Results 11,601-11,620 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Civil Service posts at the levels of assistant secretary and deputy secretary are covered by a scheme of performance-related awards. The operation of the scheme is overseen by the committee for performance awards. The funding of awards is based on 10% of the payroll for the posts covered by the scheme. Within this overall limit, payments of up to 20% can be made to individuals. Prior to the...

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

Willie O'Dea: My Department has awarded consultancy contracts to Deloitte, previously known as Deloitte & Touche, on two occasions since 1 July 1997. Between July 2001 and November 2001, my Department paid €127,925 in respect of assistance provided with the proposed introduction of a new financial and management system for the Department and the Defence Forces. Between September 2003 and August 2004, my...

Leaders' Questions. (12 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Opposition would be dreary and scary in Government.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (11 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Periodic interest has been expressed regarding the use of my Department's lands at Gormanston for commercial purposes, including use as a flight training school. The Deputy will be aware, however, that on 1 July 2003, the Government agreed that lands at Gormanston, County Meath, would be among the State lands released under the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative. The modalities...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (11 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As I indicated in my reply to a Priority Question in the House on 29 September 2005, I initiated contact with Mrs. Helen Barrett, following the inquest into the death of her son, Private Kevin Barrett. Private Barrett died on 18 February 1999, while serving with the 84th Infantry Battalion in Lebanon. I met with Mrs. Barrett on 4 October, 2005, accompanied by her solicitor. I listened...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (11 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 to 511, inclusive, together. Since Ireland took part in its first United Nations mission in 1958, Defence Forces personnel have performed approximately 54,000 tours of duty on 58 peace support operations worldwide. Because UN peacekeepers operate in strife-torn regions, practically every officer, NCO and private who has served overseas has been exposed to...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (11 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There are currently no plans to close any of the military posts at Finner Camp, Lifford and Rockhill House, Letterkenny or to dispose of property in County Donegal, other than the transfer of a portion of lands at Finner Camp to Donegal County Council, for the purposes of constructing a waste water treatment works. The Department's property portfolio is, however, kept under continual review...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (5 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There are no plans to close the military facility at Rockhill House. The relocation of ordnance from Rockhill House Barracks was an operational decision taken by the relevant military authorities. I understand that it has the effect of increasing the number of troops available for ongoing training and operational requirements and targets which must be met by the 28th Infantry Battalion.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement on 3 December 2003 provides for the transfer of my Department's Dublin based Civil Service staff to Newbridge, County Kildare. The number of staff to be relocated to Newbridge is 200. The date envisaged for the move to Newbridge is the second quarter of 2007. The Office of Public Works is...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (5 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: To date 87 of the houses at Orchard Park have been sold to the occupants and work regarding the sales of the remaining 13 houses at the estate is ongoing. The roads, footpaths and services at the estate will have to be brought up to the required standard before they will be taken in charge by Kildare County Council and it is hoped to undertake the necessary works in that regard as soon as...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces headquarters decentralisation implementation group is planning for the relocation of those elements of the headquarters that will be relocated to the Curragh. Some elements of Defence Forces headquarters will also be relocated to Newbridge with my Department. Plans for the decentralisation of Defence Forces headquarters are progressing. A site within Defence Forces property...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (4 Oct 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised that biofuels or a combination of biofuels with diesel are not currently used in any vehicle of the Defence Forces transport fleet. The Defence Forces take into account any developments in the fuel market as part of the ongoing management of the fleet.

Written Answers — Official Travel: Official Travel (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 42 together. During the period 30 May to 1 June, I visited Irish troops serving with KFOR in Kosovo, and EUFOR in Bosnia-Herzegovina. During my visit to EUFOR, I met Lord Ashdown, the High Representative for Bosnia-Herzegovina and Major General A. David Leakey, Force Commander EUFOR on 31 May 2005. The discussions were wide-ranging and included the...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: At present Ireland subscribes to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, UNSAS, under which the State offers to provide up to 850 personnel on overseas service at any given time. Ireland's commitment under the UNSAS represents 10% of the total army strength. This is the maximum sustainable commitment that Ireland can make to overseas peacekeeping operations. At present 749 Defence...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 13 and 48 together. The Irish Aviation Authority, under the aegis of the Department of Transport, is responsible for the safety regulation of Irish airspace. Weston aerodrome is licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority in accordance with the Aerodrome and Visual Ground Aids Order, and in issuing the licence, the authority's remit extends to aviation safety...

Written Answers — Defence Spending: Defence Spending (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14, 21, 25, 39, 44 and 57 together. There are no implications for defence spending arising from the recommendations of the Western European Union Assembly. Ireland is not a member of the Western European Union, but holds observer status. Following the Treaty of Amsterdam, the EU took over the WEU's crisis management functions but the WEU continues in existence...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: KFOR was established on 10 June 1999 in accordance with UN Security Council Resolution 1244 for an initial period of 12 months, to continue thereafter unless the UN Security Council decides otherwise. The role of KFOR is to support the maintenance of civil law and order within Kosovo so as to develop a climate of safety and security, which will enable the transfer of increased responsibility...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan, which was officially launched in July 2004, sets out an ambitious programme of reform and modernisation for the reserve for the period up to end 2009. We are still at a relatively early stage in the lifetime of the plan but I am pleased to say that the implementation deadlines that have been set for specific targets are being met and in...

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As Minister for Defence, I am responsible for the Department of Defence's emergency planning objectives, which are to promote the co-ordination of emergency planning functions across all Departments and other key public authorities and to oversee the emergency planning process in general. In pursuing this objective, I chair the Government task force on emergency planning, which comprises...

Written Answers — Military Courts of Inquiry: Military Courts of Inquiry (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 35 and 41 together. Courts of inquiry are internal military inquiries. A court of inquiry may be convened by a prescribed convening authority under the provisions of Defence Force Regulations A5 and Part III of the Rules of Procedure (Defence Forces) 1954, SI No. 243 of 1954. The purpose of a court of inquiry is to allow the convening authority to take...