Results 34,461-34,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: I gave an undertaking during the Committee Stage debate on the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020 to introduce Report Stage amendments to enable the Reserve Defence Force to be deployed in support of the Permanent Defence Force at home and overseas. That remains my intention. The amendments will enhance the role of the Reserve Defence Force by removing the current legislative restrictions...

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

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe. In relation to the Naval Base, Haulbowline, the Deputy may wish to note that the following major capital projects have recently commenced...

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

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that there are no Defence Forces personnel deployed in Myanmar. I assume the Deputy is referring to the MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. As part of its response to the global Covid pandemic, the United Nations Secretary General in April 2020, directed the suspension of all rotations and leave for military personnel serving in United Nations missions...

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

Simon Coveney: The Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary defence and security role. It also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks on an ‘as available’ basis including the provision of air ambulance services to the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE’s Aeromedical Desk in its National Emergency Operations Centre is...

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

Simon Coveney: The Programme for a Partnership Government of 2016 provided for the award of the 1916 Commemorative medal to all Defence Forces personnel, Permanent and Reserve, who were recorded as being in service in the course of 2016. This was a special acknowledgement from the Government to the members of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served during the centenary year of 2016. The 1916 Centenary...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Common Security and Defence Policy (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 and 58 together. The European Defence Fund (EDF) is an industrial sectorial programme, providing funding for research and capability development, which supports the European Defence and Industrial Technology Base in delivering capabilities for Common Security Defence Policy operations. In that regard, it is similar to other EU industry and research...

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

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Plan provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a rolling five year timeframe and is designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities of the Defence Forces. The commitment to the ongoing operation of Custume Barracks, Athlone, has been reaffirmed with the recent...

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

Simon Coveney: A review of service limits for enlisted personnel is being progressed in the context of a broader review examining barriers to extended participation in the Permanent Defence Force, as recommended by the Public Service Pay Commission and provided for in the High Level Implementation Plan - "Strengthening Our Defence Forces". The review is currently underway.

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

Simon Coveney: I attended the EDA Ministerial Steering Board meeting on 6th May 2021 in Brussels. The meeting was held back-to-back with a Foreign Affairs Council (Defence) meeting. The only agenda item for the EDA meeting was a discussion on the Coordinated Annual Review on Defence (CARD). The meeting was chaired by Head of Agency/High Representative, Josep Borrell. In addition to Ministers for...

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

Simon Coveney: I am advised that the operators of subsea telecommunications cables are subject to the provisions of the Authorisation Regulations (SI 335 of 2011) and must notify the Communications Regulator (ComReg) of their intention of providing such a service. They are bound by the conditions of their General Authorisation which includes the condition to take all measures necessary to ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The response by my Department to the Covid-19 pandemic has involved Permanent Defence Force personnel, Civil Servants, Civilian Employees, members of the Reserve and Civil Defence Volunteers and has amounted to expenditure of some €18.2 million, to date. Expenditure was incurred across a range of areas and included €5.2 million towards the acquisition of a new PC-12...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement. This is complex case....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations with a number of non-European countries and regions by encouraging people-to-people contacts. The Department of Foreign Affairs administers nine such programmes with Argentina, Australia, Canada, Chile, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea and the United States. The WHAs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Circulars (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement guidelines. Procurement takes place in compliance with Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by procurement guidelines published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). Under DPER Circular 20/2019,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (13 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent agreements is an utmost priority for this Government. In engaging with the British Government, we have taken every opportunity to reaffirm the critical importance of our roles as co-guarantors of the Agreement, to work for its protection and in support of its institutions. The position of the...

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

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe. It is expected that some €145m will be expended on implementng the Plan. In addition, the Deputy may wish to note that my Department has allocated...

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

Simon Coveney: It is Government policy to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve. I am committed to a policy of equal opportunity for men and women throughout the Defence Forces and to the full participation by women in all aspects of Defence Forces...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 290 together. The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (whole time equivalent), as at 31st March 2021 (the latest data available), was 8,524 personnel comprised of: - Army 6,885 - Air Corps 739 - Naval Service 900 The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the...

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

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy agenda over a ten year planning horizon and covers all aspects of defence within overall security policy. Since publication of the White Paper, a total of 95 separate projects have been identified for completion over a ten-year period. To provide flexibility, projects may be sub-divided or merged, changing the top-line number. Project and...

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

Simon Coveney: Ireland's participation in PESCO was agreed by Government and approved by Dáil Éireann prior to the Council Decision establishing PESCO on 11 December 2017. Of the 47 projects that have since launched, Ireland is a Participant in one PESCO project (Greek-led Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance) and also has Observer status on a further nine PESCO projects including the Military...