Results 10,641-10,660 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: On 20 December, 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for six months to assist the Interim Afghanistan Authority in the maintenance of security in Kabul and the surrounding areas. The authorisation of ISAF has been extended by the UN Security Council since then. NATO assumed the...

Written Answers — Hearing Impairment Claims: Hearing Impairment Claims (26 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The State Claims Agency assumed responsibility for this case last March. The claim is now a matter for that Agency. I understand that the Agency has been endeavouring to contact the plaintiff's solicitor. The plaintiff would be best advised to contact his legal representatives to ascertain the status of his claim.

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy is aware I undertook during Priority Questions on 12 October to study the contents of the Report when received. I can confirm that I have received the Report from the Chief of Staff and I will revert to the Deputy with its findings when I have had an opportunity to examine the Report in full.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (26 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I undertook in a reply to a parliamentary question tabled by him on 5 October 2006 to arrange for copies of the various representations made by the Deputy to my Department regarding the person concerned to be sent to the Deputy. I subsequently wrote to the Deputy on 19 October 2006 enclosing copies of this correspondence.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: My Department does not hold this information at present. The Department of Finance in conjunction with the National Development Authority are presently examining potential new approaches to monitoring disability, including the possible use of a survey based on voluntary self-disclosure both for new staff on appointment and for existing staff. This would assist my Department to identify those...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 to 188, inclusive, together. The Minister for Finance announced in his 1994 Budget Statement that modified PRSI would no longer apply to new public sector employees recruited on or after 6 April, 1995. The position therefore, is that there are two sets of pay scales for officers of the Defence Forces, i.e. rates for those recruited prior to 6 April, 1995...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to 192, inclusive, together. In 1997 agreement was reached with the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) on a new manpower policy for the Defence Forces. This policy, applying to personnel enlisted after 1 January 1994, provided that service for Private Soldiers would initially be for five years with the option to be...

Written Answers — Garda Deployment: Garda Deployment (24 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am informed by the Garda authorities that the cost, excluding basic salaries, of ongoing Garda policing arrangements at Shannon Airport is as follows: Year Expenditure € 2002 486,603 2003 762,999 2004 975,091 2005 738,018 2006 (as of September) 1,309,008 Total 4,217,719 Pursuant to the Garda Síochána Act 2005, it is the function of the Garda Síochána to provide policing...

Written Answers — Military Awards: Military Awards (24 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The 1916 Medal was awarded only to persons who rendered active service during the 1916 Rising as members of a prescribed organisation such as Óglaigh na hÉireann, the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, Fianna Éireann, the Hibernian Rifles and Cumann na mBan. The Deputy will appreciate that, with the passage of over 90 years since the 1916 Rising took place, it has become impossible...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (24 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 669 together. As the Deputy is aware, the Government decided on 1 July 2003 that lands at Magee Barracks, Kildare, would be among State lands released for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress Affordable Housing Initiative. The question of taking in charge by Kildare County Council of the areas referred to by the Deputy will fall to be considered in...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (24 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Kildare County Council approached my Department in 2001 concerning a proposal being considered by the Council at that time to install sheep grids and horse gates on all public access roads to the Curragh. In developing this proposal the Council identified 23 locations where grids or gates would be required and sought a contribution from my Department towards the costs of any such works. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As there were no tribunals under the aegis of my Department, no legal fees were expended by my Department in respect of tribunals.

Written Answers — Departmental Files: Departmental Files (24 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government has decided that the Department of Defence files relating to the successful pension applications of persons who took part in the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence should be made available to all. On 9 April, 2006, An Taoiseach announced that he was establishing a working group, to be chaired by his Department, on the requirements to preserve, archive and digitalise those...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (19 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of Defence, the Army Pensions Board, and the Defence Forces were designated as separate and distinct bodies under the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 & 2003. In October 2005 the Government decided to extend the application of FOI legislation to include Coiste an Asgard and the Civil Defence Board. The necessary regulations to provide for the extension of FOI to these bodies...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (19 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The oldest operational helicopter in the Air Corps fleet is the Alouette 111 helicopter. There are seven such helicopters in the fleet, the oldest dates back to 1963. The cost of an Alouette at that time was €80,000 approximately. The Alouette helicopters will be withdrawn from service when the four new AW 139 helicopters on order from Agusta S.pA in Italy enter operational service. The...

Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: What was the question?

Written Answers — Industrial Relations: Industrial Relations (17 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Civil Servants in my Department have not sought to obtain an Order from the Courts enforcing or associated with enforcing their contractual rights and entitlements since 1987.

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (17 Oct 2006)

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 — Military Co-operation: Military Co-operation (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There is no co-operation involved between Irish and US Defence Forces arising out of the existence or the role assigned to EUCOM by the US military authorities. Obviously there is a longstanding relationship with the US Military Forces generally. Moreover, US Forces have also participated in UN mandated peacekeeping operations alongside Irish troops. Cooperation with US Forces generally...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 62 together. Ireland is currently contributing 677 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 table. The main overseas commitments are to the United Nations...