Results 34,981-35,000 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the processing of Canadian visas is solely a matter for the Government of Canada, I regret that I am not in a position to advise on this specific case. My advice to those seeking, or in the process of acquiring, a Canadian visa is to engage directly with the Canadian immigration authorities and with officials at Canada’s Visa Application Centre in Dublin. Ireland is deeply...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces continues to safeguard the health and welfare of its personnel while maintaining its contribution to the security of the State, framework operations and responding to requests for Aid to the Civil Authority from Government Departments and Agencies, including to help control the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus. The policy approach implemented in response to the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department operates a small number of bank accounts and, in accordance with public financial procedures, the amounts maintained in these accounts are kept to a minimum. The cost of negative interest rates incurred in respect of these accounts from 2017 to 2021 is outlined in the table below. Negative interest charges for my Department have fallen since 2019 following the move to a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: A civilian consultant psychiatrist was appointed to the Defence Forces with effect from July 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department employs civilian staff at various military installations to support the operational capability of the Defence Forces. There are currently three civilian craft workers employed in Finner Camp including one plumber. A recruitment campaign is currently under way to fill an electrician vacancy. The recruitment of Civilian Employees for military installations is an ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that there are 18 Officers currently undertaking their Pilot Wings Course and a further 9 Cadets are scheduled to commence their Pilot Wings Course following their graduation as Officers in Q1 of 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am satisfied that my Department is in compliance with the publication scheme as set out in the Freedom on Information Act, 2014. Once all freedom of information requests for a particular quarter have been processed and issued, the Disclosure Log for that period is updated and published on the Department's website.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The amount collected by my Department in respect of fees since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced are as follows; 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021* €648.21 €30.00 €170.00 €559.60 €430.00 €90.00 €60.00 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: A total of six freedom of information requests were refused by my Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced on the basis that the estimated search and retrieval costs exceeded the overall ceiling limit. On each occasion, the requester was contacted to offer assistance in refining the request so it no longer fell within this category. As my Department did not receive any...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The majority of current occupiers of Columb Barracks are there without the express legal permission of the Department of Defence. I am advised that my Department's records indicate that three legal indentures were sought or entered into for occupiers of Columb Barracks. In October 2018, the Department wrote to all occupiers of Columb Barracks, informing them of the need to vacate the premises...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (7 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. The Service has been focused since then on four priority areas. - Clearing the COVID-19 backlog of 89,000 passport applications. - Processing all adult renewal applications (including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the decision taken by the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland not to proceed with the prosecution of 'Soldier F' in relation to charges of murder and attempted murder in Derry on Bloody Sunday (30 January 1972), as well as the decision not to prosecute 'Soldier B' in connection with the fatal shooting of Daniel Hegarty also in Derry in 1972. I know that this is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. The Service has been focused since then on four priority areas. - Clearing the COVID-19 backlog of 89,000 passport applications. - Processing all adult renewal applications (including...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 211 together. Ireland's policy of military neutrality as set down in the White Paper on Defence 2015 is characterised by non-membership of military alliances and non-participation in common or mutual defence arrangements. This policy has not changed nor are there any plans to change it. Membership of PESCO and participation in the EPF have no...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces, as a public body, reports its Total Final Consumption (TFC) through SEAIs Monitoring and Reporting System. In 2020, the activities of the Defence Forces accounted for 46.8m kg CO2. This includes all electricity, thermal and transport (road, air and sea) energy consumption. . The Defence Forces Senior Energy Executive (SEE) approves the Annual Energy Plan of Action for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: Unlike other areas of the Public Service and due to the nature of the duties performed, overtime payments are not available to members of the Defence Forces and comparisons with other areas of the Public Service must be cognisant of the unique role, structure, duties and working conditions of service which are particular to military personnel. In that regard a Military Service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the day to day management of military installations is a matter for the Permanent Defence Force the information sought is not readily available in my Department. Accordingly my Department has sought this information from the military authorities and as soon as same is received, I will forward this information onto the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. 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. On any given patrol day the Naval Service can carry out a number of taskings on behalf of other State agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State's principal seagoing agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main day-to-day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fisheries protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the EU. The service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the exclusive economic...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (8 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 216, 217 and 218 together. The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking 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. The Naval Service is tasked with patrolling...