Results 1,861-1,880 of 3,707 for speaker:Brian O'Shea

Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: I thank the Minister for that reply. Would he consider it strange that none of the cases in the 2006 report of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces related to bullying, harassment or sexual harassment, and that 21 of the 26 cases related to the issues the Minister mentioned already? It should be noted that these procedures were brought in based on the previous report of the ombudsman. Is it...

Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Have there not been reports that Army personnel prefer going through the informal procedures with complaints of this nature and, for that reason, there are no official accounts of the bullying, harassment and sexual harassment complaints that come through at the informal level? It is difficult for the military authorities or the Department to gain an accurate measure of what comes through...

Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: The Minister can interpret it that way. However, it could also be the case that people who go through the formal structures of the Army and then proceed to the ombudsman, which is also a formal structure, have concerns that it can affect their careers or have other negative repercussions. How do we get around that issue?

Ombudsman for the Defence Forces. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Only a small number of cases went to the ombudsman, and the number of cases where terminations were made was smaller still. However, in the latter cases the complaints were upheld. Would that ring any alarm bells with the Minister at this stage?

Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: I understand it is the target of the Minister and the Chief of Staff to increase the percentage of females in the Army from 5% to 10%. Has the new minimum height regulation that was introduced in September 2006 had any effect on the number of females seeking to join the Army? In general terms, what timeframe does the Minister believe is realistic to achieve his target of 10% female...

Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: In the Minister's view, is there any substance to the allegations made by the president of PDFORRA in terms of soldiers who put their heads above the parapet by becoming officials of PDFORRA, being denied career opportunities, including overseas service, and frequently having charges brought against them that are subsequently dropped?

Bullying in the Workplace. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: An allegation is contained in this article that the disciplinary system is used against members of PDFORRA. The implication appears to be that it is difficult to pursue that kind of complaint. I take it from what the Minister said that no formal complaints have reached him and that, equally, he is not aware of any evidence that would sustain or substantiate these allegations.

Commemorative Events. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: I very much welcome the opening to the public of the military archive. If the commemoration in 2016 is focused mainly on military parades and so on, would that be the best monument to the men and women of 1916 and what they stood for? I put it to the Minister that to have social objectives achieved before 2016 would be a much more fitting monument to the people of 1916. They took a...

Commemorative Events. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Does the Minister agree that if the all-party consultation group is to suggest social objectives that would be put in place to honour the men and women of 1916, this needs to be done quickly? Whatever additional resources or personnel are needed to achieve those objectives, the process must start now because to overcome social problems takes time. We have a reasonable timescale but there is...

Naval Service Vessels. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Is it intended to procure a vessel that will be 120 m in length, will be able to provide humanitarian relief and troop support in any part of the world and will be designed for fishery protection purposes? In the event that the Department proceeds to procure three ships, is it correct that the other two vessels will be approximately 80 m in length? Unfortunately, the Naval Service will need...

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: I understand that a Government position paper states that the possibility of a member of the Defence Forces aged under 18 years being involved in a hostile incident is virtually negligible. The word "virtually" does not completely preclude this possibility. The Minister appears to be completely satisfied that no member of the Defence Forces aged under 18 years will be involved in pursuing...

UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: I thank the Minister for his categorical assurance, which puts the issue to rest.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 21: To ask the Minister for Defence the action he will take to maintain the permanent Defence Force strength of 10,500 fully trained personnel with an additional provision from 2008 onwards for up to 350 troops to be in training at any given time. [21974/07]

Written Answers — National Archives: National Archives (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 47: To ask the Minister for Defence his proposals to make available to historians and to the public, records of the military pensions archive in his Department. [21975/07]

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (4 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 57: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the position regarding the flood relief scheme for the Waterford/Tramore Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22228/07]

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (3 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 113: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if her attention has been drawn to the recent Eurostat survey which showed that Ireland has the third lowest area under organic production in the EU; her plans to increase organic output in view of increasing consumer demand in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21796/07]

Written Answers — State Examinations: State Examinations (2 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 121: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proposals she has for reform of the leaving certificate timetable in order to ease pressure on students who have had to take a number of particularly demanding papers in the first few days of the exam; if the proposed changes have been agreed with the schools and the teacher unions; and if she will make a statement on the...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (2 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 202: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the proposals she has to ensure the earliest possible diagnosis of cystic fibrosis in girls (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21445/07]

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 285: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the amount spent by his Department on public service obligation in services in 2006; the services that benefitted; the amount of payment in each case; the number of passengers who availed of the service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21446/07]

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Oct 2007)

Brian O'Shea: Question 286: To ask the Minister for Transport and the Marine the proposals he has to introduce public service obligation on service from Waterford Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21447/07]