Results 32,921-32,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The Deputy mentioned the number of Defence Force personnel that are on the working family payment. I understand there are as many people in my Department on working family payment as there are in the Defence Forces. The payment is calculated based on a range of factors. I do not want there to be an impression that members of the Defence Forces are the only people in the public sector that...

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

Simon Coveney: I am not pitting anyone against anybody. That is not my style. That the Deputy would try to create that narrative reflects his approach to this issue. I am working hard to ensure that everyone in the Defence Forces is understood in terms of the frustrations and challenges he or she faces and that we respond to those financially and from a policy perspective. This is what I am doing to try...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 14 and 43 together. I share some of the Deputies' concerns on this issue. Since I am taking three questions together, I hope that the Acting Chairman will give me a little extra time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The EU working time directive has been transposed into national legislation by way of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. As the House will be aware, the Defence Forces are excluded from the provisions of the Act. However, it is important to say that the Government has committed to amending this Act and bringing the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána within the scope of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The working family payment exists for a reason. It recognises the need for increased income and support from the State for people who are on low pay. It is a safety net, as it were, for people in certain family situations. Obviously, it is not the responsibility of my Department primarily, but it is an important safety net. We need to reflect constantly on pay levels across the Defence...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: We are committed to the legislation and I do not see why it has to take an eternity to get it done. We will push to try to get that legislation amended as quickly as we can. We are not waiting for the legislation, however. Compensatory rest is provided for certain duties and this is also in line with the provisions of the directive. We are talking to the representative bodies about that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this question because it is an important one. Arising from the recommendations in the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing, a new national security analysis centre was established during 2019 under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach. The purpose of the new centre is to co-ordinate between the various State bodies with national security...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can understand that concern and I have asked that question because it was when I was last in the Department of Defence that we put together the White Paper. At that time, there was a discussion within government on national security infrastructure, how the Defence Forces interact with An Garda Síochána and how we can respond to an emerging cybersecurity threat. There is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I think "Yes" is the answer to that question. I do not believe there is a country in the world, even the superpowers of the world, that can give an absolute 100% guarantee against the threat of cybersecurity challenges. There is not. We have seen such attacks on the United States of America and in China. Even the countries that spend hundreds of billions on this issue are not absolutist...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Smith, I know he has a particular interest in this area. The Government recognises the important role that the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, plays in contributing to Ireland's defence capability. The White Paper on Defence sets out a blueprint for the development of the RDF and that its primary role is to support the Permanent Defence Force in crisis situations. The Army...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I take that point but we also have to do it within the parameters and constraints of public health guidelines and so on. This even impacts on my ability to visit barracks at the moment, for example, and in the numbers of serving personnel I can meet at any one time. We all have to try to lead by example in responding to the pandemic in a responsible way. This has impacted on some of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: People do not join the Reserve to do nothing. They are not there just to say they are a member of the Reserve. They join up because they want to be part of the action and to make a contribution through training and putting that training to use. This is why we have a Reserve. As of the end of August, the effective strength of the Army Reserve was 1,501 in personnel and that of the Naval...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, I have been spending a lot of time trying to understand and address some of the current challenges in the Naval Service. Personnel in the Naval Service are paid basic pay, military service allowance and, where appropriate, technical pay at the same rates as their colleagues in the Army and Air Corps. Enlisted personnel of the Naval Service also receive naval pay. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The straight answer to the straight question as to whether the role of the Naval Service is being compromised is "Yes". We have a fleet of nine ships. One of them is in service and two are tied up because we do not have sufficient personnel to crew them. Let us call a spade a spade; we have a serious problem in the Naval Service. The service is not at full strength and cannot perform the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: In response to the Deputy's final question, there could be additional demands on the service but people like me and others must try to ensure that we reach a deal on fisheries, trade and a level playing field and fair competition before the end of the year. Those three areas will either all be agreed or none will be agreed, frankly. They come as a package, in parallel. In the absence of an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 26 and 46 together. I take it the Deputy is referring to the absence of the concept of “supplementary pensions” from the provisions of the single public service pension scheme. The occupational pension scheme terms for post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including the permanent Defence Force, PDF, are governed by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: As I said, a review and a conversation is ongoing in terms of required retirement ages. As the Deputy knows, there is a reason many in the Defence Forces are required to retire at a certain age. It is a challenging career, so there are age constraints in regard to some of the work that is done. That said, we are discussing and reviewing this at the moment. Many people in their 50s and 60s...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that the whole-time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 August 2020 was 8,374 personnel, comprised of Army, 6,763; Air Corps, 716; and Naval Service, 895. I am aware that there continues to be a shortfall between the overall current strength figures and those of the establishment and I am committed to restoring the strength of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Last April, the former Minister with responsibility for Defence launched a scheme to re-enlist former Permanent Defence Force (PDF) enlisted personnel. The focus of the scheme was those former PDF personnel with particular skillsets identified as required by the Chief of Staff. The scheme allows for initial re-enlistment for a minimum of six months and up to 3 years and the duration of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The resources available to the Defence Forces to carry out their operational commitments are kept under constant review and future equipment...