Results 10,361-10,380 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: It does not come into it. Senator Dardis asked whether we would be able to commit to the rapid reaction force. I have just concluded discussions on a memorandum of understanding with the Nordic Battle Group. We will be making a very significant contribution to that battle group, which will be on standby from 1 January 2008. Senators Dardis and Maurice Hayes also asked about an Irish...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I thank all the Senators for their interesting contributions and I look forward to a stimulating debate on Committee Stage.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In some places.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2006: Second Stage (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces are one of the fundamental pillars of a democratic society. Every member of our Defence Forces has volunteered to serve the State. They undertake to obey all lawful orders issued to them and to submit to the unique code of discipline, an essential part of military life. From time to time they are asked to undertake dangerous and difficult missions on our behalf, both in...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation, announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget statement on 3 December 2003, provides for the transfer of all of my Department's Dublin based civil service staff to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. The arrangements regarding the assignment of staff who wish to remain in Dublin are decided, in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Discharge: Defence Forces Discharge (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I can only comment in very general terms about the circumstances described by the Deputy. The Defence Forces look at any application made for discharge, on compassionate grounds, in a fair, caring and sympathetic manner on a case by case basis, while having due regard to any other relevant issues arising in the context of the application. The facilities of the Personnel Support Services...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised that an Administrative Instruction providing for promotion from the rank of Captain (Army Reserve)/Lieutenant (Naval Service Reserve) to Commandant (Army Reserve)/Lieutenant Commander (Naval Service Reserve) is expected to be approved in the immediate future. This Administrative Instruction incorporates best contemporary practice and procedures and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: There have been five (5) officers promoted to fill vacancies in the Reserve Defence Force in the period from 1 October, 2005 to date. The promotions, by rank and formation, are outlined in the following tabular statement.

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I made no official journeys by commercial airline in 2006. With regard to distance travelled by members of the Government on Air Corps aircraft in 2006, I am advised that the Air Corps does not use this method to calculate aircraft utilisation. Instead, aircraft usage is recorded as hours flown. In order to calculate an estimate of air miles flown from hours flown, it is necessary to multiply...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (6 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: No contracts were awarded to Indecon, Economic Consultants, by my Department since 2000.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 29 together. There are no immediate 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...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: An advance party of 12 staff of the Civil Defence Board moved to temporary accommodation in Roscrea in September 2004 in preparation for the relocation of the Headquarters of the Civil Defence Board to their new decentralised location. The Board's new purpose built Headquarters in Benamore, Roscrea, Co. Tipperary opened in May 2006 and training courses for Civil Defence volunteers commenced...

Written Answers — Common Security and Defence Policy: Common Security and Defence Policy (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 34, 38, 257, 259 and 276 together. Discussions on Ireland's participation in the Nordic Battlegroup are continuing with Sweden, which is the Framework Nation. There have been a number of detailed discussions between Department officials and the Defence Forces with their Swedish counterparts, including technical discussions on a Memorandum of Understanding...

Written Answers — Casement Aerodrome: Casement Aerodrome (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Aircraft flying the standard instrument approach from the East to Runway 29 at Casement Aerodrome would normally over-fly Dún Laoghaire, Monkstown, Stillorgan, Mount Merrion, Goatstown, Dundrum, Churchtown, Rathfarnham, Willbrook, Templeogue, Tymon North, Kilnamanagh and Belgard.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 36 together. Significant progress has been made recently in implementing schemes to enable more commissioning from the ranks. The revised cadetship competition is now seen as the primary means of commissioning from the ranks. The cadetship competition has been revised to increase the maximum entry age to 28 and to award bonus marks to candidates with...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 41 and 269 together. In the White Paper on Defence in 2000, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be developed around the provision of an eight-ship flotilla. The Naval Service is currently operating with the recommended eight ships. As a general guide, the objective would be to replace vessels after approximately 30 years service. On this...

Written Answers — Naval Service: Naval Service (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I would like to begin by expressing my condolences and sincere sympathy to the families and friends of those who died as a result of the sinking of the Pere Charles and Honeydew II fishing vessels. The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue Region. The role of the Defence Forces in Search &...

Written Answers — Naval Service: Naval Service (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In the White Paper on Defence in 2000, the Government decided that the Naval Service would be developed around the provision of an eight-ship flotilla. The Naval Service operates a fleet of eight ships categorised as follows: 1 × Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV) 2 × Large Patrol Vessels (LPV) 3 × Offshore Patrol Vessels(OPV) 2 × Coastal Patrol Vessels (CPV) The strength of the Naval Service...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces has a radar capability used for national security and Aid to the Civil Power operations. The main Radar capability of the Defence Forces is the Flycatcher Radar System. This equipment was procured in 2002 from the Dutch Armed Forces. It is used to carry out the Target Acquisition and Fire Control of the Bofors EL70 40mm Air Defence Guns. Each radar unit is capable of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The number of military medical personnel, including dentists, serving overseas on 29th January 2007, as advised by the military authorities, is provided in the form of a Tabular Statement, which I proposed to circulate with the Official Report.