Results 141-160 of 5,323 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Willie O'Dea

Written Answers — Partnership for Peace: Partnership for Peace (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: Ireland's participation in Partnership for Peace, PfP, to date is set out in our four individual partnership programmes, IPPs, copies of which have been lodged in the Oireachtas Library. Ireland's fourth IPP, covering the period 2004-05, was completed in consultation with the Departments of Foreign Affairs, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Justice, Equality and Law Reform,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There are no current plans for refurbishment of the RDF premises at Fair Street, Mallow, County Cork. The matter, however, is being kept under review.

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I have had no discussions with my counterparts at European Union level on the development of a common defence arrangement across the EU. Ireland's position with regard to the issue of common defence is as set out in our National Declaration to the European Council held in Seville in June 2002: 4. In line with its traditional policy of military neutrality, Ireland is not bound by any mutual...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I have written to the Deputy in the past few days setting out the nature of the advice available to me.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Property: Defence Forces Property (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: A sum of €33.447 million has been provided in my Department's Estimates for the building and refurbishment programme for 2005. This amount is divided into capital and non-capital expenditure. The capital expenditure allocation for 2005 is €19.479 million. This amount is made up mainly of expenditure on projects started in late 2004 and projects starting in 2005. Details of these projects...

Written Answers — Hearing Impairment Claims: Hearing Impairment Claims (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: On 31 January 2005 there was a total of 1,290 army hearing loss claims still outstanding. It is hoped that these claims can be disposed of this year subject to the plaintiffs' solicitors having these claims listed for court. It should be noted, however, that a small number of new hearing loss claims are still being received in my Department each month.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces is a key focus for me as Minister and I intend continuing the good work done in this area in recent years. Investment in new equipment for the Army, Air Corps and the Naval Service is provided for under various subheads of the defence Vote relating to defensive equipment, mechanical transport, aircraft, ships and naval stores,...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of light tactical armoured vehicles, LTAVs, for the Defence Forces has been identified as a key priority by the military authorities for 2005. The LTAVs will complement the work of the 65 Mowag armoured personnel carriers delivered in the last few years at a cost of €84 million. The procurement of the light tactical armoured vehicles is being undertaken by way of a tender...

Written Answers — Military Neutrality: Military Neutrality (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 379 together. A decision to establish an intergovernmental agency in the field of defence capabilities development, research, acquisition and armaments, known as the European Defence Agency, EDA, was formally adopted at the General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting on 12 July 2004. The overall aim of the agency is to support member states...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There are 40 aircraft in service with the Air Corps at present, comprising 14 helicopters and 26 fixed-wing aircraft. The type and age of the aircraft is set out in the following tabular statement which will be circulated in the Official Report. In January 2005 two contracts were signed for the provision of new helicopters for the Air Corps at a cost of over €61million. Four utility...

Written Answers — Courts Martial: Courts Martial (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 380, 381 and 387 to 389, inclusive, together. As my predecessor outlined in a reply to a previous question on this matter on 8 July 2004, when an incident involves injury to a member of the Defence Forces, a formal court of inquiry is convened to take evidence and to make recommendations on the matter. In this case, the court of inquiry has not been convened...

Written Answers — Medical Discharge: Medical Discharge (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The military authorities advise that the person in question enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force on 13 April 1973 and was discharged on 23 January 1977. His reason for discharge is recorded as "below army physical standards". Due to medical confidentiality, I cannot give full details of the reason the military medical authorities determined that the person concerned was below the medical...

Written Answers — Official Engagements: Official Engagements (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: From Monday to Thursday of St. Patrick's week, I will attend to my ministerial duties and to constituency matters in Limerick. On Friday and Saturday, I will be in attendance at an informal defence ministerial meeting in Luxembourg. It is not envisaged that briefing material will be required from my Department for Ministers who will be visiting other countries.

Written Answers — Defence Forces Reserve: Defence Forces Reserve (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Defence Forces reserve, comprising An Fórsa Cosanta Áitiúil, FCA, and An Slua Muirí, recruits approximately 1,300 reservists annually. This level of recruitment reflects the success of the various campaigns and recruiting methods currently undertaken by the reserve. The Defence Forces have a proactive approach to recruiting which is particularly reflected in the reserve component of...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: An area comprising more than 27 acres of the property in question is being handed over to Cork County Council for community use, including the provision of playing pitches. At meetings held at County Hall, Cork, in January 2002 between my predecessor and representatives of the local GAA and soccer clubs, it was agreed that the soccer club should be allocated one pitch on the northern side of...

Written Answers — Army Barracks: Army Barracks (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: There is one microwave transmitter utilised for Defence Forces purposes operating from the communications mast in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Rathmines. Defence Forces communications systems comprising VHF and HF radio systems are also in operation at the barracks. There are no non-military communications systems operating from the mast at Cathal Brugha Barracks.

Written Answers — National Emergency Plan: National Emergency Plan (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The Garda Siochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. The potential threats to the State arising from international terrorism are continuously monitored by them in co-operation with the Defence Forces. The advice available to me is that, while the Garda authorities recognise that while the terrorist threat to Europe...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Equipment: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces has been a key focus in recent years. Significant investment has taken place and I am satisfied that the Defence Forces are now well equipped with modern equipment for their day to day roles at home and overseas. However, while much has been done and a great deal has been achieved I am aware that more needs to be done. In this connection...

Written Answers — Defence Forces Strength: Defence Forces Strength (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395 to 397, inclusive, 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. Recruitment into...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (1 Mar 2005)

Willie O'Dea: 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 had been providing search and rescue services, SARs, in the north west but withdrew in October 2004, following a handover of this role to CHCI, a private operator, which also provides the service at the country's other SAR bases at...