Results 32,601-32,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Honours (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that my Department has awarded a posthumous medal in this case; however, there remains a question over who should be given the medal.  The normal procedure in such cases is that the medal is given to the next of kin of the deceased person. Given the significance of the Medal in question, it is important that satisfactory evidence of a relationship to the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised me that the data requested by the Deputy is not readily accessible as they do not capture such data in this manner. I can confirm that the number of personnel who have claimed Patrol Duty Allowance for more than 90 days per year, in each of the years in question is as follows: - 91 days...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Allowances (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Subsistence Allowance is paid to Defence Forces personnel to compensate for expenses incurred in respect of necessary work absences from their normal work stations. All applicable rules and rates are determined centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The estimate provided in the Defence Vote for the payment of subsistence allowances to Defence Forces personnel in 2020 is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Pensions Data (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: As of 30 June 2020 there were 12,720 pensioners (including spouses and dependants) in receipt of pensions from my Department. Of this number, 701 pensioners were in receipt of both a service pension and a disablement pension.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The attached table shows the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 30th June 2020, the latest date for which such data is available, along with the percentage breakdown of male and female personnel by rank. ">Male Female percentage breakdown

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that the expected retirements by virtue of age in each of the years 2020 to 2022 are as follows: Year 2020 2021 2022 Expected retirements 91 90 119

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The attached table provides the details requested by the Deputy. The military authorities have advised that these Defence Forces schemes for enlisted personnel are categorised into 1. Those that are strictly defined as Apprenticeships 2. Trainee technician schemes conducted in conjunction with SOLAS under the auspices of the National 'Generation Apprenticeship' Scheme 3. Other technician...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I understand that the Dundalk Branch of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE)) has been in contact with my Department regarding this matter and that a reply is being prepared. My Department does not directly fund specific projects undertaken by O.N.E. branches. However, as the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The service life of an Irish Naval Service ship is determined by the level of operational activity, but usually is around 30 years.  It is, however, normal practice in a ship’s life to carry out a mid-life refurbishment/extension programme so as to extend the useful life of a ship to thirty (or more) years. The P50 class of vessels in the Naval Service ship...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department has worked closely with the Office of Government Procurement in relation to the acquisition of PPE and continues to do so. I can confirm that a range of PPE is held on reserve by both the Defence Forces and Civil Defence, in the event that they are required to respond to Aid to the Civil Authority requests, including health emergency events in the future.  The stock in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (29 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can advise the Deputy that, in accordance with Government policy, which is based on official public health advice, the Department of Foreign Affairs continues to advise against non-essential travel overseas. This includes Great Britain but does not apply to Northern Ireland. It also includes all travel by cruise ship. On 21 July, the Government agreed a list of fifteen locations for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information (29 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is committed to meeting its obligations under the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2014. In line with the guidance issued by the FOI Central Policy Unit of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, it has worked with requesters during the COVID-19 response period to ensure the maximum number of requests are answered. To date this year the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (29 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department is closely following developments along the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan, where recent events have regrettably led to the loss of lives. Indiscriminate attacks against civilians and civilian areas are completely unacceptable and are contrary to the ceasefire in place.   Our own history of protracted conflict means we understand that resolution and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (29 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. This commitment to promoting freedom of religion and belief is reaffirmed in the Global Island: Ireland’s Foreign Policy for a Changing World and A Better World. Discriminatory practices with respect to employment, education and access to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information (29 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently processing five Freedom of Information requests. In the case of one of those requests, following discussions with the requester and with their agreement, the deadline for replying to the request has been extended by four weeks (20 working days).  The extension is required in order to process the large volume of records requested.  I fully expect...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (29 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Currently, there are no Defence properties for sale on the open market.  However, my Department has had proactive engagements with the Land Development Agency (LDA), following confirmation of its interest in acquiring the former Columb Barracks in Mullingar for the development of housing provision. To this end, my officials have commenced the necessary background work to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Communications (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: No private email has been used by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, his Ministers of State or advisers for any form of official Government use since the formation of the Government. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Meetings the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministers of State in his Department have had since the formation of the Government are listed in the tables below: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney T.D. Date of Meeting Purpose 30/06/2020 Video call with Dublin-based EU Ambassadors ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Advisers (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 570 together. On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act (PMSA) 1997. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s network of diplomatic and consular Missions around the world is critical to the achievement of our foreign policy objectives. The network also ensures efficient delivery of passport and consular services to our citizens, support to emigrant organisations and outreach to the diaspora and other networks of influence. The work of my Department in promoting a more just,...