Results 10,681-10,700 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Drug Abuse: Drug Abuse (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advise that the number of personnel who tested "positive" under the Compulsory Random Drug Test programme in the Defence Forces in the years 2004 and 2005 was four and seven respectively. The four members who tested "positive" in 2004 were discharged and six of the seven who tested positive in 2005 have been discharged. The proposed discharge of one of the members who...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 Oct 2006)

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. A total of 338 personnel, of which 60 are from within the Department, have opted to move to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: My Department and the Defence Forces are involved in an ongoing investment programme of refurbishment and new builds to meet Defence Force infrastructure requirements. Since January 2000 the following projects have been undertaken in the Naval Base: Refurbishment of Central Supply Unit Building New Naval Technical Stores Renovation of Old Married Quarters Upgrade of Accommodation Blocks...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There are a total of 30 aircraft in service with the Air Corps at present, comprising 11 helicopters and 19 fixed wing aircraft. The type and age of the aircraft is set out in the attached tabular statement, which will be circulated with the Official Report. In addition to the aircraft listed on the schedule, four utility AW 139 helicopters are being acquired from Agusta S.p.A. at a cost of...

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

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy is aware I undertook during Priority Questions on Thursday 23 February 2006 to ask the military authorities to revisit this matter in light of the questions raised on that date. The Chief of Staff appointed a senior officer to examine all aspects of the Niemba ambush in the Congo in November 1960. Due to the breadth of this investigation, this process has taken some time. I...

Written Answers — Overseas Development Aid: Overseas Development Aid (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government's recently published White Paper on Irish Aid provides for the establishment of a Volunteer Corps Unit within the Department of Foreign Affairs to harness the strong volunteer spirit, which exists across the country in support of overseas development activities. I am informed by my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Dermot Ahern that his Department is to open...

Written Answers — Military Archives: Military Archives (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advise that at present the staff strength of the Military Archives is three (3), comprising two (2) commissioned officers and one (1) Private. The military authorities advise me that a strength of five (5), including suitably qualified replacements for two (2) officers who have retired and who previously also worked in the Archives, is sufficient to meet the current...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence outlines the blue print for a new Reserve Defence Force. An Implementation Plan has been developed that will ensure the realisation of the White Paper vision and this will be rolled out over the period to end 2009. The new Reserve will have a clearly defined role, an enhanced relationship with the PDF, better equipment and training and opportunities to serve on...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Remuneration: Defence Forces Remuneration (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 170 together. At the outset, I should explain that the Office of the Paymaster General, Department of Finance, is responsible, upon the receipt from my Department of the pension rate in each particular case, for the payment of pensions to retired employees, including retired civilian employees. Every effort is made to ensure that pension rates for...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Personnel: Defence Forces Personnel (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advise that the number of military personnel promoted to date in 2006 and the number of promotions anticipated or pending for the remainder of 2006 are as shown in the table. Service Rank Number promoted to date 2006 Promotions pending/anticipated remainder of 2006 ARMY Col to Brig Gen 1 1 Lt Col to Col 5 1 Comdt to Lt Col 13 2 Capt to Acting Comdt 14 8 Lt...

Written Answers — Military Escorts: Military Escorts (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I had a number of discussions with the Irish Bankers Federation (IBF) in relation to this matter last year, with a view to increasing the level of contribution by the Banks in respect of the costs incurred by the Department in the provision of Cash Escorts. Following detailed and intensive discussions between officials of the IBF, the member Banks and the Department, a detailed formal...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. I am aware that 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...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 5 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 invasion of Lebanon by Israel, with a mandate "to confirm the withdrawal of Israeli forces, to restore international peace and security and to assist the government of...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will clarify the situation on deployment for Deputy Timmins. The first advance party, consisting of four specialist personnel will travel to Lebanon on 14 October, that is, next week, to make the necessary advance contacts at ports, airports and so on. The second advance party, consisting of 35 personnel, will deploy to Beirut on 24 October and the balance will leave on either 30 or 31...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: No, I was unarmed that day. I was armed only with my genius.

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Timmins asked if I plan to visit the troops in Lebanon. I will do so, after they deploy, around mid to late November.

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The mandate is more robust. In my reply I quoted the terms of the UN resolution laying out the mandate for UNIFIL. It includes the phrase "to resist attempts by forceful means to prevent it from discharging its duties under the mandate of the Security Council". This is not a typical run-of-the-mill Chapter VI-type resolution. Chapter VI-type resolutions generally come into play when a...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: On Deputy Gormley's question, I would imagine "yes" is the answer. The Palestinian question cannot just be syphoned off. On the question of overseas allowances, I said at the PDFORRA annual conference that if the association were to request an increase in overseas allowances, it would be considered most sympathetically.

Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Naval Service is the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. The Naval Service operates eight general purpose patrol ships. All eight ships are involved in coastal and offshore patrolling and surveillance for the State in that part of the seas where State jurisdiction applies, such as internal...

Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Oct 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Costello is right. It is a big tome and it took me a long time to plough through it. I do not necessarily accept all the conclusions in the report. We do not have time to engage in a long debate on its intricate details, but I note that the situation seems to have worsened somewhat in recent times. I accept Deputy Costello's point that PDFORRA and the Naval Service are of the view...