Results 11,801-11,820 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces contingent, which was deployed for service with the United Nations mission in Liberia, UNMIL, in December 2003, currently comprises a motorised infantry battalion, of some 404 personnel. A small number of additional personnel have also been deployed at force headquarters and as military observers. Irish personnel are rotated on a six monthly basis. The 92nd Infantry...

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

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 151, 164 and 165 together. 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 Clancy Barracks, Dublin. The sale of 97 acres approximately at Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig, was...

Written Answers — Injury Compensation Claims: Injury Compensation Claims (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Details of the amount paid by my Department in settlement of compensation claims and associated legal costs, excluding hearing loss claims, over the period in question are shown in the table. Non-Hearing Loss Claims. Year Awards/Settlements Legal Fees â'¬ â'¬ 2000 6,799,201 1,564,900 2001 4,555,277 1,724,704 2002 4,835,652 1,430,747 2003 3,522,547 1,030,490 2004...

Written Answers — Nuclear Safety: Nuclear Safety (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: 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 Garda Síochána. I am informed by the military authorities that they have received no request for the provision of security for the transportation of nuclear or chemical materials...

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Dr. Eileen Doyle and the external advisory committee presented their report, The Challenge of a Workplace, in March 2002. That independent report addressed the range of interpersonal issues within the Defence Forces. Its contents and recommendations were accepted in full. Implementation of the recommendations of the report has been one of the highest priorities for the Defence Forces and my...

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

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces have available to them equipment for monitoring and protecting their members in dealing with nuclear, biological or chemical, NBC, threats identified from time to time. They hold an extensive range of modern NBC equipment that meets their current requirements. That range includes approximately 7,000 NBC suits, 1,500 of which were delivered in 2004. It is planned to purchase...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Space assets have multiple applications, both civil and military. In the civil role, space assets or satellites are used, for example, in monitoring implementation of the Common Agriculture Policy and for environmental analysis, research, navigation and so on. In the context of European security and defence policy, the availability of satellites for monitoring, reconnaissance and surveillance...

Written Answers — Air Ambulance Service: Air Ambulance Service (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The provision of an air ambulance service is primarily a matter for the Department of Health and Children. Inter-hospital air ambulance services are currently provided by the Air Corps and the Irish Coast Guard, subject to the nature of the mission, available aircraft and other operational commitments. The Alouette and Dauphin helicopters are currently used by the Air Corps in the provision...

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

Willie O'Dea: On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN charter authorising the deployment of an international security assistance force, ISAF, in Afghanistan for six months. The role of the force is to assist in the maintenance of security in Kabul and the surrounding areas. The mandate of the force has been extended by subsequent Security...

Written Answers — Air Corps Helicopter Fleet: Air Corps Helicopter Fleet (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Following a tender competition, two contracts have been signed for the provision of new helicopters for the Air Corps, at a total cost of over €61million. Four utility AB 139 helicopters are being acquired from the Bell Agusta Aerospace Company at a cost of €48.4 million, inclusive of VAT. The four helicopters will be built at the Agusta facility near Milan, Italy. Two AB 139s will be...

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

Willie O'Dea: The refurbishment of residential accommodation is an integral part of my Department's ongoing building programme. Major contracts to improve the standard of accommodation have been placed over the past number of years as part of an ongoing investment programme within the Defence Forces. In the period 2003 to date, major accommodation upgrades have taken place in McKee and Cathal Brugha...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: At this time, I have no plans to bring forward legislation regarding overseas training. When I last spoke in the House on this matter I stated that, 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 seemed to me that the various forces and elements comprising a battle group would...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy is right about our very long and proud record of service to the United Nations, and I emphasise that it will continue. The battle group concept is that a relatively small force should go in very quickly to stabilise a situation. Later, there would be ordinary UN involvement, and we will of course continue to play a role in that. The Deputy said the concept of the battle groups had...

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 Joyce — 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...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the delegation and will of course ask it to raise the matter with the Palestinian authorities. That said, the Minister for Foreign Affairs raised the matter with the Palestinian authorities quite recently, without any positive conclusion. In a "Léargas" programme, broadcast on RTE on 25 April 2005, Brigadier General Sultan Al Anien indicated that he knew of the burial site of...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I accept that completely. We will continue with our efforts. We had communication from members of the Joyce family in light of current events. That communication is confidential and I do not wish to go into it here. I am arranging for the chief of staff to speak to the family and all our efforts will continue on this matter as the family deserves closure.

Defence Forces Property. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: My Department has written to the Irish Aviation Authority to express concerns about possible developments at Weston Aerodrome. The Irish Aviation Authority has not received an airspace change proposal for Weston Aerodrome. If and when the authority receives such a proposal, my Department will be consulted and the matter will be addressed in light of potential implications for the safety and...

Defence Forces Property. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy has some very interesting information and I would appreciate if she would furnish me with copies of the documentation in her possession. The ultimate control of those using airspace or extending an aerodrome rests with the Irish Aviation Authority. This is supposed to be done legally. If someone wishes to extend an aerodrome, he or she must submit an airspace change proposal to the...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The conditions under which the Defence Forces may participate in overseas peace support operations have been made very clear by the Government. The conditions, which are known as the triple lock, must be satisfied. The operation must be mandated by the United Nations and it must be approved by the Government and by way of a resolution of Dáil Éireann. Section 2 of the Defence...