Results 15,461-15,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Other Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: There is certainly strong demand for the recruitment calls that are under way at present. In fact, I have received letters from various Deputies making cases for people who have applied and so on. There seems to be strong demand for that, despite the fact there are issues in need of review in regard to remuneration and pay. In terms of equipment, I am satisfied we have adequate and...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Recruitment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: That report has been published. I launched it in Collins Barracks some two months ago. The author was there and talked about her experience of literally being immersed in the Defence Forces and all of its complexity, and so on. It was the third such report published by the same team as part of the attempt to modernise and put new structures within the Defence Forces. We see on the front...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The lariam debate is controversial and has been for many years. I remember taking lariam at one point when I went to travelling in Africa, and having the debate with my doctor on this issue, so it is not new. The Deputy will be aware that malaria is a very serious disease which kills approximately 1 million people per year in sub-Saharan Africa alone. It is a grave threat to any military...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I want to set the record straight on something I consider very important. We are not continuing the use of lariam because of legal cases that are being taken. We are continuing the use of lariam in the Defence Forces to ensure we have a responsible approach towards ensuring members of the Defence Forces do not contract malaria. We are acting on the advice of the Health Products Regulatory...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: There are many people in this House who sometimes are not overly complimentary about the US military in terms of some of the decisions it makes but for me, that is not so much the issue. We have medical advice available to us in Ireland, which is of the highest standard, and we follow that advice. That is from where we take our lead. If there is growing international evidence to the...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have previously outlined the position in regard to the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence. I have also explained the scale and type of such equipment the Department has acquired from Israeli companies in recent years and the purpose of such acquisitions, which is to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops. The matter of barring Israeli...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: Is the Deputy suggesting we should not have taken the foreign policy decisions we took in regard to Russia?

Other Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: We have not taken unilateral action in regard to Russia. We are part of an EU decision to impose sanctions because of what has been happening in eastern Ukraine. It is not unilateral action. None of the examples the Deputy outlined in Britain, Norway and the Netherlands involve an embargo being imposed by a government on individual companies or on Israel, as a country. They are examples...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Contracts (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The point I am making is that the Department of Defence procedures in terms of procuring goods and services is absolutely consistent with international best practice at UN and EU levels. That is a decision we have made. If there is a collective proposal at UN level to take targeted action and to use trade as a way to force change in some part of the world or in a region, then Ireland will...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure I agree with the Deputy's assessment. Ireland has participated in the NATO–led UN mandated International Security Assistance Force, ISAF, in Afghanistan since 5 July 2002. Seven members of the Permanent Defence Force are currently serving in the mission headquarters. The ISAF mission is due to conclude on 31 December 2014 when Afghani National Security Forces will take...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am not saying the war in Afghanistan was a success.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am saying that I do not agree with the Deputy’s full assessment of it. There have been and continue to be huge challenges in Afghanistan. Ireland’s view has always been that we would make a limited contribution to sharing an expertise that we have from a training perspective. Our people are in headquarters there, and are not involved on the front line. It is not akin to...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy seems to suggest that Ireland should have nothing to do with Afghanistan and abandon the new government which faces challenges. I am saying that we are considering requests for assistance, given all the complexity of Afghanistan and the nation-building programme that needs to proceed there now.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: Yes because the nation has been destroyed.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Deployment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I listened to the Deputy’s statements, by and large, and am trying to respond to them. I will bring a recommendation to Government for approval and we will be totally open about it. That decision has not yet been finalised but it will need to happen shortly if we are to make even a limited contribution on the follow-on mission to ISAF. We are considering that in some detail at the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: Custume Barracks is and will continue to be an important operational military barracks. This is evidenced by ongoing investment and upgrades to the barracks. The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. Under this programme there has...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Ambulance Service Provision (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: In June 2012, a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between the Department of Defence and the Department of Health in relation to the Air Corps’ support of a pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service which is operating out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. In accordance with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding, my Department recoups from the HSE the costs of the Air...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: At the request of the United Nations, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been deployed to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights in Syria since September 2013. The current Defence Forces contingent, the 46th Irish Infantry Group UNDOF, comprises 130 troops and consists of a Force Reserve Company and support elements. Their role includes the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I was made aware of a number of issues for the first time at the recent PDFORRA annual conference. I presume the Deputy is referring to the claim that five members of the PDF were sleeping in cars because they could not afford the cost of commuting to their place of work, and claims that approximately 20% of PDFORRA’s membership are availing of Family Income Supplement. There is no...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: As of 1 st November 2014, Ireland is contributing 418 Defence Forces personnel to 11 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 191 personnel, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) with 138 personnel, the NATO-led International...