Results 11,941-11,960 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The request is the result of UN Resolution 1590 of 24 March 2005. A small number of military personnel at officer level have been requested to act as observers to the mission in southern Sudan rather than in Darfur. The Chief of Staff of the Army has circulated the Defence Forces seeking volunteers and this process will conclude on 28 April. Currently, 134 officers serve abroad. If more than...

Overseas Missions. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A formal request has been received for soldiers from the United Nations. I have consulted the Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, who has recently been to the Sudan and who has spoken to me about it in some detail. Our current commitment to UN missions abroad is 750 soldiers. According to the terms of the request we received, the mission will be a peacekeeping operation. A peace treaty...

Overseas Missions. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Minister of State, Deputy Conor Lenihan, has discussed the matter with me and expressed the view that there are serious problems with the current UN operation. It does not appear to be achieving the results we would all like to see. I agree, therefore, it is relatively ineffective. The UN has informed the Minister of State that it is attempting to take the appropriate steps to bolster the...

Overseas Missions. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am very happy to reassure Deputy Sherlock on the last point. We must carry out a security assessment before troops are committed to any mission. As we speak, a risk assessment operation is under way. The Deputy asked about peacekeeping and peace enforcement, and a great deal depends on how one interprets either term. According to the data which accompanied the UN request for soldiers, it...

Overseas Missions. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: While there is a significant difference, the Deputy will be aware that the Petersberg Tasks have been expanded to encompass peace enforcement as well as peacekeeping. I understand a comprehensive peace agreement for southern Sudan was signed by the Government of Sudan and the organisation calling itself The People's Liberation Army in Nairobi on 9 January 2005. As a result of the treaty,...

Security Escorts. (21 Apr 2005)

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

Security Escorts. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Sherlock always asks his questions plainly and I will try to answer as plainly as I can. I do not consider it acceptable. If I thought it were acceptable I would not be negotiating for an increase. I would not have called in the institutions and said that I want an increased contribution from them. The initiative whereby the Garda Síochána, subsequently with back-up from the Army,...

Security Escorts. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I agree it is not acceptable that only 43% of the costs of security escorts are being met at present. That is why I have been endeavouring to increase the contribution. I am not asking the banks for the full cost of the cash escorts because all the activity does not relate to banks. Some 20% covers post offices and a small amount relates to other financial institutions such as the Central...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 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, was formally adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 12 July 2004. Following an initial start-up phase during 2004, the agency is now operational, with its senior management in place...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I will answer Deputy Gormley's questions in sequence. The Government took a decision on 6 July 2004, to participate in this agency. Every other government in Europe is participating with the exception of Denmark, according to my information. I presume the Attorney General attended that meeting, although it was before my time in Government. I presume he would have advised the Government if it...

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Gormley will also be aware that there is severe pressure on Government time. Every morning on the Order of Business we are asked the whereabouts of this, that or the other Bill. Time is not limitless. However, I would not agree that the objective of this agency is to spend more. It seems to me from what I have read about it, that the whole focus is on better spending and that is why——

Common Foreign and Security Policy. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As far as I can see "better" is the primary focus. I do not believe there is anything particularly sinister about this. Every country in Europe, with the exception of Denmark, has agreed to participate. At the moment, we have just agreed to be involved in the framework. No particular project has been undertaken yet. For example, a procurement project has not been undertaken and nobody has yet...

Hospital Accommodation. (21 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As the House will be aware, earlier this week I stated my desire to make the use of facilities at St. Bricin's Military Hospital available to the public health service. This offer includes the three specific areas for the treatment of civilian patients identified back in 2001, but also includes any possible options that the Health Service Executive might wish to put to the Department of...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (20 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 319 and 320 together. As Minister for Defence, I have contracted four staff as follows: Job Description Name Current Salary Special Advisor to the Minister for Defence. To provide relevant advice to the Minister as necessary Derek Mooney â'¬71,990 per annum Press Advisor to the Minister for Defence. To provide press liaison services to...

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Nobody likes a smart ass.

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: That is why the Deputy is taken nowhere.

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: That is not true. The Deputy should correct himself.

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy did not do a whole pile when he was in charge of the Department of Health.

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I could not get anything with the Deputy. He blocked everything. He was in the Department all the time doing nothing.

Leaders' Questions. (20 Apr 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I was provoked.