Results 11,821-11,840 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The question of whether Ireland can participate in EU battle groups within the confines of the triple lock system is under examination by my Department. We intend to identify the obstacles that exist in this regard while ensuring the triple lock is maintained. The feedback I receive from the public indicates there is great confidence in the triple lock mechanism. It provides significant...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Murphy proposes that we replace the requirement that overseas missions must be authorised or established by the UN with more vague criteria. That would involve unlocking one of the three locks of the triple lock and is against my policy.

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The European Union, which produces 25% of world GDP and has a population of 450 million, is one of the richest trading blocks in the world. Recognising its wealth, influence and impact on world affairs and conscious of the obligations such a position brings, the Union has committed itself to support, through all the various means at its disposal, international peace and security. The...

Written Answers — Common Foreign and Security Policy: Common Foreign and Security Policy (25 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The steering board of the European Defence Agency held its third meeting in Brussels on 2 March 2005. The steering board is the principal decision making body of the agency, on which the 24 participating member states are represented. Denmark is not a member. The meeting, in the formation of national armaments directors, NADs, was chaired on behalf of Javier Solana by Eero Lavonen, the...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (24 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Castlebar military barracks is primarily a reserve Defence Force facility and provides training facilities, office accommodation and storage facilities for Permanent Defence Force cadre and unit personnel of units stationed in the barracks. I have no plans to change the current position, as previously outlined. On 26 July 2004 my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith, officially launched the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: To date, a total of 15 schools have been granted permission to use the Curragh swimming pool. Additional applications to use the facility have been received in respect of a further eight schools and a total of nine swimming clubs. It is intended to expand the use of the pool as soon as possible and it is hoped to facilitate those applications at that stage.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities have been unable to furnish the information sought by the Deputy in the time provided. As soon as the information is available I will forward same to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation 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. A total of 385 personnel, of whom 78 are currently serving in the Department, have declared an interest in relocating to Newbridge. The Office of Public Works is currently in discussions...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Facilities: Defence Forces Facilities (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There has been an unprecedented level of expenditure on infrastructure and equipment for the Defence Forces in recent years. This was made possible by the Government's decision that pay savings arising from the reorganisation of the Defence Forces set out in the White Paper of 2000, along with proceeds from the sale of surplus properties, would be reallocated for investment in modern...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation provides for the transfer of 300 Defence Forces headquarters staff to the Curragh, County Kildare. A site for the Defence Force's headquarters at the Curragh has been selected and preliminary planning in connection with the design of the building has commenced. It is envisaged that the relocation will take place in 2007.

Written Answers — Security Resources: Security Resources (18 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate, for reasons of security, for me to comment on the exact nature of the deployment to Shannon Airport on 10 May 2005. However, it is estimated that the overall cost to the Defence Forces was approximately €28,000.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 377 together. Under the Defence Forces pension schemes, the minimum service required for an immediate pension in the case of NCOs and privates is 21 years. The pension for 21 years service consists of the following elements: (a) a basic flat rate pension which varies according to rank; (b) an addition in respect of military service allowance, MSA, in...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Defence Forces personnel have been serving with the United Nations peacekeeping force in Cyprus, UNFICYP, since 1964. To date, military personnel have completed a total of 9,656 individual tours of duty with the mission. One officer of the Permanent Defence Force is serving with UNFICYP. He is due to complete his tour of duty with the mission on 31 May 2005. I am advised by the military...

Written Answers — Departmental Charges: Departmental Charges (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A review of all charges and fees levied by my Department has been carried out and I am satisfied that there is an adequate legal basis for all such charges and fees.

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government, on 15 July 1998, 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 completed in 2003 for a total of €42 million. The bulk of the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 381 and 382 together. The unsatisfactory age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force was commented upon by the Gleeson Commission in its report in 1990. The matter had also been of serious concern to the military authorities for a number of years. The age profile was also the subject of severe criticism by PricewaterhouseCoopers consultants, who had...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (17 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government, on 15 July 1998, 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 completed in 2003 for a total of €42 million. The bulk of...

Written Answers — Fairtrade Products: Fairtrade Products (12 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Procurement by my Department, including the Defence Forces, must be carried out in accordance with Government contracts procedures and European Union directives, under which the award of contracts is primarily based on the quality of the product and cost. It is not open to me, therefore, to favour suppliers of Fairtrade approved products over other suppliers in purchases by my Department....

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (12 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There is one vacancy on the board of Coiste an Asgard, which I am in the process of filling. There are no other vacancies on statutory boards under the aegis of my Department.

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

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advise that the individual in question is undergoing training under the Defence Forces trainee technician scheme. His future on this scheme is currently being reviewed arising from an assessment of his performance on the most recent phase of his training. He is not eligible for deployment overseas with 93rd Infantry Battalion, UNMIL, pending the outcome of the review...