure the realisation of the White Paper vision and this will be rolled out over the period to end 2009. The new Reserve has a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF and better equipment and training. The Reserve has already seen...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are deployed, are the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) with 325 personnel, the NATO-led International Security presence (KFOR) in Kosovo with 215 personnel and the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 165 personnel. In addition, 41 personnel are serving in EUFOR, the EU-led operation in Bosnia and...

Written Answers — Courts Martial: Courts Martial (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The number of Courts Martial, per year, in each of the last 10 years is as follows: Courts-Martial per Year Since 1996 Year Number of Courts-Martial 1997 10 1998 10 1999 13 1 × Joint Trial* 2000 12 2001 8 2002 10 2003 9 2004 13 2005 11 1 × Joint Trial* 2006 Nil Total 96 *Joint Trial: Courts-martial in which two persons were tried. In recent years, there have...

Written Answers — Military Disciplinary Hearings: Military Disciplinary Hearings (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There are currently eight cases of this general nature listed before the High Court. In my opening statements to the Seanad when introducing the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006, I stated that a number of legal challenges to the disciplinary provisions of the Defence Acts await hearing in the High Court. It would, of course be inappropriate for me to comment on those cases in any way...

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (7 Mar 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 — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: On 27 April 1981, an observation post at Dayr Ntar near As Sultaniyah manned by Private Hugh Doherty and Private Kevin Joyce came under attack. Private Doherty was later found dead from gunshot wounds and Private Joyce was missing. Some equipment was also missing. The attackers are unknown. The UNIFIL investigation into the whereabouts of Private Joyce has continued but there have been no...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There is regular correspondence between my Office and that of the Chief of Staff on a wide range of issues relating to the business of the Defence Forces, for example on such matters as resignations, promotions, visits abroad by members of the Defence Forces, etc. This stream of routine correspondence with the Chief of Staff continued as normal during February 2007.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reform: Defence Forces Reform (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Military Authorities have advised that the number of complaints of a bullying or harassment nature recorded in each of the past ten years and made by men and women of the Permanent Defence Force is as follows: Redress of Wrongs — Male: Complaints of Bullying/ Harassment nature under Redress of Wrongs Procedures Year No. of Complaints Upheld Not Upheld Ongoing 1996 Nil Nil Nil Nil...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There are no current plans to extend the retirement age of officers in the Defence Forces. The 2000 White Paper on Defence and the earlier Defence Force Review Implementation Plan both recommended reduction to retirement ages in an effort to address the age profile and fitness of the Defence Forces. The White Paper also envisaged officers attaining senior rank at a younger age. In addition,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for the new Reserve Defence Force. An Implementation Plan has been developed that will ensure the realisation of the White Paper vision and this will be rolled out over the period to end 2009. The new Reserve has a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF, better equipment and training and will have opportunities to serve...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (7 Mar 2007)

Willie O'Dea: As you know, I am keen to increase the number of women applying to join our Defence Forces. To facilitate this, I have, with effect from 1st September 2006, reduced the minimum height requirement for entry into both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force from 162.56cm (5'4") to 157.48cm (5'2";). This change, which applies to both males and females, has the effect of...