Results 11,181-11,200 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Defence Forces Recruitment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 73, 95, 98, 116 and 122 together. 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...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Although the figure of 5% is low, it is in line with international experience. The figures have increased in some of the European states but not by much more than the Irish average. In recent years there has been a substantial increase in the number of women applying to enlist in the Defence Forces. The percentage of women in the Defence Forces is almost directly proportional to the number...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: As I stated, I hope to have the report from the military authorities before 1 June. I will shortly commission research. We are starting the process of meeting the various groups that have written to us and this process will be fully completed by the end of the summer at the latest.

Defence Forces Recruitment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: On the first question, I have been written to on a confidential basis and will therefore not elaborate on the suggestions that have been made. They will emerge very shortly when RACO and PDFORRA talk to the organisations in question. I have not come across an army with no height requirement but I am aware that others have much lower height requirements than ours. I perused the list some...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: We already do that to a certain extent. It is safe to say, on looking at the suggestions of the various organisations, that we will be engaged in a more focused campaign aimed specifically at females.

Defence Forces Property. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper sets out a comprehensive programme for the development of defence and the Defence Forces for the period 2000 to 2010. This programme is expressed in terms of policy decisions taken and goals, objectives and plans to be achieved. These include a rebalancing of defence resource allocations achieved through payroll savings and the sales of properties, and the reinvestment of...

Defence Forces Property. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There is one major capital project under way at present, that is, the refurbishment of block 7, Connolly Barracks. This project will provide modern accommodation for 99 Defence Forces personnel. On the question of major capital projects planned for this year, it is proposed to upgrade the infantry weapons wing and the NCO school. The upgrade will provide modern office training and ancillary...

Defence Forces Property. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: We have already allocated the money to upgrade those facilities. I do not know how much of the capital spending comes from funding obtained from the sale of Defence Forces resources: I will let the Deputy know. I imagine the percentage of that spend arising from the sale of property is quite low. We have almost run out of money obtained from property sales and the money being provided now is...

Defence Forces Property. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: If considerable space is available, I am sure we will put it to the best possible use.

Defence Forces Property. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I have received very strong representations from Deputy Sherlock on the FCA headquarters in Mallow. I will make immediate inquiries as to what is happening there and communicate with the Deputy in the next day or so.

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There are no immediate plans to extend the retirement age of officers and other ranks in the Defence Forces. The White Paper on Defence 2000 and the earlier Defence Forces review implementation plan recommended a reduction in retirement ages in an effort to address the age profile and fitness of the Defence Forces. More recently, however, the retirement age for people recruited to the public...

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The statistics for retirement by commandants on age grounds, as opposed to voluntary retirement, show that 26 retired voluntarily in 2000, while only three had reached the age of retirement. In 2001, five retired on age grounds, with 29 retiring voluntarily. That is the trend. Many of the commandants are retiring voluntarily and are not compelled on reaching the stipulated age. In other...

Defence Forces Retirement Scheme. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: We will keep the matter under review.

Overseas Missions. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Following a request from the United Nations, the EU is examining the provision of a supporting operation, under an EU flag, for MONUC, the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Various options for the mission are being considered within the EU, which has indicated that it is positively disposed towards supporting MONUC. Fact-finding missions to the Democratic Republic of Congo and...

Overseas Missions. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I will answer the Deputy's last question first. If Irish troops are committed, it is envisaged that the mission will last approximately four months. I appreciate the Deputy's comments regarding the security situation on the ground. The Deputy will appreciate that a heavy force is already in the Democratic Republic of Congo. MONUC consists of almost 17,000 appropriately armed troops. The...

Overseas Missions. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am delighted Deputy Sherlock takes that view because I also believe it is a vital mechanism and should be maintained. Deputy Gormley agrees, meaning there is virtual unanimity in the House that it should be so, and I assure him that every time Irish troops are committed abroad the requirements of the triple lock will be rigidly adhered to. The first element of the triple lock involves a...

Overseas Missions. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: All three elements of the triple lock apply when more than 12 troops are committed overseas. When there are less than 12, two elements apply and they have been applied in this case.

Defence Forces Deployment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda Síochána, which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations, the provision of certain...

Defence Forces Deployment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the incident to which Deputy Gormley refers. I do not have much detail on it but believe it was a minor incident. In such situations the Garda Síochána requests the assistance of the Army, which is entitled to go to the aid of the civil power, namely the Garda, when they are in need of assistance. The Garda made such a request in this case, as is normal when a Head of State,...

Defence Forces Deployment. (28 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I said the Army, including the Rangers.