Results 11,221-11,240 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (7 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. The potential threats to the State arising from terrorism are continuously monitored by the Garda in co-operation with the Defence Forces. It is important that all prudent precautions are taken and that matters are kept under continuous review. The objective of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There are currently 14 persons with disabilities employed in my Department which represents 3.29% of the total Civil Service staff in my Department. The guidelines for the employment of people with disabilities as set out in the code of practice for the Civil Service 1994 is followed by my Department which has consistently exceeded the target of 3% for the employment of people with physical,...

Written Answers — Presidential Visit: Presidential Visit (7 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 567 to 569 inclusive, together. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me for reasons of security to comment on the exact nature of the deployment to Shannon Airport on 1 March 2006. The estimated additional cost to the Defence Forces was approximately €32,000 in respect of security duty allowance and of fuel. I was aware of the visit...

Written Answers — Departmental Documents: Departmental Documents (7 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The press statement and an accompanying explanatory note on the historical background to the case to which the Deputy refers was issued from the Department of Defence on 2 October 2002. It referred to the publication by the Minister of the report arising from an examination and review of the files and records held by the Department of Defence and by the Defence Forces in relation to the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (7 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The site in question forms part of lands under lease to a company which is now in dissolution. The legal position in that regard is under consideration in consultation with the Office of the Chief State Solicitor. Until advice in relation to the legal position is to hand, it is not possible to consider any requests for use of this property.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The person concerned has exhausted his entitlement to sick pay under the terms of the departmental sick leave scheme as he has availed of over 365 days sick leave in the past four years. As I explained in my reply to Question No. 1411 of 25 January,2006, the terms of the departmental sick leave scheme are of general application and they cannot be altered to suit individual circumstances....

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (2 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The following appointments to boards were made by me and my predecessor at the Department of Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, in the past five years: Coiste An Asgard Mr. Sean Flood appointed 31 July 2002. Mr. Gerard O'Donnell appointed 9 August 2002. Mr. Patrick J. O'Hara appointed 30 September 2002. Mr. Frederick Morris appointed 27 February 2003, resigned October 2004. Mr. Pat...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Claims: Defence Forces Claims (2 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Details of the claims made by members of the Reserve Defence Force in each of the years in question are contained in the following tabular statement: Number of Claims Registered by Members of the Reserve Defence Forces Year No. Registered Outstanding Finalised Amount Paid Costs Paid â'¬ â'¬ 2000 192 19 173 1,659,579.10 814,648.37 2001 163 18 145 1,298,631.82...

Written Answers — Foreign Conflicts: Foreign Conflicts (1 Mar 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 to 245, inclusive, together. I undertook during Priority Questions last Thursday, 23 February 2006 to ask the military authorities to revisit the matter in light of questions raised by Deputy Finian McGrath. I have asked them to so do and to specifically deal with points raised both last Thursday and those raised in these questions. I expect that this...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (28 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: My Department places its advertising in the print media through Brindley Advertising which currently holds the State contract for all press advertising. The contract was most recently placed in 2004 for the period 2004-07, following a full public procurement process by the Government supplies agency. The value of advertising placed by my Department, including the Defence Forces, in The Irish...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: There are 429 civil servants in my Department, most of whom in the course of their duties have either regular or occasional dealings with the Naval Service. There are two work-sharing clerical officers from my Department who are based in the naval base, Cork, who deal exclusively with the Naval Service.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Most of the civil servants in my Department deal with the Air Corps on either a regular or occasional basis. There is one executive officer and one clerical officer serving in the aviation and maritime unit of my Department who deal exclusively with the Air Corps.

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (28 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: In the White Paper on defence, the Government decided that the Naval Service will be developed around the provision of an eight-ship flotilla. In recent years, two new ships have been delivered to the Naval Service and the service is operating with the recommended eight ships. The total cost of the two ships was €50 million. Both ships have proved to be tremendous assets to the Naval...

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

Willie O'Dea: Entry to the Naval Service is either through the cadetship competition, general service enlistment or direct entry competitions which are held form time to time to fill vacancies in specialist appointments. A specified maximum upper age limit applies to each entry stream. For the cadetship competition the upper age limit is under 28 years of age on 1 October in the competition year and for...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 489 together. My Department currently holds the house and lands at the location in question, comprising an area of 4.83 acres in all, under lease. Over the years, the Department has received approaches regarding the disposal of its interest in the property and discussions in this regard are ongoing. Such discussions, however, may not come to fruition...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is as set out in the following table: Grade Purpose Location Higher Executive Officer Secretary to Coiste an Asgard Coiste an Asgard Executive Officer Initial setting up of new office for the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces Office of the Ombudsman for Defence Forces Clerical Officer Partnership Liaison Officer CPSU Head Office Technical...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I plan to discuss the contents of the reports with my officials, the Army and the representative organisations RACO and PDFORRA. I have no problem with publishing their contents at that stage. I expect the discussions to take place shortly. The internal debate on the medical barrier to further reducing the height requirements for female applicants continues. As Deputy Timmins states, medical...

Defence Forces Inquiry. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Private Kevin Barrett died on 18 February 1999 while serving with the 84th infantry battalion in Lebanon. His death was the subject of a UN board of inquiry and an Irish contingent board of inquiry as well as a military police investigation. The coroner for north-west Donegal also held an inquest into the death of Private Barrett from 5 to 8 September 2005. The jury in the inquest returned an...

Defence Forces Inquiry. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Concerning Deputy Sherlock's first question, it is my intention to implement the recommendations in the Hurley report. The majority of the report concerns the interaction between the family, the Department and the Army. Some improvements had been made since 2001 but Mr. Hurley recommends further changes and these will be implemented. I discussed these with the Chief of Staff as recently as...

Defence Forces Inquiry. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: Yes.