Results 11,021-11,040 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Office of Emergency Planning was established, following a Government decision in October 2001, as a joint civil and military Office within my Department. The Office supports the work of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, which I chair, and continues to work with Government Departments and other public authorities in order to ensure the best possible use of resources and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 70 and 464 together. Responsibility for the provision of a public Ambulance service in this country is a matter for the Health Services Executive (HSE). The Defence Forces maintain a small ambulance fleet to meet their own needs. These ambulances are primarily used to transfer Defence Forces patients to and between hospitals and to attend Risk Training...

Written Answers — Court Cases: Court Cases (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The position is that the judgement referred to in the Deputy's Question, delivered in the High Court in this case on 7th April, 2006, is to be the subject of appeal to the Supreme Court. In the circumstances, I cannot comment further as regards the particulars of this case.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Funding: Defence Forces Funding (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Expenditure under the Defence and Army Pensions Votes has increased from €646 million in 1997 to an estimated outturn of €958 million in 2006. This represents an increase in defence spending of some 48% over that period. Details of the allocations to Defence for each year from 1997 to 2006, together with the GNP figures and the percentage of GNP represented by defence spending, are set...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 85, 92 and 130 together. Ireland has participated in the UN authorised International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan since 5 July, 2002, following Government approval on 2 July, 2002, authorising the provision of seven members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with this force. ISAF was established under the authority of UN Security...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 119 and 133 together. A letting of the Coastguard Station at Dún Laoghaire had been held by my Department from Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company for a period of 4 years 9 months ending on the 31st March, 2006 for use by the Reserve Defence Force. The company informed the Department that it was not in a position to renew the existing letting agreement and a...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 458 together. The all-party group held their first meeting on Wednesday 1 March, 2006. Arrangements for the 90th Anniversary Commemoration were outlined and preliminary discussions were also held in relation to the framework for the centenary programme. I envisage that the next meeting of this group will be held shortly and the group will continue to...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Learjet 45, which entered operational service as part of the Ministerial Air Transport Service (MATS) in January 2004, operates in tandem with the Gulfstream IV in providing a Ministerial Air Transport Service for members of the Government. The Learjet is occasionally tasked with other missions when not in use by the Ministerial Air Transport Service. These include supporting the civil...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Government agreed on 16 December 2003 to the release of circa 2.5 acres at St. Bricin's Military Hospital, Dublin for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress Affordable Housing Initiative. The primary purpose of the Initiative is to maximize the early delivery of affordable housing units. The site is being transferred to Dublin City Council as specified by the Department of the Environment,...

Written Answers — Naval Service: Naval Service (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Naval Service flagship LE EITHNE sailed from the Naval Base in Haulbowline, Co. Cork, on 8th of February this year to visit Argentina, on foot of an invitation from the Argentine Government, where it participated in celebrations to commemorate the memory of Foxford-born Admiral William Brown, the founder of the Argentine Navy. LE EITHNE also visited Montevideo in Uruguay and Rio De...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force is ongoing and will continue in order to maintain the strength at the level set out in the White Paper as required to meet military needs. It is expected that in excess of 500 will be enlisted in 2006. The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps,...

Written Answers — Air Traffic Control: Air Traffic Control (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Air Corps Air Traffic Control were not made aware of the details of the recent Ryan Air and Aer Arann flights that had to be diverted due to bomb hoaxes. Both aircraft involved were at the time under the control of British Air Traffic services. Air Corps Air Traffic Control provides services in areas of Irish airspace designated for use by the Defence Forces and do not handle commercial...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 473 together. The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Islandbridge, Dublin. The value of sales/disposals completed to date in respect of the six barracks the...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 131 together. The Office of Emergency Planning was established, following a Government decision in October 2001, as a joint civil and military Office within my Department. The Office supports the work of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning and continues to work with Government Departments and other public authorities in order to ensure the...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 128 together. I would like to take this opportunity, to congratulate the Defence Forces on their magnificent display at the Easter Parade. I believe that there was great public approval and support for the commemorations of the Easter Rising. I have received a lot of positive feedback from members of the public, both written and oral, who were delighted...

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The total costs to the Defence Forces in respect of the 90th Anniversary of the Easter Rising was €214,663.69. This figure is broken down as follows: Subsistence Allowance 7,637.78 Rations 41,072.47 Aviation Gas 13,879.00 Fuel 30,741.46 Sundries 4,235.98 Preparation of Vehicles 26,640.00 Transport costs 90,457.00 Total 214,663.69

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: It is necessary to update the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act, of 1960 to clarify and modernise the legislation in relation to our participation in humanitarian operations. The issue here is that the Government, under the existing legislation, cannot dispatch troops for service on emergency or disaster relief operations. As a matter of course, there is normally no UN Security Council...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Investigations: Defence Forces Investigations (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: On 15 September, 1961, Trooper Patrick Mullins and Corporal Michael Nolan were killed in action in the Congo when their armoured vehicle was hit by anti tank fire from armed elements. While the remains of Corporal Nolan were recovered, those of Trooper Mullins were not. An investigation into Trooper Mullins's death by the military authorities at the time concluded on 29 January, 1962, that he...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Department of Defence reviews its existing property portfolio on an ongoing basis, taking account of current and possible future military requirements. Such a review is presently in progress. It is the Department's policy to dispose of properties which are surplus to military requirements.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (9 May 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The minimum height requirement for entry to both the Permanent Defence Force and the Reserve Defence Force is 162.5 cm (5 ft. 4 ins) for both men and women. This limit was set in April 2002 based on the professional advice of the Medical Corps and the actual experience of training units. The advice at that time was that, having regard to the nature of the job and of the duties of military...