Results 10,961-10,980 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea
- Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: As Deputies will be aware, I established an interdepartmental group comprising representatives of the Department of Defence, the Defence Forces, the Department of the Taoiseach, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Office of the Attorney General to examine all issues relating to Ireland's potential participation in an EU-led rapid response capability force. As part of its study, the...
- Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: The advice of the Attorney General is that there is no reference to this sort of matter in the legislation. Successive Governments have presumed they are entitled to send people on ceremonial duty for seminars, sports events etc. when they are not part of a United Nations force. The defence legislation only refers specifically to circumstances in which troops are to be sent abroad as part of...
- Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: No.
- Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: The Attorney General has stated he is almost certain the personnel are serving legally.
- Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: To be doubly sure, we are including the necessary provision so nobody will ever have the slightest doubt about the matter in the future.
- Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: Yes.
- Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: The KFOR mission and those I discussed with Deputy Costello are part of international United Nations missions, either established or authorised. They are international peacekeeping missions.
- Overseas Missions. (22 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: I refer to individuals, for example, those in our permanent representation to the EU or the two military personnel serving in the Programme for Peace liaison office in Brussels. These are individuals whereas Deputy Costello's question referred to international peace-support groups.
- Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: Ireland has been strongly supportive of the peace process in Sudan, generally, and also in the troubled region of Darfur, providing financial support to the UN-authorised African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) there, as well as seconding an army officer, as a military observer, to it between July 2004 and June 2005. Since July 2005, Ireland has provided one officer â a Logistics Planner â...
- Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: MONUC is the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and was established in February 2000 by Resolution 1291 of the United Nations Security Council. It is headquartered in Kinshasa and consists of about 16,000 troops. Ireland contributes three military observers to the mission. Elections are due to take place in DRC under UN supervision in July 2006. In December 2005, the UN...
- Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: Ireland has participated in the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 5 July, 2002, following Government Decision S140/45/28/0002 of 2 July, 2002 authorising the provision of seven members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with the force. The level of threat to Defence Forces personnel on all Peace Support Operations is kept under constant review and the...
- Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: Seven Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently serving with the UN authorised International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. All personnel are stationed in the Kabul area. Three (3) personnel are employed at ISAF HQ while the remaining four (4) personnel are working with the Kabul Multinational Brigade (KMNB). The three (3) personnel at ISAF HQ hold staff appointments in...
- Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: I am pleased to say that I have recently received from the military authorities their report on the minimum height standards for Defence Forces personnel. This report was prepared in the context of encouraging more women to apply to join the Defence Forces. The report deals comprehensively with the complex issues relating to this matter and as such requires careful consideration. I will be...
- Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: The question of the recruitment of ethnic minorities is not a new one, Defence Force Regulations have always allowed for the recruitment of ethnic minorities to the Defence Forces. Entry to the Permanent Defence Force is either through the Cadetship Competition, Apprenticeship Competition, General Service Enlistment or Direct Entry Competitions which are held to fill vacancies in specialist...
- Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (20 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: I have previously indicated my willingness to make the facilities at St. Bricin's Military Hospital available to the public health service, in the event that the public health service would wish to secure access to these facilities. Representatives from the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and Children visited St. Bricin's Hospital in 2005 to inspect the facilities....
- Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (20 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: Castlebar Military Barracks is primarily a Reserve Defence Force Facility and provides training facilities, office accommodation and storage facilities for Permanent Defence Force Cadre and Unit personnel of Units stationed in the Barracks. I have no plans to change this position. The accommodation currently available in Castlebar Military Barracks is not of the standard required for the...
- Written Answers — Ombudsman Services: Ombudsman Services (14 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: The office of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces was established as an independent statutory office under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004. The appointment of a person to the office is made by the President, acting upon the recommendation of the Government. The specific parts of the Act relevant to the establishment of the Office of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces were brought into...
- Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (14 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: With effect from the 1st October 2005, in the context of the reorganisation of the Reserve Defence Force under the RDF Review Implementation Plan, revised arrangements for the payment of motor travel allowances to Reserve officers for the use of their own motor cars in the course of official duties were introduced. It was subsequently discovered that a substantial number of the claims...
- Written Answers — Army Compensation Claims: Army Compensation Claims (13 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together. The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
- Written Answers — Ministerial Responsibilities: Ministerial Responsibilities (13 Jun 2006)
Willie O'Dea: Since the last general election, no specific function has been delegated to the Minister of State at my Department, Mr. Tom Kitt, T.D., who is also Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach. I do, however, request his assistance in the execution of certain duties, on an ongoing basis. Minister Kitt has deputised for me at official events on a number of occasions when I have been...