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Results 11,921-11,940 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I have a summary of the study, which I can make available to Deputy Ryan. My reading of the study is that it is possible to interpret it as including a nuclear option. However, this is only one of many studies the European Union takes into account when formulating security and defence policy. The European security strategy, which was endorsed by all 25 member states in December 2003, sets out...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I did not acknowledge that.

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Anybody can write a paper which suggests anything, but that does not mean it will suddenly be accepted policy. Deputy Ryan is wrong and should withdraw his statement — it was not an imputation — that I accepted that we would be tied into a nuclear option. I do not accept that. I have told the Deputy, in clear English and in words of as few syllabi as possible, that this is one of a number...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: It is a think-tank. The European Union produced its policy in December 2003. That is European policy. The EU took account of everything said by everybody and the analyses of all types of think-tanks and produced its policy for the future. I am happy with that policy.

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I accept Deputy McGrath's comments. There is certainly an element of fear but that fear has been stoked by certain people for their own political ends. The Seville declaration is crystal clear. It states that Ireland will not be part of any common defence policy, whether that involves nuclear options, infantry options or any other options. It will not be part of any common defence policy...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: That is a different topic. I am trying to answer the question the Deputy asked. If he wants to put down a question on Shannon Airport, I will be happy to give him an answer.

Military Escorts. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: To aid the civil power is among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces. This means in practice to assist, when requested, the Garda Siochána which has the primary responsibility for law and order, including protection of the internal security of the State. The Defence Forces assist the Garda as required in duties, which include escorting cash deliveries to banks, post offices and other...

Military Escorts. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I cannot answer for what has been happening since 1995. I have only been Minister for Defence for the past six months. One of my first acts was to seek an increase in contribution from the banks. I am sorry negotiations have dragged on for so long. I have made it clear to the Irish Bankers' Federation that any agreement will be retrospective to the time I took over as Minister for Defence. I...

Military Escorts. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am not doing this because it is popular.

Military Escorts. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am doing this because it is right. In 1995, the banks accepted that they should pay almost the full cost of these cash escorts. If it was right back in 1995, then it is right now and I agree with Deputy Ryan on that. The lead Department on the issue of cash escorts is the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. If cash in excess of a certain amount is being transported, then the...

Military Escorts. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy's last point could be used as an argument for never imposing any kind of levy on banks or financial institutions.

Military Escorts. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Sherlock mentioned the figures for bank profits earlier but everyone would agree that what we are asking them to pay, in addition to what they are paying already, will be like a drop in the ocean given their overall profits. I am sure it would cost more to devise some system to take it back from the consumers, given that the cost involved is so little compared to the banks' overall...

Defence Forces Reserve. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 41 together. The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Reserve Defence Force, including An Slua Muirí, is 12,287. Good progress has been made with the reorganisation to date. On 26 July 2004 my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith, officially launched the Reserve Defence Force review implementation plan, which is the start of a process...

Defence Forces Reserve. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: An implementation group in the Department is operating the restructuring of the Defence Forces. It is true, however, that certain property owned by the Department of Defence, which is being used currently, will not be in use later. I am sure the Deputy will be pleased to hear that we have a standing agreement with the Department of Finance that money raised through the sale by the Department...

Civil Defence Board. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The terms of the statement of settlement referred to by the Deputy were agreed by both parties in the context of the former chairman of the Civil Defence Board agreeing not to proceed with his application for judicial review. I consider, therefore, that it would not be appropriate for me at this stage to comment either on that statement or on the statement of my predecessor in this House on...

Civil Defence Board. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I did not make the allegation. I will briefly explain the background. I cannot dispute the validity of anything Deputy Sherlock has said, but except for the settlement, all these events preceded my time in the Department of Defence. When the individual referred to in the question was sacked as chairman of the Civil Defence Board, he initiated an action for judicial review. I told my officials...

Civil Defence Board. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Yes. He made a statement, and in the agreement between the individual concerned and the Department of Defence, the Department made its own statements. As far as I can determine, the matter is now closed.

Defence Forces Strength. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Strength figures are usually collated at the end of each quarter. The closest date to 1 June 1997 for which strength figures were returned was 30 June 1997. The strength figures for 30 June 1997 and 1 January 2005 are as follows: Date Officers NCOS Privates Total 30 June 1997 127 455 432 1,014 1 January 2005 156 490 442 1,088 The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets...

Defence Forces Strength. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Timmins will be aware that in the 2002 budget, the Minister for Finance announced a cap on numbers working in the public sector and in addition announced a personnel reduction of 5,000. My Department's contribution to that is to phase out the 250 extra recruits over a three-year period. We are still authorised to have 10,500 members of the Permanent Defence Force. Regarding the Naval...

Overseas Missions. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 5 together. The United Nations department of peacekeeping operations has invited Ireland to contribute a small number of Defence Forces personnel to act as UN military observers with the recently established United Nations mission in the Sudan. The request to participate in the peacekeeping operation in the Sudan is being given the careful consideration...

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