Results 11,121-11,140 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Travel Expenses: Travel Expenses (6 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The long-standing practice in the public service is that persons may not be recompensed for expenses entailed in travelling to and from their normal work location.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Retirement Scheme: Defence Forces Retirement Scheme (6 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Arising from a recommendation made in 1990 by the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces, the Gleeson commission, MSA was made pensionable in the case of personnel retiring on or after 1 August 1990. As I have previously indicated to the House, this approach was fully consistent with settled public service pensions policy which provides that the benefit of...

Written Answers — Departmental Files: Departmental Files (6 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The issue of making the Department's files relating to pension and medal applications of persons who took part in the 1916 Rising and the War of Independence more widely available is being examined at present.

Written Answers — Irish Language: Irish Language (6 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There are 14 members of staff in my Department who are able to provide services through Irish. This represents 4% of the overall staff in my Department. My Department is engaged in devising a scheme under the Official Languages Act 2003 to enhance services to our customers in Irish.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (5 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Last July, while visiting Mellows barracks in Galway, I spoke of my desire to see more women applying to join the Defence Forces. I indicated then that, while much was already being done to encourage more women to apply, I intended to review the measures in place with a view to maximising the number of women applicants to the Defence Forces. At that time, I pointed out that the number of...

Order of Business. (5 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The press council will be included in the defamation Bill.

Written Answers — Commemorative Events: Commemorative Events (4 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Easter Rising of 1916 will be commemorated by a military parade in Dublin on Sunday, 16 April. Preparations for the parade, as announced by the Taoiseach last October, are being made by the Defence Forces. Approximately 2,500 personnel representing all branches of the forces, together with representatives of ex-service personnel and veterans of UN service, will be included. The parade...

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (4 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy will be aware that there has been a 3% target for employing people with disabilities in the Civil Service since 1994. The definition of a person with a disability for the purposes of the 3% target is the positive action definition set out in the Code Of Practice for the Civil Service, 1994. In that context, the term "people with disabilities" means people with a physical, sensory...

Written Answers — Military Intelligence: Military Intelligence (4 Apr 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces perform complementary roles regarding the protection of the security of the State, and there is ongoing and close liaison. However, it has never been the policy for the Minister for Defence to comment publicly on such matters. I do not intend to depart from that policy on this occasion.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There were no employees of this Department on suspension with pay as of 31 December 2004 and 31 December 2005.

Written Answers — Natural Heritage Areas: Natural Heritage Areas (29 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270 and 271 together. There are some 70 monuments and places listed for the Curragh under the Record of Monuments and Places, as established under section 12 of the National Monuments (Amendment) Act 1994. The Curragh itself is classified as a recorded monument under the Act and my Department ensures that the terms of that Act are adhered to before any works...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 59, 74, 88, 115 and 119 together. During the period 28 February 2006 to 2 March 2006 I took the opportunity to pay a short visit to Liberia where I met the Irish personnel of 94th infantry battalion, United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL. The primary purpose of my visit was to see at first hand the work of the Defence Forces personnel serving with UNMIL...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Investigations: Defence Forces Investigations (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44, 62, 70 and 96 together. On 28 October 2005, I appointed Mr. Sean Hurley to carry out an independent review of the interaction between the Department of Defence-Defence Forces and parents and family of Private Kevin Barrett in the aftermath of his tragic death on 18 February 1999 while serving with the 84th infantry battalion in Lebanon. I received Mr....

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 65 and 113 together. 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. 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...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, is the principal base of the Air Corps. With the withdrawal of aircraft from Gormanston and the relocation of Air Corps headquarters to Baldonnel, the Air Corps has the basis for better management of its resources. Baldonnel will continue to be the centre of military aviation in Ireland. Periodic interest by the private sector has been expressed during the past...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The individual soldier is now required to carry an array of equipment on operational duties. In that regard, one of the essential ongoing equipment acquisition projects relates to the provision of a modern integrated protection and load carrying system for members of the Defence Forces on operational duties. This involves, inter alia, the personal protective equipment consisting of body...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 64, 83 and 100 together. Following on from a request from the UN, the EU is currently examining the question of providing a supporting operation, under an EU flag, for MONUC, the UN Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Various options for the mission are currently being considered within the EU, which has indicated that it is positively...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The number of applications received for general service enlistment to the Permanent Defence Force in 2004 and 2005 was 1,943 and 1,125, respectively. A total of 579 general service recruits enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force in 2004 and a further 384 recruits enlisted in 2005. The number of applications received for cadetships in 2004 and 2005 was 916 and 1,004, respectively. In 2004 a...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 57, 92, 97, 103, 107, 512 and 521 together. Ireland is currently contributing approximately 764 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the following tabular statement. The main commitments are to the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, with 427...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The role of the Defence Forces is set out in the White Paper on Defence. The Naval Service provides the maritime element of the Defence Forces and has a general responsibility to meet contingent and actual maritime defence requirements. Arising from the White Paper, the primary role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a...