Results 11,781-11,800 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 64 together. The case to which the Deputies refer relates to the killing of Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne while serving with the United Nations interim force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, in 1980. The question of the measures open to the Irish authorities to bring the alleged perpetrator of this crime to justice is currently being examined...

Written Answers — EU Battle Groups: EU Battle Groups (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 20, 31, 33, 43, 53, 154, 155 and 156 together. The background to the rapid response elements concept, commonly referred to as battle groups, is that at the European Council in Helsinki in 1999, member states set themselves a headline goal that "by the year 2003, co-operating together and voluntarily, they will be able to deploy rapidly and then sustain...

Written Answers — Employee Protection Legislation: Employee Protection Legislation (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Over the years PDFORRA has canvassed the idea that a soldier's conditions of employment should largely replicate conditions in the civilian world. However, in a professional military organisation, this approach is simply not practical and this is widely recognised internationally. It is an inherent and over-riding principle of military service that personnel are at all times subject to...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As soon as the scale of the disaster in South East Asia became clear, the Department of Foreign Affairs deployed a high level technical assessment team, which included a member of the Defence Forces, to examine the situation on the ground and identify what assistance Ireland should offer to the affected region. Arising from its initial assessment, the team advised the Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces participate in two main types of overseas armed missions, namely, traditional UN led "Blue Hat" missions and UN authorised missions. The first type is where the mission is established under the authority of the UN Security Council or the General Assembly of the UN. UNIFIL in Lebanon and UNMIL in Liberia are examples of such missions. The second type are missions authorised...

Written Answers — Hearing Impairment Claims: Hearing Impairment Claims (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As of 30 April 2005, a total of 16,736 claims had been received in my Department from current and former members of the Defence Forces in respect of loss of hearing allegedly caused during their military service. A total of 339 claims have been determined in court and 15,151 claims have been disposed of out of court, mainly through settlement, leaving a total of 1,246 claims outstanding at...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I have received and examined the Jadotville report. The report fully exonerates the actions of A Company. At the time they surrendered, nothing would have been served by fighting on, except further and unnecessary bloodshed. It is clear from the report that the company and its commanding officer acted appropriately given all the circumstances. The report recommended that the events at...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: At this stage, I do not envisage any requirement to change the provisions of the relevant Defence Force regulations with specific regard to the period within which a recruit must reach the appropriate standard for final approval. These provisions were outlined in my reply to Question No. 78 of 1 March 2005. The central issue here, raised on 1 March 2005, has been examined by my officials to...

Written Answers — Naval Service Vessels: Naval Service Vessels (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 51 together. 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...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 47 and 66 together. The United Nations department of peacekeeping operations, UNDPKO, has invited Ireland to contribute a small number of Defence Forces personnel to act as UN military observers, UNMOs, with the recently established United Nations mission in the Sudan. The request to participate in the peacekeeping operation in Sudan is being given careful...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Reserve Defence Force, including an Slua Muirí, is 12,287. Reserve Defence Force personnel engage in a variety of training related to the particular military unit in which they serve. Training consists of nightly parades, field days, weekend training, annual training periods and courses. In July 2004, my predecessor, Deputy...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Training: Defence Forces Training (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advise that chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear, CBRN, training is conducted at induction level for all cadets and recruits in the Defence Forces. During the conduct of this training, students are trained and tested in personal nuclear decontamination techniques. In each brigade and the Defence Forces training centre, a CBRN platoon is fully trained in all...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 37, 38, 57, 63, 157, 158, 159 and 160 together. The White Paper on defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. The strength of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service and the number of female personnel by rank within these...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, is the principal base of the Air Corps. With the withdrawal of aircraft from Gormanston and the relocation of Air Corps headquarters to Baldonnel as outlined in the White Paper on defence, the Air Corps has the basis for better management of its resources. Baldonnel will continue to be the centre of military aviation in Ireland. Periodic interest by the private...

Written Answers — International Terrorism: International Terrorism (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 161, 162 and 163 together. 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, when requested, the...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. The Air Corps had been providing search and rescue, SAR, services off the north-west coast but withdrew in October 2004, following a handover of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which also provides the service at the country's other SAR...

Written Answers — EU Battle Groups: EU Battle Groups (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The European constitution proposes a new arrangement known as "permanent structured co-operation"— to enable those member states wishing to do so to commit to being able to undertake the most demanding crisis management missions. Structured co-operation is open to all member states, on the condition that they undertake to enhance their defence capacities through the development of national...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A decision to establish an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments, known as the European Defence Agency, EDA, was formally adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 12 July 2004. The overall aim of the agency is to support member states in their efforts to improve European defence...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 65 together. The military medical services and their facilities exist primarily to maintain the health of the Defence Forces and to support them in operational and overseas activities. The reorganisation of the medical corps, which was effected as part of the Defence Forces review implementation plan in November 1998, redirected the focus of military...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: On 27 April 1981, an observation post in South Lebanon manned by two members of the Irish battalion serving with the United Nations interim force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, Private Hugh Doherty and Private Kevin Seoighe, came under attack. Private Doherty was later found dead from gunshot wounds and Private Seoighe was missing. Some equipment was also missing. The attackers are unknown. Efforts to...