Results 38,721-38,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: In order for military forces to be effective, they need to have equipment. We are increasing our budgets, including our capital spend, on defence, which is about increasing capacity. Deputy Gannon and others in this Chamber will rightly ask me the hard questions on the capacity gaps we have in our Defence Forces today. To protect our sovereign territory and monitor essential...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I answered this question earlier. It is useful to have a channel of communication that allows us to communicate in no uncertain terms what we think of Russia's position on Ukraine and its aggression and invasion of a sovereign neighbour. We called the Russian ambassador into the Department on 3 October to make it very clear that we will never support the referendum results across four...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: However, it kept the Russian Embassy open.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I do not see where the benefit is, apart from perhaps getting some satisfaction out of it. Expelling the Russian ambassador would mean the Russian Embassy in Dublin would close, the Irish Embassy in Moscow would close and we would cut off all diplomatic channels between Ireland and Russia. Despite our frustration and the communication of protest that would give in the short term, while I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 71 together. I am pleased to have an opportunity to put a number of points on the record. I assure the Deputies that I have ongoing engagement with civil and military management on all matters affecting the Defence Forces, including staffing matters. I attended the PDFORRA conference yesterday discussing some of these issues. The Government has...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Immediate action is needed. I am sorry. Does Deputy Gannon wish to speak?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: We can group priority questions.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I recognise that there is concern across the Chamber. If we are going to achieve what we need to achieve with the Defence Forces in the coming years, in simple terms, we have to take on 3,000 people in the Permanent Defence Forces and 3,000 people in the Reserve Defence Forces. That is a net increase of 6,000 people in six years. Looking at the numbers today, that looks like a huge...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: We all have a role in that. We will spend €114 million more on defence next year than we will spend this year, with the combination of the pay agreement, assuming it is supported, and the €67 million on top of that, €35 million of which comprises additional capital. Not every party in the House proposed that kind of increase in expenditure. Sinn Féin, for example,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: "Yes" is the straight answer to that question. In fact, we will have more money than we need for pay because we have a pay estimate on the basis of an establishment of 9,500, and we have negotiated in recent years that what we do not use on pay we can reallocate for other expenditure in defence. We have more than enough for pay. As we increase our numbers, we will have to see other...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: There are just a couple left if the Acting Chairman could allow me to continue.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Other projects include the development of a primary radar capability, the continuation of the mid-life extension programme works on LÉ Niamh, the acquisition of two inshore patrol vessels from the New Zealand Government to replace LÉ Orlaand LÉ Ciaraand the acquisition of two Airbus C295 maritime patrol aircraft. I will perhaps come back on that but that is the initial list.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will know having served as Minister in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, there are often a number of stage payments over a number of years for large military equipment like ships and aircraft and so on. These projects take years to come to full fruition in terms of the-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Those of us who knows the pressures on the Air Corps at the moment know that we need new CASA aircraft. They are on the way, but they take time to build and deliver. They also take time to equip in terms of the technology we put on them now, which is just pretty impressive. We also, of course, have a building works programme across our barracks, some which I mentioned regarding...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am sorry; what was the Deputy's first question again?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: If we can add 400 net next year, that will bring the numbers back over 8,500, which is still 1,000 behind where we need to be. However, let us not throw our hands in the air here. We have got to start turning the tide.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: We have seen losses each year now year after year. This year will be particularly challenging. As I said, we must turn the tide on this issue. We are doing a huge amount on pay, conditions, investment, certainty for the future, improving the culture within the Defence Forces and safety of the work environment so that we can, I hope, also attract many more women into the Defence Forces. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: -----and we will. In terms of the budget, if the pay agreement is agreed and signed off, that effectively means an extra €27 million in pay and approximately €20 million in pensions. That is, therefore, an extra €47 million to add to the €67 million, which gives a figure of approximately €114 million extra in the defence budget next year.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU working time directive into Irish law. However, the Government has committed to amending this Act to bring both the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána within the scope of its provisions, where appropriate. Significant...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: We are now, I hope, at the closing stages of finalising how we will implement the working time directive within the Defence Forces and the amending changes we have to make to the Act to reflect that. A subcommittee of the defence conciliation and arbitration council, comprised of the representative associations and military and civil management, was established to discuss matters relating to...