Results 10,441-10,460 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Departmental Bodies. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with the Deputy that the issue is dragging a little and that is why I gave the appropriate instruction to recruit civilian staff without further delay because I suspect suitable staff are not available within the military. The location of the archives is a difficult issue. The relocation of the National Archives is a problem and the relevant authority is experiencing considerable...

Departmental Bodies. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Department spent €500,000 on the archives in Cathal Brugha Barracks last year to keep the show on the road. The facilities for such an exhibition are limited but I will make inquiries and communicate with the Deputy on the matter.

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces have available to them equipment for monitoring and protecting their members in dealing with nuclear, biological or chemical, NBC, threats identified from time to time. They hold an extensive range of modern NBC equipment that meets their current requirements, which includes approximately 9,500 NBC suits. The NBC suits are not a personal issue and are retained in stores...

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Defence Forces personnel serving on all overseas missions are equipped with the most modern and effective equipment. This equipment enables troops to carry out the mission assigned, as well as providing the required protection specific to the mission. All military vehicles undergo regular maintenance and overhauls to ensure that they are roadworthy and provide value for money. Vehicles are...

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The UN does not contribute directly to the cost of maintaining our equipment, which is purchased and maintained from our own budget. However, a standing arrangement is in place between the UN and its constituent members that compensation be paid for expenditure incurred in sending troops on missions. The compensation is paid in arrears according to a fixed formula. Traditionally, the...

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The formula varies according to particular missions, although I do not know its exact details. The Defence Forces inform me as to how much is owed and my Department contacts the UN when the cheque is late, which is often the case.

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The sums vary because the UN pays in arrears.

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: At one stage, we were owed more than €13 million but I believe the figure has significantly decreased. I can revert to the Deputy with the exact figure.

Defence Forces Inquiries. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 57 together. On 2 February 2006, I received a report from Mr. Seán Hurley, whom I had appointed to carry out an independent review of the interaction between the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces and the parents and family of Private Kevin Barrett in the aftermath of his tragic death on 18 February 1999 while serving with the 84th Infantry...

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 40 mm air defence guns. Each radar unit is capable of...

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: Like all small countries and many large ones, we have limited air defence capability. It has been the experience of large military powers, such as the United States which spends billions of dollars on air space protection systems, that these systems do not give an absolute guarantee of security. Israel is also incurring huge expenditure on air defence but, as was shown during the recent...

Defence Forces Equipment. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility in this matter is with the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces merely act as a backup. The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform has not said such a system is needed to provide proper backup for its work. If such a suggestion were made I would examine it in my Department.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2 and 5 together. UNIFIL was originally established on 19 March 1978 under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, following the invasion of Lebanon by Israel. Its mandate was "to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, to restore international peace and security and to assist the Government of Lebanon in ensuring the return of its...

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: In respect of the numbers, I cannot recall any specific statement to the effect we planned to send 200 troops. I believe the phrase used was "up to 200".

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: It was a maximum of 200 troops. As the Deputy is aware, this is a joint operation with the Finns. We took advice from the Finnish armed forces as to the kind of detail they required of us. The number arrived at comes to 157 troops, in addition to the five personnel who were already there and the Finns regard this to be quite sufficient. As for the task itself, in essence the Finnish...

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: As for the question on rations, my information is that for the first few days after the contingent's arrival, essentially they consisted of cold food or prepacked rations. In addition however, I am informed that certain foods were purchased locally and the rations were supplemented by some foodstuffs imported from Ireland. I can provide the Deputy with more details in this regard. After...

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The period from 1 November to 6 December is only five weeks.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: It was a period of five weeks from 31 October. This is not unreasonable as it takes some time to get such facilities up and running. The hot food to which Deputy Costello refers is provided from within the camp. It is not as though Lebanon is the sort of place in which one encounters people selling hamburgers and hot dogs on the side of the street. It is somewhat too dangerous for such...

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy's tastes are more exotic than mine.

Overseas Missions. (1 Feb 2007)

Willie O'Dea: That might not be to everyone's taste.