Results 10,501-10,520 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Department and the Defence Forces use a number of different types of fuel. These are electricity, oil and gas. Each type of fuel is measured in a different way and priced at different rates. For example electricity is measured in units, however the rates vary depending on time of usage, day rates, night rates and in other cases tariff charges. Given the various measurement methods...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (22 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Expenditure in relation to water in my Department in 2005 was €7,675.09. This amount consists of €6,032.27 in connection with services, filtering and cooling of the tap water supply for drinking and €1,642.82 for 1,172 litres of bottled water. The amount of tap water used is unquantifiable. The suppliers involved are: All Water Systems, City West Business Campus, Saggart, Co. Dublin...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Medical Corps: Defence Forces Medical Corps (21 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Sick leave in the Defence Forces was about 14 days per annum per person in the period from October 2005 to 30 September 2006. A SFA report earlier this year identified an average of 10 days absence per person per annum in larger firms. Military service, due to the robust nature of the physical training regime exposes personnel to a unique range of challenging environments with attendant...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy is aware I addressed this matter during Priority Questions on Thursday 16 November 2006 last. The Chief of Staff appointed Col. Tom Behan to examine all aspects of the Niemba ambush. Due to the breadth of this investigation, this process has taken some time. I have now had a chance to review this Report. I would like to congratulate Col. Behan for the time and effort he has...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (21 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: A total of 56 staff in my Department have volunteered to relocate to Newbridge, Co. Kildare. A further 38 staff from other Government Departments have joined my Department in order to transfer to the new location.

Written Answers — Weapons Amnesty: Weapons Amnesty (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: An Garda Síochána have the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power (meaning in practice to assist, when requested, an Garda Síochána), which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations, the provision of certain...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: On 2 February, 2006, I received a report from Mr. Sean Hurley, who I had appointed to carry out an independent review of the interaction between the Department of Defence/Defence Forces and parents and family of Private Kevin Barrett in the aftermath of his tragic death, on 18 February, 1999, while serving with the 84th Infantry Battalion in Lebanon. Mr. Hurley looked in detail at how the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Staff: Defence Forces Staff (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 33 together. Sick leave in the Defence Forces was about 14 days per annum per person in the period from October 2005 to 30 September 2006. A SFA report earlier this year identified an average of 10 days absence per person per annum in larger firms. Military service, due to the robust nature of the physical training regime exposes personnel to a unique...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 31 and 69 together. A claim has been received from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) for an increase in overseas allowance. This claim will be processed through the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for the Permanent Defence Force. By agreement with the Association, discussions under the Scheme are confidential...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The sale of a site comprising c. 2.7 acres to the Southern Health Board at the former Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, Co. Cork for €1.73 million was completed in December 2004. 19.218 acres at the former Fitzgerald Camp, Fermoy, were sold to Cork County Council in 2001 for €0.974 million for development in conjunction with the IDA. 10 acres at Ringaskiddy was transferred from my...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: An informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers took place in Levi, Finland on 2nd and 3rd October, 2006. In tandem with the informal Defence Ministers' meeting, there was a Ministerial level meeting of the EDA Steering Board. The main item on the Agenda for the Steering Board was a discussion on the EDA's initial long-term vision, which had been developed by the Agency over the past number of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together. Haulbowline Island comprises approximately 84 acres in total and is, in its entirety, vested in the Minister for Finance. The area of the Island formerly under Lease to Irish Ispat (previously Irish Steel), and now under the administration of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government arising from the liquidation of...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Schemes: Defence Forces Schemes (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 67 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 — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following tabular statement which indicates the manning levels of vessels (all ranks). Vessel Category Maximum Manning Possible Recommended Level of Manning as per NSIP1 Minimum Manning as per Naval Service Operations Command2 Average Sailing Manning3 Helicopter Patrol Vessel (HPV) 86 52 38 53 Large Patrol Vessel (LPV) 49 39 30 40...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment and services for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. Significant investment has taken place in recent years and I will continue the good work in that regard. The unprecedented level of expenditure on equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service was made possible by the Government's decision that pay savings...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: In 2005, a total of 64 Officers were newly commissioned and 441 Enlisted Personnel (including 49 Cadets) were newly inducted into the Defence Forces. The corresponding figures for 2006 to date are 67 Officers and 497 Enlisted Personnel (including 52 Cadets). The number of retirements for Officers and Enlisted Personnel is as set out in the following schedule. Defence Force Regulations...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Schemes: Defence Forces Schemes (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: All Army Officers, on commissioning after completion of Cadet Training, who meet the academic entry requirements for third level education, and who do not already hold a Level 7 Qualification, are eligible to participate in the USAC Scheme. The USAC Scheme permits such newly commissioned Officers to attend university on a full time basis as undergraduates for 3-4 years and to complete a...

Written Answers — Aerodrome Use: Aerodrome Use (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 29 together. It has been the practice to permit occasional use of Casement Aerodrome by privately owned aircraft on an "ad hoc" basis on the payment of a fee and production of the necessary insurance indemnity. Requests for permission to land privately owned aircraft, including helicopters, at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, are occasionally received by...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 227. The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue Region. The Air Corps had been providing Search and Rescue (SAR) services in the North West but withdrew in October 2004 following a handover of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which also provides the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Defence Force Regulations provide that a person who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force before 1 January 1994 may be permitted to continue in service up to the age of sixty years. A person who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force on or after 1 January 1994 may be permitted to continue in service up to the age of fifty years in the rank of Sergeant and to the age of fifty-six in all...