Results 14,521-14,540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: First, the examples given by Deputy Mac Lochlainn of Russia and Iran are decisions that were taken collectively by the European Union. The European Union decided that it needed to respond collectively to what was happening in Ukraine and to Russian involvement in that, and, of course, there have been consequences. One does not impose sanctions on a country as powerful and large, and which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is a much more complex-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: There are.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Neutrality or military non-alignment allows us to make decisions on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes we decide to work in partnership with NATO, such as in Afghanistan and the Balkans, sometimes we work in partnership with EU member states, such as in a training mission in Mali with British colleagues, and sometimes we are involved with UN efforts such as UNIFIL in southern Lebanon and in...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The unsatisfactory age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force was an issue of serious concern during the 1990s and was the subject of severe criticism in a series of external reports, mainly those by Price Waterhouse Consulting and the Efficiency Audit Group. One of the key areas identified for urgent action by the EAG was the development of a manpower policy with an emphasis on...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I thank that the Deputy for his comments. It is important to put this into context, given the active role the Defence Forces have been playing abroad in recent weeks. We are speaking about front-line soldiers such as privates and corporals who are jumping in and out of Mowags and who need to be fit, adaptable, strong and at the peak of their physical and mental fitness for their own safety...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The flexibilities being discussed are with regard to maintaining levels of expertise built up over time, while at the same time trying to ensure front-line soldiers are of an appropriate age. There is a balance to be found. We are not really speaking about people in their 30s. If there is a 21-year rule and one joined the Army at 19 or 20 or in one's early 20s, we are talking about people...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to let the infrastructure in the Defence Forces which exists to resolve issues such as this, and which has successfully resolved this issue in the past when there was a request by PDFORRA to do so, to finalise its work. It would be inappropriate for a Minister to wade in politically and tell people what the outcome should be. I would like to think our conciliation and arbitration...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: It seems, unfortunately, that sometimes we do need to protect these aircraft because there are individuals intent on trying to damage them. An Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, including internal security in the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid to the civil power, which in practice means assisting An Garda...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is my understanding that the Defence Forces are there at the request of the Garda Síochána. When the Garda Síochána asks for support, backup and assistance on security matters, the Defence Forces takes it seriously and provides it. The cost is assumed by the Department of Defence. On the broader issue, being a neutral state allows us to make decisions for ourselves...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: On costs, I can be helpful straight away. In 2012, the cost was €275,000 and in 2013 it was €221,000. There is a cost to it and it is presumably because the Garda Síochána is concerned that we need to provide protection, which is an issue in itself, to planes landing and taking off at Shannon Airport. They ask for our assistance and they get our assistance, but the...

Other Questions: Programme for Government Priorities (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for providing me with the opportunity to do this. My immediate priority will be to ensure that the Defence Forces retain the capability to fulfil all roles assigned to them by the Government, both at home and overseas. In this context, and within the available resource envelope, decisions to replace equipment and ongoing recruitment to the Permanent Defence Force will...

Other Questions: Programme for Government Priorities (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: For many years I have been highlighting what the Naval Service does in respect of fishing. Somebody questioned the link between the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the Department of Defence in respect of the same Minister having responsibility for the both Departments. For many years and across a number of Governments, the marine and defence areas were linked because of...

Other Questions: Programme for Government Priorities (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I agree absolutely. I have been very anxious to attend the committee and I have been speaking to Deputy Stanton in this regard. I am aware that Deputy Ó Fearghaíl has asked for me to brief the committee on UNDOF which I intend to do but it is a question of finding an appropriate time to suit my timetable and that of the committee. I refer to my interaction with the agriculture...

Other Questions: UN Missions (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I state categorically that Irish troops were never instructed to surrender. It is important to understand the role of Irish troops in the UNDOF mission; they are called a mobile force reserve. Most of the UN peacekeeping force are relatively lightly armed with rifles. However, the Irish contingent is different in that our troops operate in armoured vehicles known as Mowag vehicles with a...

Other Questions: UN Missions (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have been invited to speak at the international peace-keeping summit which will be held in New York on 26 September, next week. It will have a focus on existing peace-keeping missions but it will also focus on attempts to build capacity for peace-keeping and conflict resolution on the Continent of Africa. This will also provide a very interesting opportunity for Ireland. However, the big...

Other Questions: UN Missions (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I expect that a rotation of troops will happen in the middle of next month, in October.

Other Questions: UN Missions (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: There are many conflict zones in the world requiring peacekeeping missions. However, Ireland and the Irish Defence Forces have a lot of experience in the Middle East. We have had a significant presence in southern Lebanon for many years. In my view our expertise is suited to this mission. We have also been asked in no uncertain terms by multiple countries to stay there because of the role...

Other Questions: EU Meetings (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have had two proper engagements with EU ministerial colleagues, the first meeting on the margins of a NATO summit which was an event for partners of NATO in certain peacekeeping missions. I had a very good bilateral meeting with my Dutch counterpart. Two Dutch officers are in the UNDOF mission. I made it very clear to my counterpart what Ireland requires in order to stay. She was in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (18 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have already outlined the unsatisfactory age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was an issue of serious concern during the 1990s and was the subject of severe criticism by a series of external reports, mainly Price Waterhouse Consultants and the Efficiency Audit Group (EAG). One of the key areas identified for urgent action by the EAG was the development of a manpower...