Results 321-340 of 12,371 for speaker:Willie O'Dea

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.

Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: A total of 28 non-commissioned officers have been commissioned as officers in the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service in the past five years. Potential officers courses, POC, are held for non-commissioned personnel from time to time within the Defence Forces. Personnel who successfully complete such courses are commissioned as officers in the Permanent Defence Force. Participants on such...

Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I agree with the Deputy that promotion prospects are extremely limited. The figures clearly show that to be the case and they do not lie. The last such course which would enable enlisted personnel to become officers took place in 2000. It is the intention that as part and parcel of the integrated personnel management system those competitions will take place regularly. I do not wish to go...

Defence Forces Personnel. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: Specific deadlines are set out in the White Paper on Defence. My understanding is that considerable progress has been made in the discussions and, hopefully, the matter will be resolved shortly. I am sure Deputy Stanton will continue to ask about the discussions until such time as the matter is resolved.

Defence Forces Equipment. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces will be a key focus for me as Minister for Defence. I am aware that significant investment has taken place in recent years and I want to 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...

Defence Forces Equipment. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: It is not my information that there are substantial difficulties with maintaining these armoured personnel carriers. Certainly that has not been brought to my attention. I am aware that a detailed evaluation process, including value for money considerations, takes place when equipment of this magnitude is being purchased. That evaluation committee comprises personnel from the relevant section...

Defence Forces Equipment. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I do not have the exact figure, but it was of the order of approximately €200 million and it all went towards either the purchase of equipment, protective clothing, radio equipment or upgrading of infrastructures, specifically barracks. It all went back into the Department of Defence.

EU Presidency. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 21 together. During Ireland's Presidency of the EU, my Department was responsible for progressing the military aspects of the European security and defence policy as well as co-ordinating the ministerial air transport service and Defence Forces aid to the civil power. Costs to my Department arising from the Irish Presidency of the European Union come...

EU Presidency. (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: The EU-US summit on 25 and 26 June necessitated the US President visiting Ireland. The total cost to the Defence Forces in this regard was €448,000.

Written Answers — Bullying in the Workplace: Bullying in the Workplace (12 Oct 2004)

Willie O'Dea: An individual has been remanded for trial by court martial on charges relating to alleged offences against military law under section 141 of the Defence Act 1954. Section 141 relates to the making of a false accusation against, or the making of a false statement affecting the character of, another member of the Defence Forces, knowing such accusation or statement to be false. A summary of...

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...