Results 13,101-13,120 of 18,851 for speaker:Fergus O'Dowd

Broadcasting Legislation (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I agree with the thrust of what Deputy Charles Flanagan says and that people have strong views on this. The advisory group, the health specialists and the nutritional experts came to a view but, as I said earlier, it is a matter for the Oireachtas to make up its mind on these regulations. The Oireachtas has powers to do so and the Minister has no statutory role in this respect. However, I...

Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Government is deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Syria. Almost 3 million people have been affected by the civil unrest in Syria since it began in March 2011. The population of the Homs district of Baba Amr has been displaced. While exact figures are difficult to ascertain, the number of fatalities thus far is at least 8,000, with 2,500 killed in the past month alone....

Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Unless the triple-lock requirements are satisfied we cannot deploy Defence Forces personnel overseas in a military capacity. This would require a unanimous UN resolution but in the absence of such a resolution we cannot get involved in a military mission. A decision of the Government and a vote in the Dáil is also required if the number of personnel to be deployed is greater than seven....

Defence Forces Property (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Department of Defence's property portfolio is kept under review to ensure the most effective use of military resources, having regard to the roles assigned by Government to the Defence Forces. As the Deputy is aware, on 15 November 2011 the Government approved a proposal from the Minister for Defence to proceed with a further phase of consolidation of Defence Forces personnel into fewer...

Defence Forces Property (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I understand the advertisements pertain to members of the Reserve Defence Force, or what used to be called the FCA. These are not full-time military personnel and as they train once or twice per week on average they do not have the same requirements for permanent accommodation. Where Reserve units are based in these towns they will be provided with space for training and other necessary...

Defence Forces Property (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Some €84.98 million has been realised to date from the disposal of six barracks and part of another. The money is ring-fenced and returned to the Defence Vote as appropriations-in-aid. Under some of the major programmes, light tactical armoured vehicles, armoured APCs, two EC135 helicopters, six AW139 helicopters and two new offshore patrol vessels have been purchased. I believe...

Defence Forces Property (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I will.

Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I have a good briefing on this one. The Defence Forces are primarily deployed on overseas missions in support of international peace and security under UN mandates. On 20 December 2001, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted Resolution 1386 under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, authorising the establishment of an International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. Ireland has...

Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The key point is what I said at the beginning. I appreciate the Deputy's comments and I support his point about any civilians being killed in a tragic and appalling manner as happened with that one soldier doing what he did. The photographs of the child victims of that extreme and appalling action are shocking as are the deaths of all civilians. The key point is that we are there...

Overseas Missions (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: We have seven personnel there as part of a UN-mandated force. The Deputy spoke about the Taliban and the situation in Afghanistan. The Taliban have been involved in abuses of human rights in denying women the right to be educated and people to enjoy a normal life. The Irish personnel there are rotated every six months. We are part of a group of other neutral and non-aligned countries,...

Defence Forces Strength (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The number of personnel who left the Defence Forces in the period 1 January to 29 February 2012 was 551. The total number of vacancies at all ranks as at 29 February, 2011, and based on the current employment control framework, ECF, is set out in the tabular statement. The ECF is being revised in the context of the reduction in personnel to 9,500 and the reorganisation announced recently by...

Defence Forces Strength (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I cannot give the Deputy all the facts he has sought. However, I assure him they will be brought to him as soon as possible. The key point is the Government will maintain Army personnel numbers at 9,500 and it will recruit up to 600 as soon as possible. The Army must assess where this recruitment will take place and at what rank. The table supplied to the Deputy outlines the vacancies at...

Defence Forces Strength (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: It is important to get this exactly right in view of the reorganisation that is pending. There is no point in having the wrong rank of person doing a given job. Those recruited must fit the vacancies deemed to be essential. This is a fundamental reorganisation and a significant undertaking. A range of approaches must be considered. The experience from previous reorganisations has shown...

Defence Forces Operations (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank Deputy Halligan for his question. The Customs and Excise service of the Revenue Commissioners has primary responsibility for the prevention of drug smuggling into the country. Responsibility for the prevention of crime rests primarily with An Garda Síochána. However, the White Paper on defence from 2000 provides for a security role for the Naval Service and the Air Corps to...

Defence Forces Operations (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: I thank the Deputy for his comments. He is perfectly correct in his comments on the Defence Forces providing intelligence. As I stated earlier, a national body deals with this issue. This involves the Garda, the Army and the intelligence people. There is a great pooling of resources. Notwithstanding what Deputy Halligan stated in respect of the Garda representative body, this is not a...

Defence Forces Operations (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: As Deputy Halligan stated, he is not calling for the Army to be on the streets and this is not what the Army wants either. The Army is in place to aid civilian power and this is what it has always done. I agree with the Deputy, as does everyone else, that the drug situation continues to be a major priority for the Defence Forces. They play a full part in this regard.

Defence Forces Equipment (14 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Given the current economic situation, the acquisition of defensive equipment is carried out on a strictly prioritised basis to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out their roles at home and overseas. In this regard, a ten year equipment development plan for the Defence Forces was completed in 2009. This plan provides the way forward and will ensure that modern and effective equipment...

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (13 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: A complete cessation of drift net fishing has been in place since 2007. I understand that the person referred to by the Deputy is a former holder of a commercial drift net licence and received payment under the Salmon Hardship Scheme. Beneficiaries of that scheme undertook not to apply for a commercial fishing licence in the future and had until 31 December 2007 to complete the...

Written Answers — Mining Licences: Mining Licences (13 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: Boliden Tara Mines Ltd currently operates under a number of State Mining Facilities (Leases and Licences) which currently extend to end February 2013. An additional facility for one area was granted in 2006 which will expire in 2021. Each facility contains a variety of terms and conditions, including financial terms, duration, proper working of minerals, closure provisions, etc. Details of...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (13 Mar 2012)

Fergus O'Dowd: The Salmon Hardship Fund was established by the then Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources in line with the decision to put an end, on conservation grounds, to the mixed stock fishery for salmon at sea. The Scheme was put in place, on the basis of a 2006 Report of the Independent Salmon Group, to provide a payment to former commercial licence holders, based on their catch...