Results 34,421-34,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is important that the commission does not become about pay only. In its terms of reference, it has been asked to examine pay structures and allowances, how they developed and are structured, and whether they are appropriate in terms of international best practice and so on. It will certainly consider pay structures and allowances, how they work within the Defence Forces and whether those...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: In the first instance, members of the Defence Forces benefit, as does every other public sector worker, from the most recent pay agreement. Everybody’s take-home pay is increasing this year across the public sector. We must first wait for the commission to report at the end of the year. The Government has to then consider these recommendations and no doubt we also will have a debate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy and I am aware that he knows this space very well. The Deputy will be aware that it has been a long-standing policy to discontinue the historic provision of tied housing to Defence Forces' personnel. This policy, introduced in the late 1990s, has been implemented on a gradual basis, sympathetic to the needs of those occupying these former married quarters and, in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: That is a very interesting question. The answer is basically "Yes". I have already had a conversation on this with the Minister, Deputy Harris, in the context of the plans that we have around the concept of an international peace and leadership institute as part of the broader Curragh campus, which would be an investment and an expansion in many ways of the Military College and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Properties (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: First, the defence budgets are increasing and have increased again this year on last year. Second, we are investing in the Curragh. I am sure many people would like me to accelerate that further and to spend more but we have invested and are continuing to invest in multiple projects in the Curragh. I will continue to advocate for increased budgets in defence. I think that is justified....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: No decision has yet been taken to change any aspect of the current delivery model for search and rescue aviation services in Ireland's search and rescue, SAR, domain. There is, as I am sure the Deputy is aware, currently a project ongoing under the remit of the Department of Transport to consider, develop and bring to fruition a new marine search and rescue aviation contract for future...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am somewhat limited in what I can say because there is a process under way that I do not want to legally undermine. If I made an inappropriate contribution, I could be accused of undermining the process. This contract involves an enormous amount of public money. It is a process that must be fair to everybody, whether the existing operator or others who wish to bid for the service. It is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I get the Deputy's rationale. My approach as Minister for Defence is always to look at what the Defence Forces can do, whether they can do more and whether I can resource them to do more so that we can use the assets of the State and the skill sets of the Defence Forces in new areas. It is important to note on the record the quality of the SAR service we currently have in place. I have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Question Nos. 13, 50 and 276 together. There are many reasons individuals may leave the Defence Forces, ranging from individual personal circumstances to career opportunities, having fulfilled their contract or retirement on age grounds. The Defence Forces offer significant career opportunities and while pay has been highlighted as an issue, there has been significant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: There is a commission on the future of the Defence Forces which, as part of its remit and terms of reference, will look at pay structures and allowances for the Defence Forces. What we have committed to in the programme for Government is that on the back of what the commission reports to me before the end of the year, I will consult the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: On the ICTU affiliation issue, I must be careful in what I say because there is a legal action potentially under way in relation to that. What we are trying to do is reflect the fact that people who serve in the Defence Forces are, in many ways, part of a unique service. They take an oath to the State and commit to not getting involved in industrial action, so they are in a different...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I will come back to the Deputy in writing. I take her point. I talk to the representative bodies all the time and I will happily talk to them on this issue. Additional information not given on the floor of the House. The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration, C&A, for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the determination of claims and proposals...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: 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. This is primarily to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles assigned by Government as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 17 together. The military authorities have advised that, as at 31st March 2021, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, was 8,524 personnel. The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015). There are a number...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main day to day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks such as search and rescue, diving operations,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: A review of technical pay in the Defence Forces was provided for in the Public Service Agreement 2010 - 2014 (Croke Park Agreement). The purpose of the review, in the context of the agreement, was to rationalise existing technical pay arrangements and consider if the requirements could be met in a more cost effective manner. A review of Technical Pay Group 1 was conducted in 2014 and came...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that the whole time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force, across all services and ranks, as at 31st March 202, was 8,524 personnel comprised of 6,885 - Army; 739 - Air Corps; 900 - Naval Service. I am aware that there continues to be a shortfall between the overall current strength figures and that of the establishment. I remain committed to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Post Office building in the Defence Forces Training Centre, which was a feature of the military installation for many years, was closed in July 2019. My Department was not involved in the decision to discontinue its use as a Post Office. As this building is within an active military installation, its long term use will be determined first and foremost by the military authorities. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (RACO) submitted a claim to the Conciliation Council on the 23rd April, 2020. This claim had sought the payment of Military Service Allowance (MSA) to Cadets when deployed on contact tracing duties in support of the HSE during the COVID-19 crisis. The matter went to third party adjudication and the hearing took place on 17 February...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 57 together. As at 31st March 2021, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, was 8,524 personnel. The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel as set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015). I have acknowledged in the past that there are on-going...