Results 12,241-12,260 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Primary responsibility for maritime protection lies with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. When requested by the Irish Coast Guard, the Naval Service and the maritime squadron of the Air Corps provide such services as may be necessary in an aid to the civil authority role. The Naval Service, as the primary seagoing agency of the State, also monitors activity...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 24 and 26 together. 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 that will radically change the structure and configuration of the reserve while preserving its traditional strengths. These include such things as the spirit of voluntary...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 71 together. The Government, on 15 July 1998, approved a programme of evacuation and sale of six barracks considered surplus to military requirements. The barracks in question were located at Ballincollig, Fermoy, Castleblayney, Naas, Kildare and Clancy Barracks, Dublin. The sale of approximately 91 acres comprising Lot 1, Murphy Barracks, Ballincollig,...

Written Answers — International Terror Attacks: International Terror Attacks (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the comments of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces referred to by the Deputy. These comments were made in the context of the launch of the Defence Forces annual report for 2003 when the Chief of Staff explained the need for the Defence Forces to make contingency plans for a range of scenarios where the State may be at risk notwithstanding the fact that the risk may be seen...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: It will be possible to make land available to facilitate the extension of Leitrim Cemetery, Glen of Imaal, County Wicklow.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Government decision on decentralisation announced by the Minister for Finance in his Budget Statement 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 on decentralisation also provides for the transfer of Defence Forces headquarters staff to the...

Written Answers — Overflight Approval: Overflight Approval (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 44 and 45 together. Responsibility for the approval of overflights and landings by foreign military aircraft lies with my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In the case of civil aircraft and civil airports, the responsibility lies with my colleague the Minister for Transport. I have no role in the investigation of any allegations regarding any...

Written Answers — Drug Testing Programme: Drug Testing Programme (12 Oct 2004)

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...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I am aware of the comments of the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces referred to by the Deputy. These comments were made in the context of the launch of the Defence Forces annual report for 2003, when he outlined the new type of equipment and training needed to safeguard further personnel being deployed on overseas service. In this regard, the Chief of Staff acknowledged that the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I do not anticipate that I will bring any legislation before the House during the current session. The heads of the Curragh of Kildare Bill were approved by Government on 21 July 2004 and the Attorney General has been formally requested to initiate the drafting of the Bill. I anticipate that the Bill will be ready for publication by mid-2005.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The White Paper on defence in February 2000 provided for an overall strength of 10,500 for the Defence Forces with the option of an additional 250 recruits in training at any one time. In the event, no operational requirement to exercise the additional 250 option arose. It was decided, having regard to training requirements, an assessment of the defence and security environment and for...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers held at Noordwijk in the Netherlands on 17 September 2004 was attended by my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith. I welcome the opportunity to continue with my predecessor's practice of ensuring that the House is kept abreast of developments in the European security and defence policy, ESDP, and on issues discussed at ministerial meetings. The...

Written Answers — EU Presidency: EU Presidency (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, meaning in practice to assist the Garda Síochána, when requested, which duties include the protection and guarding of vital installations, the provision of certain...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Recruitment: Defence Forces Recruitment (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 72 together. 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 to maintain the strength at a...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 73 together. My vision for the development of the Defence Forces and my priorities are set out in the White Paper on Defence and in the programme for Government. I intend to follow through on the implementation of the White Paper on Defence and the other commitments we have made to the ongoing modernisation and reform process and to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Operations: Defence Forces Operations (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The primary responsibility for internal security rests with the Garda Síochána. The Defence Forces, pursuant to their role of rendering aid to the civil power, assist the Garda as required. Defence Forces Border operations are undertaken as aid to civil power, ATCP, requests. The Defence Forces also assist the Garda with prisoner escorts, cash escorts and explosives escorts. The demands on...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Review: Defence Forces Review (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Deputy Ó Snodaigh has raised similar questions on a number of previous occasions. I can confirm that there has been no significant change in the position since my predecessor's response to Question No. 62 of 11 May last. In this regard, the Government's White Paper on defence, published in February 2000, set out a medium term strategy for defence covering the period up to 2010. A major...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together. The Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960 provides that an officer appointed or a man enlisted after the date of its passing is liable to serve outside the State with a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force despatched for service with international forces established by the United Nations. With the passage of time since 1960 all...

Written Answers — Medical Services: Medical Services (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The medication administered to the person concerned at the time referred to was human gamma globulin. This was administered on 10 October 1990, 18 January 1991 and 1 April 1991. There is no record in his service medical records of his being administered any other medication at this time. Gamma globulin was administered routinely to all troops serving in south Lebanon prior to the availability...

Written Answers — Overseas Missions: Overseas Missions (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Chief of Staff received a report from the board of officers in mid June and subsequently sought clarification on a number of matters arising. This clarification, which involved research of archival material, has been received by the Chief of Staff and the report is still under examination. Pending the outcome of the examination, it would not be appropriate for me to comment. I will...