Results 38,901-38,920 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence 2015, reinforced by the White Paper Update 2019, sets out the Government’s medium term policy for Defence. It is recognised that the principal demand drivers of Defence capital requirements are the ongoing renewal, retention and acquisition of military equipment along with the development and upgrade of Defence Forces built infrastructure. The acquisition of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Defence capital expenditure over the period from 2017 to 2022 is outlined in the table below: Vote 36 (Defence) Capital Expenditure 2017 to 2022: 2017 €m 2018 €m 2019 €m 2020 €m 2021 €m 2022 €m (YTD) Vote 36 (Defence) Capital Expenditure 95.3 94.7 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Following Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, a conference was organised by the United States to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 26 April. This was the first meeting of what became known as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which Ireland, along with a number of other countries, was subsequently invited to join....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The following are details of the advisors who were employed by my Department since 2015: Name Date of Employment Minister John Coughlan 6 May 2016 to 27 June 2020 Minister Paul Kehoe Clare Mungovan 18 May 2016 to 7 January 2018 Minister Paul Kehoe Niall O'Connor 29 January 2018 to 27...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Following a review of the Daily Ration rate by the Military Authorities, my Department has recently considered and approved the proposal to increase the Daily Ration rate from €4.20 to €6.40 per person. This increase, which will be considered within ongoing Revised Estimate discussions, will be made to Subhead A.14 (Defence Forces Uniforms, Clothing, Equipment and Catering) of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Vacancies are filled in line with promotional arrangements, as appropriate, and by recruitment. A direct entry competition for Engine Room Artificers is ongoing and, as at 30th September 2022, has attracted 21 applications. Engine Room Artificers Vacancies in the Naval Service as of 14 October 2022 Establishment 85 Strength ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The operation to evacuate Irish citizens from Kabul in August 2021 was carried out by an Emergency Civil Assistance Team (ECAT) led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and supported by Defence Forces personnel. The goal of the ECAT Mission was to provide consular advice and assistance, including by assisting in the safe evacuation of the Irish citizens and dependants that had been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Government’s priority is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible. This is primarily to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. In this context, the principal aim over the period of the White Paper is to replace and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (18 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Having regard to military advice concerning the safety and security of Defence Forces' personnel deployed to the MONUSCO mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and, having considered all options, the decision was taken to withdraw two personnel deployed in the mission area during August 2022. This decision reflects the fact that the Department of Defence keeps the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the Foreign Birth Registration application about which the Deputy has enquired, the requested document has been returned by post to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Pension Provisions (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The payment of pensions, including the application of general round increases for the staff of my Department, is a matter for the pensions pay team within the National Shared Service Office (NSSO). Any enquiries received by my Department relating to such matters are forwarded to the NSSO for consideration. The case in question remains open with the NSSO and is awaiting further information...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Birth Certificates (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Demand for passports from Northern Ireland remains steady at an average of 11,000 applications per month. This equates to about 10% of total applications received by the Passport Service. 87% of applicants from Northern Ireland this year have applied through Passport Online and that figure will continue to grow as the Passport Service's Digital First media and communications strategy is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Correspondence (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The scheme to issue Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) is an important aspect of Ireland’s relationship with Canada. Ireland has a number of these reciprocal schemes with several non-European countries. These agreements support the development of people-to-people links, and create strong and lifelong connections between participants and the destination country. The Working...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The event to which the Deputy refers took place on 6 October with the aim providing information to Irish industry and research institutions with a view to identifying opportunities to collaborate on future projects in the areas of security, defence and dual use technologies.  The participants in the event were a range of industry and research organisations.  It is important to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces School of Music provides musical support to Irish State and Defence Forces ceremonial events. It also supports a wide range of local and national civilian and sporting events, in addition to the performance of a schools educational programme at primary and secondary level. The Military Authorities have indicated that the amounts spent on replacement musical instruments for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Arising from the recommendations in the report of the Public Service Pay Commission on recruitment and retention in the Permanent Defence Force, a joint civil/military review of barriers to extended participation in the Permanent Defence Force was conducted. The review considered a number of matters including mandatory retirement ages and contracts of service....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Properties (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: There are no immediate plans to amend the legislation referred to by the Deputy. That being said, the Deputy may wish to note that the comprehensive public consultation process on the future management of the Curragh Plains, undertaken in partnership with Kildare Council, will inter alia, put forward proposals for my consideration.  Any recommended changes to legislation arising...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Properties (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that the then Curragh Forum last met in January 2018. Since then my Department, in collaboration with Kildare County Council, is undertaking a comprehensive public consultation process aligned with the development of a proposed Conservation Management Plan and an Interpretative/Branding Plan for the Curragh Plains. The Deputy may wish to note that the final public round of this...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Properties (19 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that my Department and Kildare County Council have concluded a successful mediation agreement. As a result of which, my Department have engaged the services of environmental consultants to carry out a Natura Impact Statement and an Environmental Impact Statement, incorporating a restoration plan to be agreed with Kildare County Council. These assessments are...