Results 38,841-38,860 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure Programme (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I would like to thank the Deputy for affording me the opportunity to highlight the significant investments we have made in Defence Forces built infrastructure. In 2022, we provided a record level of money to support and improve the building stock. We are going even further in 2023, with an allocation for next year of €55m, the biggest yearly allocation towards the building programme...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that neither my Department nor any of the bodies under the aegis of my Department have contracts with the specified company.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Bodies (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The only State body under the aegis of the Department of Defence is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of whom one must be an officer of the Army...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230, 231 and 232 together. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and I, as Minister for Defence, welcomed the publication of the report of the Commission on 9th February last. The Commission has undertaken a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference. It...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy may be aware that a range of actions have been taken to address pay and conditions of staff in the Defence Forces, and the recent Report of the Commission on Defence Forces also makes a range of recommendations in this area. The Report proposes significant changes, including to the level of Defence provision in Ireland and recommendations in relation to capacity components required...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 234, 235 and 236 together. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence.  In this context, the principal aim over the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service and the Air Corps carry out surveillance of the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and periodically patrol beyond these limits to protect specific fisheries. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as necessary. Naval Service vessels are multi-tasked in that they undertake general surveillance, security and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am fully committed to ensuring that every member of the Defence Forces has the right to undertake their duties in a safe environment underpinned by dignity and equality and by a culture of zero-tolerance for any kind of bullying, discrimination, harassment or sexual abuse. Over the last twenty years since the 2002 publication of the External Advisory Group on the Defence Forces and the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: As at 31 August, 2022, the latest date such details are available, the strength of the PDF was 8,146 personnel or 86% of the current agreed strength of 9,500. This was comprised of - Army6,621 - Air Corps 704 - Naval Service821 My focus is now on bringing the strength of the Defence Forces to the numbers required to meet the agreed level of ambition arising from the report of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: They were very good questions. I thank all members for the way in which this is being approached. There has not been any party politics thrown across the floor today, which is helpful, because this is-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces: Discussion (4 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Can the Chairman give me ten seconds to respond to Senator Ó Donnghaile? It was noted by the commission that when its representatives visited both Finner Camp and Dundalk, there were a particularly high number of people in the Defence Forces from north of the Border. It is a fair point that we should ensure that our recruitment campaigns are all-island. So far, that has not been the...

Seanad: Situation in Iran: Motion (11 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Members of the Seanad for the time they have offered for this important topic. In particular, I thank Senator Chambers for drafting this motion, which I am happy to support. I am particularly happy to have this debate on the International Day of the Girl, which is also appropriate. I extend my condolences, as other have, to the family of Mahsa Amini and commend them on their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (11 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply concerned by the recent severe flooding in Pakistan that has devastated many parts of the country, destroying homes, livestock, harvest-ready crops and sources of livelihood. 33 million people have been affected by these unprecedented climate-induced floods and 1,600 lives have been lost. Over 2 million homes have been destroyed or damaged, forcing people to live out in the open...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (11 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961 (VCDR) identifies three categories of Mission staff as follows: - Diplomatic staff - Administrative and Technical staff, and - Service staff Pursuant to Article 10, VCDR, the Department of Foreign Affairs shall be notified of the appointment of members of the mission, their arrival and their final departure...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (11 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s bilateral relationship with Portugal is important and highly valued. The Irish and Portuguese Governments work closely together on many issues, particularly in an EU context. I look forward to meeting my Portuguese counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs João Gomes Cravinho, in Dublin on 20 October. Minister Cravinho will accompany H.E. Prof. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (11 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Consulate General of Ireland in Mumbai opened in 2019 in an Ireland House format, co-located with Enterprise Ireland and IDA offices in Mumbai. Tourism Ireland is represented in Mumbai by a local contract agent. The Consulate is a two diplomat mission, supported by three local staff. The Consulate provides consular support and assistance to Irish citizens in India, including those...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update as to the steps the applicant must take to progress their passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (11 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has enjoyed excellent bilateral relations with Indonesia ever since relations were formally established in 1984, and further deepened with the opening of our resident Embassy in Jakarta in 2014. As ASEAN’s largest economy, Indonesia has significant economic potential for Ireland. The key sectors of interest are food and food ingredients, aviation services, software,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the application is within the current turnaround times and has not yet reached the issue by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and procedures that are applied by the Passport Service in the issue of passports. Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate or...