Results 36,421-36,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government Covid-19 response. A wide range of supports have since been provided by the Defence Forces to the HSE as well as to other Departments and Agencies, including support to the ongoing vaccination programme. Currently the focus remains on dealing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Chapter 2 of Administrative Instruction A7 provides a formal mechanism for individuals, under Section 114 (1) and 114 (2) of the Defence Act, 1954, to seek redress of wrongs or to make a complaint. Complaints may be submitted orally or in writing to the complainants Commanding Officer, or in the case where they feel themselves wronged by their Commanding Officer, may complain to the Chief of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The high-level goal of the Defence Organisation is to ‘provide for the military defence of the State, contribute to national and international peace and security and fulfil all other roles assigned by Government’. Defence outputs are delivered under a single programme in Vote 36 (Defence) under a range of subheads. While there is no dedicated subhead, capital or current, for...

Seanad: Final Report on Impacts of Brexit of Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I will try to respond to as many questions as I can. I thank the Seanad again for this timely report. The consistent support from across the political spectrum in both the Dáil and the Seanad has been a vital element of efforts to mitigate the challenges of Brexit on the island over a sustained period. Unfortunately, we will be dealing with the impacts of Brexit for some time to come....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: As communicated to the Deputy, the Passport Service will follow up directly with the individual involved to assist them with their passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is a strong and consistent supporter of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity and has condemned Russian violations of Ukrainian sovereignty. The build-up of Russian troops on the border with Ukraine is a matter of great concern. It is important that dialogue be maintained, with the primary goal of de-escalating tensions in the region. In this regard, I welcome the intensive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. I note with concern the details in the case referred to by the Deputy Connolly. Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. I note with concern the details in the case referred to by the Deputy Connolly. Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in the United Arab...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department comprises two Votes; Vote 27 International Cooperation and Vote 28 Foreign Affairs. The policy of the Department is to operate competitive tendering as standard procedure in order to achieve best value for money. The Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The National Development Plan 2018-2027 originally provided an allocation of €541 million for Defence over a five year period from 2018 to 2022 to provide mainly for the acquisition, upgrade and renewal of military equipment and infrastructure. Following a review of this plan undertaken in 2021, a revised allocation of €566 million for the four year period 2022 to 2025 has been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Vote 36 Defence is managed through a single programme with all operational outputs delivered from a single set of forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Expenditure costs for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are included in the overall programme costs in the appropriate subheads of the Vote. As part of Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan (NDP) set...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: In 2019, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces (ODF) referred 53 case reports to me for consideration, of which 30 contained recommendations. I have referred my final determination in respect of 24 of these to the military authorities for implementation and informed the ODF accordingly. The remaining 6 cases, which are of a complex nature and subject to ongoing litigation, remain under...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have been advised by the Military Authorities that the Chief of Staff convened an Organisational Culture Standing Committee on 30 November 2021. This Committee was established to coordinate and progress the process of cultural change within the Defence Forces. As part of its core workings, the committee is examining a cultural change programme for the Defence Forces. In researching the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: As of 1 January 2022, Ireland is contributing 582 personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 355 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 134 personnel.Ireland also contributes observers and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department remains in contact with the individual named and met with him most recently on the 22nd December 2021. Officials in the Department keep his correspondence under continuous review. Given the manner in which the individual sources his information, the matters detailed by him cannot be investigated by me or my officials, particularly where it is alleged that criminal offences...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Defence and Defence Forces Strategy Statement 2021 – 2023 provides for the establishment of a civil – military research, technology and innovation (RTI) unit to ensure that Ireland’s Defence Organisation have access to research, technology and innovation in order to develop capabilities. The unit is being developed on a staged basis. Stage one...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: As you are aware, an Independent Review Group (IRG) was established to examine and report on matters relating to recommendations for military medals relating to events at Jadotville.The IRG completed its research in July 2021 and has submitted its report. The IRG made a number of recommendations in its report, which was published in full last July, including a recommendation that the 60th...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government committed to an independent commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces. The independent Commission on the Defence Forces was established by Government in December 2020. The Commission’s overall approach is guided and informed by both the White Paper on Defence 2015 and the White Paper Update 2019. The work of the Commission will...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Jan 2022)

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 (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. I am satisfied that there is ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (26 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. At the request of my Department the military authorities are conducting the search, retrieval and collation of same. I will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.