Results 10,601-10,620 of 12,637 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

Willie O'Dea: The ongoing equipment modernization programme ensures that the Defence Forces are fully equipped with the most modern of equipment for their day to day roles at home and on overseas missions. The equipment issued to the Defence Forces is in keeping with the most modern standards. Continual investment in the Defence Forces will ensure that this remains to be the case.

Written Answers — : (16 Nov 2006)

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 should such arise. They hold an extensive range of modern NBC equipment that meets their current requirements. This range includes approximately 9,500 NBC suits, of which 800 were delivered in January 2006. In addition, the Defence...

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

Willie O'Dea: The number of Army, Air Corps and Naval Service promotions approved or pending in 2006, as advised by the military authorities, is provided in the form of a Tabular Statement which I propose to circulate with the Official Report. Officer Promotions Service Promotions Promotions Pending Army 129 5 Air Corps 23 Nil Naval Service 11 Nil Total 163 5 Enlisted Personnel Promotions Service...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Personnel on being discharged from the Permanent Defence Force are obliged to vacate married quarters within a short period of the dates of their discharge. There are 56 married quarters currently overheld. The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married personnel have an equal claim on such housing as other members of the community in the same income...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will deal with why this matter has taken until now. This issue was one of the first raised with me after I became Minister of Defence. I commissioned a report to properly research the matter. The question was initially asked by Deputies Gregory and Finian McGrath and I was delighted to respond to their concerns.

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Now that we have fuller information, I am required to officially correct the record and I have no difficulty with doing so. I also have no difficulty with making an apology to the two men if the original record at my Department got the facts wrong. I apologise for any trauma or grief caused by the fact that the record was incorrect. It is not within my power to grant a medal. That is a...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 25, 39 and 42 together. The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, was originally established on 19 March 1978 under United Nations Security Council Resolutions 425 and 426, following the then invasion of Lebanon by Israel. In response to the crisis of July and August 2006, under UN Security Council Resolution 1701 the UN decided to extend the...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: A detailed threat assessment was carried out jointly with the Finns during a reconnaissance mission to Lebanon in September. We also consulted closely with UNIFIL and some of the other nations involved. The threat assessment was "low but within a volatile situation". In other words, while the threat is low at the moment, a number of issues could trigger a conflict again. That assessment...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy Gormley on the latter point. I have had ongoing discussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs about the matter. The two to three-year timescale can be a bit misleading. The last time we went into Lebanon we intended to spend a few years there but finished up spending 23 years in the country. The Government has made it clear that the maximum deployment to Lebanon...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The triple-lock mechanism, involving Government and Dáil approval together with a UN resolution, applies in all cases where troops are deployed, under arms, on overseas peacekeeping missions. Under the provisions of the Defence Act, Dáil approval is not required if the number going overseas is fewer than 12. On the criteria that apply, we must first decide how usefully Ireland can...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I do not know what is the practice as regards the third issue raised by the Deputy, or whether we do that after six months. I will inquire and if there is no problem with it I will be happy to discuss the matter after six months. As regards the deployment of troops, they will be in the general area of Blatt beside the village of Belasaki in the eastern sector, south of the Litani river....

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will certainly pass on Senator Brian Hayes's felicitations when I am in Lebanon. I have had no request for additional troops there. We still have 320 troops in Liberia but they will be finished next summer and will be available to go elsewhere. There are several places that could request our services. Overseas allowances must go through the conciliation and arbitration process but I said...

Overseas Missions. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The priorities of the troops are set by the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, force commander. One of the duties envisaged for the Lebanese Army when it enters southern Lebanon is not only the protection of civilians, but allowing them access to humanitarian assistance and Irish troops will play a part in this regard. Ireland is working hard at the United Nations, through the...

State Property. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decided on 1 July 2003 that lands at Gormanstown, County Meath, would be among the State lands released for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative. How land at this location might play a role in the delivery of affordable units is a matter in the first instance for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which is the lead...

State Property. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: That is an obvious consideration that we have taken into account and the deal will be constructed so that there is no interference with Air Corps activities. We are still negotiating that point, among others, with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The transfer is taking some time and it will take another year. The news is better regarding other lands that are...

State Property. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The lands in question are around 261 acres in size and about 57 acres are used for the Army camp. Some 25 acres is cut off from the main body of land by a roadway. The matter of how much will be handed over has not yet been finalised, although I would guess it will be about half of the 261 acre total. My Department's brief is to hand the lands over to Department of the Environment,...

State Property. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: It is not a cash transfer. We are merely playing our part in the affordable housing initiative by transferring the land.

State Property. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: That had not been considered but since the Deputy has mentioned it, we will look at the possibility.

State Property. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: That land was given to other State agencies to advance State projects. There was no question of giving it to private developers.

State Property. (16 Nov 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I see the point Deputy Timmins is making. The land bank available to the Department of Defence is kept under constant review. We will have progressively less land to dispose of on the open market in future and we will receive funding from the Minister for Finance to compensate for this and maintain the considerable level of investment in infrastructure, weaponry, training and so on.