Liberia
Tuesday, March 28th, 2006 88. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence if Ireland’s UN peacekeeping role in Liberia will be extended beyond the end of 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11800/06]
Archive for the 'Defence' Category
EU Battlegroups
Tuesday, March 28th, 200685. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence when legislation will be forthcoming to facilitate the participation of Irish military forces in EU battlegroups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11799/06] (more…)
President Bush at Shannon
Tuesday, March 28th, 200638. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence if members of the Defence Forces were engaged as added security on the two recent occasions when US President Bush visited Shannon Airport; the number of personnel employed; the cost involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12184/06] (more…)
EU Battlegroups
Thursday, February 23rd, 200633. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence his plans for Ireland to participate in EU battlegroups; the likely partners for Ireland in such a battlegroup; if these partners also require a UN mandate before their forces can be deployed abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7477/06]
49. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence the legislation which must come before Dáil Éireann to facilitate Ireland’s participation in EU battlegroups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7478/06] (more…)
Emergency Planning
Thursday, February 23rd, 2006 Mr. Gormley: Is the Minister aware of Tom Clonan’s recent study, which suggested that if a Stardust incident were to recur the city’s accident and emergency units would be full within 20 minutes and would find difficulty in coping? Tom Clonan has carried out a number of studies indicating we would be unable to deal with a major emergency. Will the Minister comment on that?
For a possible flu pandemic, is the Minister satisfied that we have sufficient stocks of antivirals for members of the Defence Forces, who would obviously be on the front line in dealing with such an emergency?
Mr. O’Dea: I am familiar with the work to which Deputy Gormley referred but I do not agree with that conclusion. We have a detailed twofold plan that specifies how the various aspects of the public would deal with a specific emergency and provides a number of specific disease-related plans for dealing with an outbreak of pandemic influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, smallpox and so on. Therefore, I am confident we would be able to deal with that. Mr. Tom Clonan, for whom I have great regard is not accurate in that assessment. On the possible outbreak of an influenza pandemic, the answer is that I am satisfied. The position with anti-virals is that the Government has decided we need sufficient stocks to cater for about 25% of the population initially. That would be about a million shots. We have 600,000 already and are expecting delivery of another 400,000. There is a pharmaceutical ingredient called oseltamivir phosphate powder, which is designed to treat children between the ages of one and five. We are awaiting delivery of a substantial consignment. It has been agreed that additional supplies of the other suitable antiviral drug, Relenza, should be stockpiled. Arrangements for the purchases of this additional stock are being finalised. The timeframe for delivery is under discussion with the suppliers.
For a possible flu pandemic, is the Minister satisfied that we have sufficient stocks of antivirals for members of the Defence Forces, who would obviously be on the front line in dealing with such an emergency?
Mr. O’Dea: I am familiar with the work to which Deputy Gormley referred but I do not agree with that conclusion. We have a detailed twofold plan that specifies how the various aspects of the public would deal with a specific emergency and provides a number of specific disease-related plans for dealing with an outbreak of pandemic influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome, smallpox and so on. Therefore, I am confident we would be able to deal with that. Mr. Tom Clonan, for whom I have great regard is not accurate in that assessment. On the possible outbreak of an influenza pandemic, the answer is that I am satisfied. The position with anti-virals is that the Government has decided we need sufficient stocks to cater for about 25% of the population initially. That would be about a million shots. We have 600,000 already and are expecting delivery of another 400,000. There is a pharmaceutical ingredient called oseltamivir phosphate powder, which is designed to treat children between the ages of one and five. We are awaiting delivery of a substantial consignment. It has been agreed that additional supplies of the other suitable antiviral drug, Relenza, should be stockpiled. Arrangements for the purchases of this additional stock are being finalised. The timeframe for delivery is under discussion with the suppliers.
Commemoration of 1916
Thursday, February 23rd, 20066. Mr. Gogarty asked the Minister for Defence the preparations his Department is taking for the military parade on 16 April 2006 to mark the 1916 Easter Rising 90th commemoration; if he will march in the parade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7484/06]
Battlegroups decision another blow for ‘neutrality’
Thursday, February 9th, 2006The Green Party has said that the Minister for Defence’s announcement today that Ireland would be seeking partners for EU battlegroups only serves to confirm that this Government was always intent on discarding the remnants of Irish neutrality. (more…)
Officer Reductions Abroad
Wednesday, December 7th, 200553. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence if his attention has been drawn to the concerns expressed by RACO about his proposal for officer reductions abroad; his views on these concerns; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38458/05] (more…)
Defence Spending
Wednesday, December 7th, 200557. Mr. Boyle asked the Minister for Defence if he will report on his attendance at the EU’s General Affairs and External Relations Council meeting in November 2005; his views on the agreement reached between all 25 EU Defence Ministers at the GAERC on the completion of the EU’s military requirements catalogue; the 18 battlegroups involving 26 nations which have been formed and were discussed at the meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38199/05] (more…)
EU Battlegroups
Wednesday, December 7th, 200576. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Defence if the decision on Ireland participating in the new EU battle groups has been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38198/05] (more…)
