Results 32,901-32,920 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: In Summer 2017, Property Management Branch of my Department became aware that soil had been deposited at the former quarry site in the vicinity of Donnelly's Hollow. The Department subsequently engaged environmental consultants to carry out an environmental risk assessment of the site. The material deposited was identified as clay which matched the profile of indigenous Curragh soil with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not engage a third-party company to conduct online or social media monitoring. The social media platforms Twitter, Facebook and Instagram are monitored by staff in my department’s Communication’s Unit who also have a number of other duties and responsibilities.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The pay arrangements that exist for staff in my Department on sick leave for an extended period of time are those that pertain across the Civil Service. The Sick Leave Scheme in the Civil Service are set out in Circular 05/2018 – Arrangements for Paid Sick Leave, and operate in conjunction with the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) Regulations (SI 124 of 2014) and Public Service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government’s high level plan “Strengthening Our Defence Forces – Phase 1” sets out a range of actions to be undertaken in the short, medium and longer term. The plan is complemented by a range of other HR actions which were already underway. The immediate pay measures set out in the plan i.e. an increase in Military Service Allowance, the reversal of 10% cuts...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 101, inclusive, together. I will shortly hold a meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad. This meeting will focus on a range of issues, including the support provided through the Government's Covid-19 Relief Fund; assistance to returning emigrants and those repatriated during the Covid crisis; and the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: We are at an important point for work across all Brexit work-streams. The ninth round of EU-UK negotiations concluded on 2 October. While a degree of progress was made, much work remains to resolve key issues including a Level Playing Field for open and fair competition, fisheries, and governance. There was a brief update discussion on Brexit at the European Council on 2 October. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Refugee Resettlement Programme (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: This Department does not have responsibility for the process of hosting and fostering unaccompanied minors and cannot therefore provide this information. I suggest the Deputy redirect this question to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to my replies on this topic yesterday and previously. Ireland, along with our EU partners, remains deeply concerned about the credible reports regarding the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, including reports on restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance, forced labour, and forced sterilisations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I have been informed by the Military Authorities that, in the past 10 years, two members of the Defence Forces were court-martialed for sexual offences. In both cases, the charges were proven. Both individuals were discharged from the Defence Forces. Section 3 (2) of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 provides that an offence referred to in paragraph 2 of the schedule to the Act (sexual assault...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. As this is the first time she and I have had formal questions, I congratulate her on her appointment. I look forward to working with her. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: It is important to be honest with people. The Air Corps is not equipped to monitor aircraft flying over the entirety of Irish airspace, nor is it tasked with that role. We have a relatively small Air Corps which does a really good job at what it is asked to do. We are not like many other countries that spend hundreds of millions or billions of euro on fighter aircraft that can monitor and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Along with many others, I am working very hard to minimise the impact of Brexit across all areas and ensure that Ireland and the UK continue to co-operate in partnership on a range of issues, as would be expected of two neighbouring countries. The idea that the Deputy has a problem with military personnel training abroad to ensure we have the most advanced training capabilities available to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: On assuming my role as Minister for Defence, one of my first actions was to meet the Permanent Defence Force representative associations, namely, PDFORRA, and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO. At the meeting in a barracks in Cork, we agreed that we should commit to meeting on a more regular basis and I am happy to follow through on that. I hope we can meet...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: To be blunt, that is happening. It is true the benefit of the plan has not yet been seen in terms of increasing numbers in the Defence Forces. We had and continue to have a recruitment and retention challenge in the Defence Forces. That challenge was particularly acute in the Air Corps which, frankly, did not have enough pilots. That has been turned around in the past 12 months or so and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I do not wish to pretend that just because I am now Minister for Defence everything is different. My Department has been working with representative organisations to get many things done relating to the reports that have been completed. I am looking at a list of projects, most of which are complete and some of which are under way. Some of the asks of the report were for reviews etc. There...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government recognises the importance of the role of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, in contributing to Ireland's defence capability. The White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the RDF and it is currently on a developmental path arising from the recommendations of the White Paper. The primary roles allocated to the Reserve remain to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, since the closure of Columb Barracks in 2012, my Department has explored a number of avenues to try to secure its long-term future for the benefit of the local community which is, ultimately, what every asset should be about. Departments and other public bodies, including Westmeath County Council, have been invited to declare an interest in acquiring the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: While I take the Deputy's point, I am loath to start raising expectations about Columb Barracks. The community groups currently using the barracks are Westmeath GAA, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, Lakeshore Wheelers, the Order of Malta, Mullingar Boxing Club, a crafts school, Mullingar Sub Aqua Club, the north-Westmeath adult literacy service and a youth organisation. As I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I have spoken to Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, on this previously and I am sure that I will do so again. Under the Defence Acts, 1954 to 2015, the permanent Defence Forces representative associations are prohibited from being associated with or affiliated with any trade unions or any other body without the consent of the Minister. To...