Results 12,041-12,060 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Overseas Missions. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: It will be very interesting to see how they square that circle come the next general election. The Government is firmly committed to the triple lock, which is and will remain the lodestone of its policy on foreign commitments.

Overseas Missions. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: It is the case as far as this Government is concerned, which will be with us for many a long day. Written answers follow Adjournment Debate.

Legislative Programme. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I am qualified already.

Overseas Missions. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 74 and 390 together. I refer Deputies to my reply to this House on this subject on 26 January last. The position remains as I outlined at that time. The background to the rapid response elements concept commonly referred to as the "battle groups" is that at the European Council in Helsinki in 1999, member states set themselves a headline goal, that is,...

Overseas Missions. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I will not anticipate the outcome of the sub-group's deliberations. We have identified certain legal barriers to our participation in the so-called battle groups. I have asked people representing various Departments and the Office of the Attorney General to advise us on precisely what are those problems and how they propose we get around them. When I receive the report of the relevant...

Overseas Missions. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As I emphasised, the Government's policy is that the triple-lock procedure will remain in place. In accordance with the Defence Act 1960, if we are to deploy troops abroad, provided the number of troops is more than 12 and provided they are carrying arms, the triple-lock will continue to apply. In other words, that operation will require a United Nations mandate, a decision of the Cabinet and...

Overseas Missions. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: No one has asked me to park this issue until the outcome of the referendum on the EU constitution is known or any other time. The concept of our becoming involved in battle groups is still evolving. The European Council has just agreed the broad outline parameters of what will be involved. As I stated, a huge amount of detail must be finalised in terms of where the battle groups will train,...

Overseas Missions. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: As Kofi Annan has stated, times have changed and the UN must be in a position to respond quickly to avoid the genocide and slaughter which was witnessed in the Congo last year. The recommendation is that to do that, this particular aspect of the rapid response element is necessary. It would be invariably organised regionally, whether by the EU or NATO. In principle, I agree it is a very good...

Overseas Missions. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I do not accept that there is a conflict. We both agree that to participate in the battle groups as we understand the concept at present, the law will have to be changed. I made the point that there might not be much point changing the law until the UN reforms itself to get Security Council decisions much more rapidly than at present. That in no way conflicts with what my colleague stated. We...

Bullying in the Workplace. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Dr. Eileen Doyle and the external advisory committee presented their report, The Challenge of a Workplace, in March 2002. This independent report addressed the range of interpersonal issues for 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...

Bullying in the Workplace. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The chairperson of the independent monitoring group is Dr. Eileen Doyle who composed the original report. The members include the deputy chief of staff, the assistant secretary of the Department of Defence, the general secretary of PDFORRA and the general secretary of RACO, the representative organisations of enlisted personnel and officers. Everybody is aware of allegations. We read the...

Bullying in the Workplace. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Apart from those. The final part of my reply puts the issue in context. Since the revised procedures for making complaints were introduced in March 2003, eight complaints of unacceptable behaviour have been formally initiated in the Defence Forces. Five of these cases were proven to be unfounded. One case was upheld and the person complained of had disciplinary action taken against him. Two...

National Emergency Plan. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government task force on emergency planning, which I chair, was established in October 2001. The membership of the task force includes Ministers, senior officials of Departments, senior officers of the Defence Forces and the Garda Síochána and officials of other key public authorities that have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning. I can provide a list of the people...

National Emergency Plan. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: No. It has been my practice since becoming Minister to call the emergency planning task force together on at least a monthly basis, which will continue. The next meeting is tomorrow afternoon. No member of the task force said anything that would necessarily alarm me or drew my attention to serious deficiencies. Each plan is a matter for the relevant lead Department. For example, the public...

National Emergency Plan. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The plan was prepared by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland. I am aware of it and can make a copy available to Deputy Timmins, if he wishes. He can evaluate it himself.

National Emergency Plan. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A definitive plan exists. I wish to explore aspects of it with the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. As there will be a large representation at tomorrow's meeting, we can refine the plan there. I have no difficulty making the plan available for the Deputy's perusal.

Defence Forces Training. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A number of educational programmes are undertaken in the Defence Forces in regard to international humanitarian law. The military authorities advise that the position is as follows. Lectures on international humanitarian law are conducted by legal officers on all basic officers courses in the Military College. In addition, a day-long seminar on international humanitarian law is conducted for...

Defence Forces Training. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Deputy is correct that there is no reference in the White Paper to this aspect. Nevertheless, the position remains that officers — those in charge — get a very good grounding in international humanitarian law, which includes human rights law. To be frank, I do not know whether the course includes a specific section on sexual harassment, but I will find out and let the Deputy know. I...

Defence Forces Training. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Since becoming Minister, I have not been aware of any investigation in that line and I do not know the outcome of any such investigations. I am not aware that anybody was specifically punished, dealt with or otherwise. Therefore, I must conclude the investigations found no case to answer or insufficient evidence to condemn anybody. We send personnel to the international course in San Remo to...

Defence Forces Regulations. (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Medical treatment of military personnel is carried out as far as possible in a military hospital or other medical facility under the auspices of the Army medical corps. If the necessary treatment is outside the scope of the Army medical corps, non-commissioned personnel, including recruits, are referred for treatment in the public health service. Such personnel, in common with all citizens,...