Results 11,341-11,360 of 12,701 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 52 and 166 together. The Easter Rising of 1916 will be commemorated by a military parade in Dublin on Sunday, 16 April 2006. 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...

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: That is not an appropriate question in this regard.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: For a change.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The question is about the celebrations.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: That is not an appropriate question.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: A relevant one for a change.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: For a change.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: The question was about the organisation of the 1916 celebrations and I intend to confine my reply to that matter specifically. I outlined already to Deputy Gormley those who will march in the parade. It will be Defence Forces, ex-servicemen, United Nations veterans and members of the police in recognition of their service abroad. As I do not fall into any of those categories, ipso facto I...

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I stated that I tried to organise it for this week but due to the Labour Party's spokesperson being unavailable, for understandable reasons, it will take place next week instead.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I am sure people of all persuasions and religious beliefs and none will be able to join in celebrating the sacrifice of the men of 1916. In so far as celebrating the other traditions, we will also have a commemoration for the people who died in the battle of the Somme in the first week of July. The Government will be represented on the annual national remembrance day as usual. I agree with...

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Deputy Catherine Murphy for her support and I take her point. As it is unfortunately only a one-day event the military parade will be the centrepiece. Other events will include the wreath-laying ceremony at Kilmainham Gaol. There will also be an opportunity for a social occasion in the afternoon for invitees and relatives of those who participated. We will meet them and they will be...

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I have no objection.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: I take the Deputy's point. I cannot announce all the events because there is a window of opportunity in the afternoon of the day itself. The parade will take place in the morning followed by a reading of the Proclamation of the Irish Republic outside the GPO. At approximately 7 p.m. there will be a State banquet in Dublin Castle. We had envisaged Government members meeting relatives of the...

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: If Opposition parties have other useful suggestions or ideas for what we could do in the afternoon I am willing to take them on board.

Commemorative Events. (23 Feb 2006)

Willie O'Dea: We are going ahead with the meeting next week because while it is the committee's main function to begin planning the centenary in ten years time——