Results 39,001-39,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: On 27 October, I travelled to Camp Shamrock (UNP 2-45) to meet with and preside at the medal parade for members of the 120th Infantry Battalion of the Defence Forces, who are currently deployed in UNIFIL alongside members of the Polish, Hungarian and Maltese Armed Forces, which make up the multinational IrishPolBatt contingent in UNIFIL. I delivered an address to the troops in which I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I understand that the question relates to remarks included in a recent media article, following a recent information and networking event at the Aviva Stadium hosted by my Department and the Defence Forces. That event provided opportunities for Irish Industry and research institutions interested in collaborating on security, defence and dual use technology projects. While I have spoken...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: On 17 October, the EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted a Council Decision establishing and launching an EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The Mission will provide specialised training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and coordinate existing Member State training activities. The mission has been developed within the framework of the EU’s Common Security...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s relations with NATO are set within the framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC) and Partnership for Peace (PfP), including its Planning and Review Process (PARP). Ireland joined EAPC and Partnership for Peace (PfP) on 1 December 1999. The primary aim of Ireland's PfP participation is to enhance the Defence Forces’ interoperability with other...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: On 17 October, the EU Foreign Affairs Council adopted a Council Decision establishing and launching an EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine). The Mission will provide specialised training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and coordinate existing Member State training activities. The mission has been developed within the framework of the EU’s Common Security...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: In supporting the national effort in countering COVID-19, the Defence Forces provided a range of non-clinical and administrative supports in a number of residential care home facilities at the request of the HSE. All requests for assistance from the HSE were managed centrally by HSE Head Office who liaised directly with the Defence Forces Joint Task Force established to coordinate the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 496 to 498, inclusive, together. The Military Authorities have confirmed to me that there are 15 such premises, at various locations throughout the State, that are used for weekly training by the Reserve Defence Forces. The premises have a permanent staffing cohort, maintaining normal working hours of 0900hrs to 1630hrs, Monday to Friday. In addition, these...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Under the Framework for Major Emergency Management the Defence Forces can be tasked in aid of Civil Power to provide operational support in a response to a national chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incident in order to mark, cordon, monitor, measure, decontaminate, retrieve and dispose of any CBRN devices and matter so found. Additionally, the Defence Forces in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military that the current number of vacancies for each of the requested positions are as follows: Position Vacancies Remarks Dentist Four A recruitment process for Defence Forces Direct Entry Dental Officers is ongoing. Doctor 5 Medical Officer positions are advertised and processed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not had any officials attend the specific programme referred to by the Deputy. Officials are encouraged to engage with learning and development opportunities as they arise, including opportunities provided through the civil service's central OneLearning service and through the Senior Public Service.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the White Paper on Defence sets out an ambitious programme of capital investment in the Naval Service. The replacement of the flagship LÉ Eithne with a multi-role vessel (MRV) is an important element of the Defence Equipment Development Plan and is provided for in the Government's National Development Plan as a major capital project. It is the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: There are no plans to launch a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the Naval Service before the end of 2022. The 2022 Naval Service Cadetship competition was launched in Quarter 2 of this year which resulted in 4 cadets being inducted recently. Other applications are at advanced stages of assessment.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: We are dealing with the Defence and Foreign Affairs Estimates today. For what it is worth, I think that the Defence Estimate is pretty straightforward. There is a relatively small number of extra pensioners that we must cater for and I will go into details in a second. The rest of the Estimate essentially accounts for the new wage agreement that has been agreed. The Foreign Affairs...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I just wanted to make the point because I know that an hour has been allocated for each. I am in the hands of the committee if anyone wants that timeline changed. I thank the committee for the opportunity to present for its consideration the 2022 Supplementary Estimate on the Army Pensions Vote. The Army Pensions Vote makes provision for retired pay, pensions, allowances and gratuities...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, we have spoken on many occasions, and I suspect we will do so on many occasions in the future, about our efforts to improve retention rates within the Defence Forces, to keep people in the Defence Forces for longer and to extend the time people are able to stay in the Defence Forces. We have made some progress on that in the past year. This year we have seen 30...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Yes, I think that is fair.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: It involves everything because basically it is an hour-long session-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I just wanted to reassure the committee that we are more than aware, as are the Defence Forces, of the challenges that we face with recruitment and retention, which are not unusual. Throughout Europe recruiting and retaining people is a big challenge. We need to get on top of it and we have a plan to do that. We will spend a considerable amount of money to back that up. We need to assess...