Results 12,101-12,120 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Defence Forces Investigation: Defence Forces Investigation (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 135 together. The case to which the Deputies refer relates to the killing of Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, in 1980. The question of the measures open to the Irish authorities to bring the alleged perpetrator of this crime to justice is currently being examined...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 120 together. Following a tender competition, two contracts have been signed for the provision of new helicopters for the Air Corps, at a total cost of over €61 million. Four utility AB139 helicopters are being acquired from the Bell Agusta Aerospace Company at a cost of €48.4 million, inclusive of VAT. The four helicopters will be built at the...

Written Answers — Military Police Investigation: Military Police Investigation (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advise that as a result of a number of alleged incidents on board a Naval Service vessel in November-December 2004, two Military Police investigations were initiated. One of these investigations concluded on 20 December 2004 and a report was submitted to the Flag Officer Commanding Naval Service on 22 December 2004 for consideration. The appropriate disciplinary...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (26 Jan 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 Government 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. The work of the task...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on Defence of February 2000 sets out a figure of 10,500 personnel for the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 930 for the Air Corps, 1,144 for the Naval Service and 8,426 for the Army. It is my intention to maintain the established Government policy of ongoing recruitment to the Defence Forces. Recruitment into the Permanent Defence Force will continue to maintain the strength...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces will be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence in 2005. I am aware that significant investment has taken place in recent years and I will continue the good work in that regard. The unprecedented level of expenditure on equipment for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service was made possible by the Government's decision that pay savings...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government's White Paper on Defence, published in February 2000, sets out a medium-term strategy for defence and covers the period up to 2010. A major objective of the strategy is to ensure that Ireland has a world-class military organisation capable of carrying out the roles assigned to them by the Government, both at home and abroad. This objective requires an ongoing modernisation...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The most important defence against any terrorist attack is early detection and prevention by the security forces. The Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. The potential threats to the State arising from international terrorism are continuously monitored by them in co-operation with the Defence Forces....

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 1285 together. The Defence Forces have available to them equipment for monitoring and protecting their members in dealing with nuclear, biological or chemical, NBC, threats identified from time to time. They hold an extensive range of modern NBC equipment that meets their current requirements. This range includes approximately 7,000 NBC suits, 1,500 of...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 125 together. The Defence Forces contingent, which was deployed for service with the United Nations Mission in Liberia, UNMIL, in December 2003, comprises a motorised infantry battalion of some 428 personnel. A small number of additional personnel have been also deployed at force headquarters and as military observers. Irish personnel are rotated on a...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decided on 1 July 2003 that Magee Barracks, Kildare, and Gormanston Camp, County Meath, would be among the State lands released for inclusion in the Sustaining Progress affordable housing initiative. In addition, the Government agreed on 16 December 2003 to the release of a further series of State lands for inclusion in the affordable housing initiative including Department of...

Written Answers — High Court Action: High Court Action (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A settlement was reached in the matter referred to by the Deputy on 19 November 2004 and a statement was read into the court record. The terms of the settlement did not provide for any compensation to be paid to the person referred to in the question. However, as part of the settlement, an order for the taxation of the applicant's costs to include reserved costs was made. The costs have yet...

Written Answers — Emergency Planning: Emergency Planning (26 Jan 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 Government 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. The work of the task...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: On 22 November 2004, the Dutch Presidency convened a meeting of EU Defence Ministers in the form of a Military Capabilities Commitment Conference, MCCC, in order to discuss various aspects of military capability development, in particular in terms of the rapid response elements-battlegroups concept. Most notably, member states gave commitments for up to 13 battle groups and niche...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland's participation in Partnership for Peace, PfP, to date is set out in our five individual partnership programmes, IPP, copies of which have been lodged in the Oireachtas Library. Ireland's fifth IPP, covering the period 2005-06, was completed in consultation with the Departments of Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Health...

Written Answers — Army Equitation School: Army Equitation School (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: An investigation was carried out into the operation of the Army Equitation School in McKee Barracks, Dublin, following on from unattributed rumours which suggested that certain unacceptable practices were happening in the equitation school. The Chief of Staff advised me that there were no grounds for believing that anything untoward was actually happening in the equitation school. However, as...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: At present the only definite plans for travel in my capacity as Minister for Defence are to visit a number of barracks throughout the State over the coming months and to attend the informal meeting of Ministers of Defence of the European Union in Luxembourg on 18 and 19 March 2005. I also intend to visit our troops who are serving abroad but these plans are not yet finalised.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 138 together. 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. The Government decision also provides for the transfer of 300 Defence Forces headquarters staff to the Curragh, County Kildare. A...

Written Answers — Shannon Airport Landings: Shannon Airport Landings (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Responsibility for the approval of overflights and landings by foreign military aircraft lies with my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In relation to civil aircraft and civil airports, the responsibility lies with my colleague, the Minister for Transport. I have no role in relation to the investigation of any allegations regarding any activity at Shannon Airport. I have made my...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (26 Jan 2005)

Willie O'Dea: My first public engagement after being appointed Minister for Defence was to attend PDFORRA's annual delegate conference in Letterkenny last October. I had the privilege of addressing the delegates and meeting briefly with officials of the association. PDFORRA is the voice of enlisted personnel of the Permanent Defence Force and it plays an integral and valuable part within the representative...