Results 11,581-11,600 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Foreign Travel: Foreign Travel (26 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Neither I nor the previous Minister for Defence, Deputy Michael Smith, attended any foreign conferences since June 2002.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (25 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women in the Defence Forces, including the Army, Air Corps, Naval Service and the Reserve Defence Force and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces activities. In effect, this means that women are eligible on the same basis as men for participation in operational and ceremonial activities, for...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (25 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 and 582 together. The nine members of the Defence Forces who were killed in the Niemba ambush were the first members of the Defence Forces to lose their lives in battle while serving on a UN mission. This was the largest single loss of life in any one incident in the history of the Defence Forces participation in UN service. The 33rd Battalion was equipped...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: When commissioning outside consultants, my Department adheres to the guidelines for the engagement of consultants in the Civil Service, as issued by the Department of Finance. Ministerial approval for the expenditure on such commissions has not been required.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (25 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has not experienced poor value for money in respect of reports, consultancies and cases from external commissions.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The amount spent by my Department in bringing into effect the provisions of the Official Languages Act 2003 is €34,316.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together. No payments were made by my Department to the companies mentioned by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The property in question comprises a site of approximately 0.6 acres, together with a dilapidated prefabricated structure. The property was vacated by the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, in March 2004 on health and safety grounds. A Portacabin on the site is currently used for storage. As it is not feasible to refurbish the prefabricated structure, it has been decided to offer the site for sale...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I assume the Deputy is referring to the civilian personnel employed in building maintenance work at military installations throughout the country. I should explain that under the Sustaining Progress agreement the application of pay increases arising under the benchmarking process to employees in the State sector requires the approval of the relevant performance verification group, PVG, for...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 770 and 771 together. No payments of the type referred to by the Deputy, overtime, additional allowances or ex gratia payments, were made to staff who work in my Department's press office in respect of persons being on call and their attendance at work before or after normal hours.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy is listed in the following table. Grade No. of Overtime Days Earned during Leave Year 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 Total Cleaner 2.5 2.5 5 Telephonist 1 1 Clerical Officer 7 10.5 1 1 19.5 Staff Officer 6.5 5.5 1 13 Executive Officer 4.5 8.5 1 14 Higher Executive Officer 12 1 4.5 17.5 Total 33.5...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The office of the chief medical officer for the Civil Service provides high quality medical advice and an occupational health service to my Department. The sick leave papers of staff are referred to that office from time to time as necessary. Personnel files are also released to staff of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General on request for audit purposes. Personal information...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Three higher executive officers from my Department, one in 2003 and two in 2004, were successful candidates in the competition held by the Public Appointments Service for acceptance onto the masters programme in public policy analysis, a two year full-time programme delivered by the Institute of Public Administration in association with the faculty of commerce, UCD. The first year is a full...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Night /Evening courses undertaken by staff 2005 No. applied for refund Value of refund expected to be made in 2005 No. granted approval but did not subsequently apply for refund â'¬ Civil Service Staff 16 21,120 2 Civilian Employee Staff 5 8,624 Nil Military Personnel 35 70,000 Nil

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Proportion of Training Budget spent on refund for night time and weekend study 2003 2004 2005 Civil Service Staff 14.8% 10.2% 8.2% Civilian Employee Staff 8.6% 7.9% 5.7% Details with regard to members of the Defence Forces are not readily available. The military authorities are compiling the information...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: My Department expended €1079.09 on nine briefcases during the period 6 June 2002 to date. The largest amount paid in respect of a briefcase was €158.26. No refunds were made to staff in respect of the purchase of briefcases during the period in question. Details in respect of briefcases purchased by the Defence Forces are not available.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The number of personal digital assistants purchased by my Department is three, each costing €400. Two are currently on issue to staff, one to the Secretary General and one to an assistant secretary, with a backup device held by ICT personnel for support and development. Such devices are not issued as a matter of course but only on instruction from the highest levels and where a business...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There are no staff in my Department in respect of whom the exemptions referred to by the Deputy apply.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 780 and 781 together. No payments were made by the Department of Defence to the companies mentioned by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (12 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table: Year Name Purpose Estimated Cost Cost â'¬ â'¬ 2000 Mr. Mike Ginn To assist and advise with a tender competition for the supply of Medium Lift Helicopters for Search and Rescue Not available 121,682 2000-01 Exselan Computer Systems To facilitate development of Department's E-Government Strategy...