Results 11,841-11,860 of 12,701 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (21 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am advised by the military authorities that on 15 September 1961, Trooper Patrick Mullins and Corporal Michael Nolan were killed in action in the Congo when their armoured vehicle was hit by anti-tank fire from armed elements. While the remains of Corporal Nolan were recovered, those of Trooper Mullins were not. An investigation into Trooper Mullins's death by the military authorities at...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Details of the amount of the gross departmental budget, that is, the combined Defence and Army Pensions Estimates, and of the combined amount surrendered to the Exchequer in each of the years from 1997 to 2004 are given in the following table. This was a period of unprecedented investment in Defence Forces infrastructure and equipment. A broad indication of the composition of the amount...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (16 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together. The Defence Forces (Pensions) Acts 1932 to 2004 comprise a total of six short Acts, one of which was repealed in full by the 1975 Act, together with certain provisions of the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004, which enable the Minister for Defence, with the consent of the Minister for Finance, to make and...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Legislation: Defence Forces Legislation (16 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: In the conduct of all departmental business, officials of my Department always endeavour to comply with the requirements of all relevant Acts of the Oireachtas and statutory instruments made thereunder. This is also the case in the pensions field and specifically in respect of the Defence Forces pensions schemes made by the Minister for Defence pursuant to the Defence Forces (Pensions) Acts....

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (15 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am satisfied that none of the members of State boards under the auspices of my Department is disqualified from holding a directorship of a private company. I am in the process of appointing a new Civil Defence Board as the three year term of office of 12 of the members of the first Civil Defence Board expired with effect from 5 June 2005.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Expenditure incurred by my Department, including the Defence Forces where available, in respect of courier or packaging services in each of the past five years is as set out in the following table. Year An Post SDS Iarnród Éireann FASTRACK DHL Total Expenditure â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ 2000 44,870.07 # — — # 44,870.07 # 2001 52,368.09 — 2,578.09...

Written Answers — Tax Collection: Tax Collection (14 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I understand an application for a refund of income tax from the person concerned in respect of absences on sick leave for which he received social welfare benefit is being processed by the Revenue Commissioners. The person concerned has been notified of the position.

Written Answers — Military Inquiries: Military Inquiries (14 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I again convey my deepest sympathy to the family on the loss of their son. As the Deputy may be aware, a Naval Service officer held meetings with the parents at the office of their legal representative to facilitate their access to the report of the military court of inquiry into their son's tragic death. The meetings were intended to assist the family by explaining the court of inquiry...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (14 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I did not travel abroad for the St. Patrick's Day celebrations.

Written Answers — Airspace Infringements: Airspace Infringements (14 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Unauthorised infringements by air traffic from Weston Airport represent a hazard to all airspace users, whether military or civil aircraft, that legally transit through restricted military airspace. All infringements are noted by the Air Corps and the more serious infringements are reported to the appropriate body, the Irish Aviation Authority, for its attention and for any action which it...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (14 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: 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 with Lord Ashdown, the high representative for Bosnia Herzegovina. We had a wide-ranging discussion which included the current situation in the area and the prospects for further developments and also the question of the opening of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (2 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: In so far as my Department is concerned, no commissions, inquiries or tribunals have been initiated since 1995.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Jun 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 Government decision also provides for the transfer of 300 Defence Forces headquarters staff to the...

Written Answers — Departmental Publications: Departmental Publications (1 Jun 2005)

Willie O'Dea: My Department currently has no commissioned reports awaiting publication.

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Ó Snodaigh's question related to the military hardware to be used by the EU battle groups. I have told him in quite reasonable language that the type of military hardware that will be used will depend on the mission in which a particular battle group is engaged. If it is involved in mainly humanitarian tasks, it will be the type of equipment to which I referred. If it is involved in a...

Overseas Missions. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Last Monday, a meeting of Defence Ministers was held in Brussels. Of the many countries which will participate in battle groups, none intends to increase defence expenditure and neither does Ireland. A requirement catalogue which sets out the possible weaponry requirements of battle groups in operations will be finalised under the EU Presidency. In addition, an organisation, the European...

Defence Forces Personnel. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Drug abuse has long been recognised as a serious and escalating problem in our society and while there have been relatively few instances of drug related problems within the Defence Forces, it is recognised that the Defence Forces, as a component of the wider community, mirror the community at large. The implications of drug abuse in an organisation where personnel have access to firearms are...

Defence Forces Personnel. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The answer to the last question is "yes". On the question of which drugs are tested for, a controlled drug is as specified in the Schedule to the Misuse of Drugs Act 1977, as amended by the Misuse of Drugs Act 1984 and includes any substance, product or preparation that is declared by order of the Government to be a controlled drug for the purpose of the Act. As I mentioned earlier, 2,418...

Defence Forces Personnel. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The answer to the latter question is "yes". They are immediately stood down but have access to an appeals procedure which I can communicate to the House or the Deputy if he so wishes. I do not know the answer to the question on passive smoking of cannabis. In theory, it could give rise to a positive test result but, as I have stated, an appeals procedure is available. People must be given the...

Defence Forces Personnel. (26 May 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with Deputy Finian McGrath. As I said to Deputy Sherlock, in terms of access to weapons, it would be a serious matter if there were a problem of widespread drug abuse in the Army. That is the reason for the test, which acts as a deterrent. The consequences, as Deputy McGrath noted, are serious but the sanctions, if one is caught, are also significant. The reaction of personnel has...