Results 12,301-12,320 of 12,596 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

Air Corps Strength. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: To answer Deputy Sherlock first, I have already outlined the very considerable expenditure on training, equipment and infrastructure which the Government has engaged in over the past several years. A system is currently in place which all the military advice available to me suggests is as good as we can have in the circumstances. Procedures are in place in the event of a terrorist attack. I...

Air Corps Strength. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: In answer to Deputy Gormley's question about specific terrorist operatives, these matters are always kept under review. There is constant contact between the Department of Defence and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, and a coherent approach is taken in respect of any known or suspected terrorist who may be operating on Irish soil.

Air Corps Strength. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The scramble time is two minutes and, as I stated, the new aircraft will be armed. On the question of whether terrorists are currently operating in this country, not to my knowledge, but if anything specific requires to be brought to my attention by my Department, I am confident it will do so.

Hearing Impairment Claims. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: By 30 September 2004, a total of 16,726 claims had been received in my Department from current and former members of the Defence Forces in respect of loss of hearing allegedly caused during their military service. A total of 333 claims have been determined in court and 15,060 have been disposed of out of court, mainly through settlement, leaving a total of 1,333 claims outstanding at that...

Hearing Impairment Claims. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The circumstances which enabled people to sue successfully have been dealt with, for example, proper protective equipment has been issued. I am delighted to inform Deputy Sherlock that 11 claims per week was the norm in 2002. That figure decreased to four per week in 2003 and it is currently down to one claim per week. The early settlement scheme contributed to it being a lot less expensive...

Hearing Impairment Claims. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Certain circumstances enabled the court to find that the Army had been negligent in not providing proper protective equipment such as hearing muffs for soldiers during military training exercises. I am advised by the military authorities that all those procedures have been put in place to the satisfaction of the legal people who gave the advice in the first instance that the Government had a...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 30 together. There is an existing policy of ongoing recruitment to the Army ranger wing. Selection courses are held periodically and successful candidates are then taken into the Army ranger wing. A planned selection course is in progress. It is not known at this time how many personnel are likely to be successful on this course. The military...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Those personnel being trained at present are to maintain the complement of 75 and are not extra personnel. I will discuss the matter of possible increases in the numbers serving in the ranger unit with the military authorities. To my knowledge there are no plans at present to increase the numbers above 75 personnel. I will discuss Deputy McGinley's concerns with the appropriate military...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: In answer to Deputy Gormley's questions, I do not know if the military authorities are lobbying for an increase in the number of personnel; they have not lobbied me as yet but I have only been in the Department for ten days and perhaps it will happen down the road. The ranger unit is specifically trained to deal with a siege. Its level of training is very high and its personnel are very well...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I forgot to answer Deputy Gormley's other question about whether members of the ranger wing can be part of the EU headline force. My understanding is that it can include members of the ranger wing. Deployment abroad of members of the Army ranger wing and the consequent size of the force remaining in this country are under review at all times. The Government will ensure that there are...

Defence Forces Recruitment. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I am unable to provide that information in the House today but I will communicate the information to Deputy Gormley.

Bullying in the Workplace. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: In March 2002, Dr. Eileen Doyle and the external advisory committee group presented their report, The Challenge of a Workplace, to my predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith. The contents and recommendations of the Doyle report were accepted in full. Action to implement the recommendations of the report has been a priority since that time. The follow-up action was driven by an independent...

Bullying in the Workplace. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I thank Deputy McGinley for his kind words of congratulations. As to how short or long a time I will be in the Cabinet, I cannot say. However, it is great to have reached this point and, as the former British Chancellor of the Exchequer, Denis Healy, said, "it is always better to be a has-been than a never-was". I agree with Deputy McGinley that the problem to which he referred is ongoing. A...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: As the House will be aware, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force, comprising 435 personnel, is serving with the United Nations Mission in Liberia, or UNMIL, since December 2003. Defence Forces personnel serving with the mission are entitled to 21 days annual leave for the duration of their tour of duty, which is six months. I am advised that the average cost of a return commercial...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: It is quite generous. My predecessor, Deputy Michael Smith, made an arrangement that a commercial flight costing €1,200 would be given to people serving in Liberia for €500. That €500 would be deducted from their overseas allowance, which accumulates over the six month period they are there. That is a generous arrangement. When I was in Letterkenny last week, I took the opportunity to...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I must contradict the Deputy. My information is that the troops are supplied with the relevant protective equipment, mosquito nets etc. They are allowed 21 days' leave during their six-month service period. They can avail of this generous charter flight offer, space permitting. Some 96% of the original brigade availed of it. It appears the uptake among the troops currently serving there will...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland's commitment to the headline goal consists of an offer of up to 850 members of the Defence Forces from within our existing commitment of 850 personnel to the United Nations Standby Arrangements System, UNSAS. I stress that the commitment to the headline goal should not be interpreted as an additional commitment of the Defence Forces to overseas operations. Any new commitments to the...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The Government has taken no decision to date on participation or non-participation in the battle group concept to which the Deputy referred. I do not accept there is a widespread conspiracy to deprive the UN of sufficient troops for peacekeeping to allow the EU to develop its capacity. It came to world attention in the early 1990s, especially in the situation in the Balkans, that people can...

Overseas Missions. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Yes.

Search and Rescue Service. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 76 together. The Irish Coast Guard has overall responsibility for the provision of maritime search and rescue services within the Irish search and rescue region. The Air Corps has been providing search and rescue services off the north-west coast but withdrew yesterday following a hand-over of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which currently...