Results 11,641-11,660 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

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. It might be noted that the programme is expressed in terms of policy decisions taken and goals, objectives and plans and not in terms of specific recommendations. Just past the half-way point, most of the major elements of the White Paper development programme...

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...

Written Answers — Suicide Incidence: Suicide Incidence (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As the Deputy's question indicates, the suicide rate within the Permanent Defence Force, PDF, reflects that of the wider national population from which members of the Permanent Defence Force are drawn. Every death resulting from suicide is a tragedy for the family concerned. Therefore, while the suicide rate does not show any apparent excess over the rate for the national population as a...

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

Willie O'Dea: On 12 September 2005 a military police investigation commenced into alleged irregularities in the operation of a Reserve Defence Force unit fund account. Pending the outcome of the investigation I do not consider it appropriate to comment any further in the matter.

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

Willie O'Dea: Defence Forces personnel have participated in a number of staff, technical and crisis management exercises in the context of both the EU and PfP. They have for many years attended workshops, training courses, desktop exercises, seminars and other events overseas as part of their military training and I expect that they will continue to do so. The purpose of such training is to learn from best...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 154 together. The case to which the Deputies refer is that of Private Kevin Barrett, who died on 18 February 1999 while serving with the 84th Infantry Battalion, UNIFIL, in Lebanon. I am advised that the circumstances surrounding Private Kevin Barrett's death are as follows. Private Kevin Barrett's battalion was carrying out a tour of duty in south...

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

Willie O'Dea: The office of Ombudsman for the Defence Forces has been established as an independent statutory office under the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 by the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 (Commencement) Order 2005. The appointment of a person to the office is made by the President acting upon the recommendation of the Government. Ms Paulyn Marrinan-Quinn was recently so appointed by the...

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

Willie O'Dea: Personnel on being discharged from the Permanent Defence Force are obliged to vacate married quarters within a short period of the dates of their discharge. The provision of housing is primarily a matter for the local authorities and married personnel have an equal claim on such housing as other members of the community in the same income category. Some 54 of those overholding married...

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

Willie O'Dea: Ireland's participation in Partnership for Peace, PfP, to date is set out in our five individual partnership programmes, IPP, copies of which have been lodged in the Oireachtas Library. Ireland's fifth IPP, covering the period 2005-06 was completed in consultation with the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Justice Equality and Law Reform, Health and...

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

Willie O'Dea: On 15 July 1998, the Government approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Islandbridge, Dublin. The sale of approximately 97 acres at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, was completed in 2003 for a total of €42 million. The bulk of the...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 161 together. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces continues to be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. I am aware that significant investment has taken place in recent years and I will continue the good work in that regard. The unprecedented level of expenditure on equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service was made...

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

Willie O'Dea: In order to reach the requisite level of interoperability, and taking account of the short timeframes envisaged for the deployment of the EU's rapid reaction elements, it would seem to me that the various forces and elements comprising a battlegroup would need to be familiar with the equipment, standard operating procedures, organisation and operations of the group as a whole. However, that...

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

Willie O'Dea: The most important defence against any terrorist attack is detection and prevention by the security forces. While the Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning, in practice, to assist the Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The various components of the Defence...

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

Willie O'Dea: Ireland is currently contributing approximately 749 Defence Forces personnel to 19 different missions throughout the world. The main commitments are to: the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, with 413 personnel; the NATO-led international security presence, KFOR, in Kosovo, with 210 personnel; and EUFOR, the EU-led operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 54 personnel. Other personnel...

Defence Forces Inquiry. (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The case to which the Deputies refer is that of Private Kevin Barrett, who died on 18 February 1999 while serving with the 84th infantry battalion in Lebanon. I avail of this opportunity to express my sympathy to the family of Private Barrett on their sad loss. The death of Private Barrett was the subject of a UN board of inquiry and an Irish...

Defence Forces Inquiry. (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I share the concern of the Deputies but I prefer to meet Mrs. Barrett to hear what she has to say. I do not need Deputy Timmins to tell me what she thinks. In respect of the inquiry, sometimes it is impossible to ascertain the circumstances in which someone died. In this case there have been inquiries by the UN, the Irish army and a three day inquest. In none of those cases was there a...

Defence Forces Inquiry. (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Yes, but it did not conclude if it was accidental or deliberate.

Defence Forces Inquiry. (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: To answer Deputy Sherlock first, the lady in question did not seek to meet me. I initiated the contact with her and I will meet her next week. The inquest finished just last Tuesday fortnight. There has been no avoidable delay on my part. I initiated the contact with Mrs. Barrett. I wish to correct the record of the House. Deputy Timmins is absolutely wrong in the implications in his...

Defence Forces Inquiry. (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy implied that it was not released. It was.

Defence Forces Inquiry. (29 Sep 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As an ex-Army officer, Deputy Timmins should know that United Nations boards of inquiry are internal documents of the United Nations. They are made available to state authorities on condition that they cannot be released or made public in any way, including for judicial proceedings. However, with the agreement of the United Nations, a copy of that part of the UN board of inquiry entitled...