Results 18,121-18,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is that they are. It would be ridiculous for a Minister to be responding to Dr. Humer, as his statement would require a medical response from a trained doctor or from the Health Products Regulatory Authority. My function as Minister for Defence is to take all of the advice I can and then make decisions. Any decision we make about Lariam is a medical decision, not a...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: No one is suggesting there are not side effects but there are side effects to some of the other malaria drugs too. I have also used Lariam and I did not have any hallucinations or problems attached to it, I am glad to say, although maybe I was lucky. It is important to say that the Defence Forces policy in regard to the use of antimalarial medication is in line with current HPRA...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: If I was Deputy Ó Fearghaíl, I would be careful in what I say in regard to people taking their own lives. This is a serious issue and we take it seriously. I have an open mind with regard to changing our approach here but I would change that approach on the back of medical advice as opposed to political questions.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: As I said, I am not making decisions on the basis of legal advice. My only interest is medical advice. We screen people and make choices as to which antimalarial drug we prescribe on the basis of where people are going and how long they are going to be staying. That is a very different profile, by the way, to the US, which does not really have a peacekeeping role, as such, for its defence...

Other Questions: Naval Service Operations (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I do not think we are talking about a repeat of that. At the formal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council with Ministers of Defence in Brussels on 18 May, a Council decision to establish a European Union military operation, EUNAVFOR Med, was adopted as part of a comprehensive approach to addressing the migration crisis in the south central Mediterranean. Operational planning for this naval...

Other Questions: Naval Service Operations (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I do not accept the premise that every conflict in north Africa or every conflict that is contributing to mass migration in that part of the world has been caused by European or Western intervention, which seems to be the basis of Deputy Wallace's case.

Other Questions: Naval Service Operations (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: It was agreed at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting that the European Union would make an effort to disrupt human trafficking on a massive scale, where organised crime is essentially feeding on people's misery and vulnerability. We have an obligation to disrupt that while, at the same time, we have an obligation to assist people who are fleeing persecution. At the moment, Ireland's...

Other Questions: Naval Service Operations (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is not true that Ireland and other countries are not discussing the causes of these problems. They are, but the solutions are complex. Deputy Wallace does not want any intervention, yet he wants solutions to the causes of many of these problems, as in Afghanistan, where he does not want any Irish involvement in helping to build capacity.

Other Questions: Naval Service Operations (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are in the business of doing multiple things at the same time - namely, trying to save people who are at risk of drowning when trying to cross the Mediterranean because they are in a desperate and vulnerable situation. That is, however, just an emergency response. The deeper issue is how the European Union can use its influence in a peaceful way, primarily to bring stability to countries...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Durkan for raising this issue. The acquisition of new equipment and equipment upgrades for the Defence Forces remains a focus for me as Minister for Defence and is a matter that is kept under constant review. The development of a new White Paper on defence is under way. The White Paper will provide the future policy framework for defence for the next decade. A key part of...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: There has been. Even under the constraints of recent budgets we have seen a steady upgrading of equipment to ensure our peacekeepers abroad are safe. There has been a fleet replacement programme in the Irish Naval Service, which essentially will see three new ships in three years, namely, the LE Samuel Beckett, the LE James Joyce, which will arrive in the coming weeks, and a third ship,...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Equipment (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is no provision for the acquisition of new aircraft for the Air Corps in 2015. However, a significant level of investment in new equipment for the Air Corps has taken place in recent years. The investment programme included the delivery of training aircraft, the acquisition of two light utility EC135s, six utility AW139 helicopters and a mid-life upgrade of the two CASA maritime...

Other Questions: Naval Service Operations (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am glad we agree that being neutral is not the same as doing nothing and we are doing a lot. This is, however, the first time an Irish naval vessel has ever gone overseas on a mission such as this. When the LE Eithnehas gone overseas previously, it has essentially been on diplomatic missions, as opposed to a humanitarian mission like this. It is a new departure for the Naval Service and...

Other Questions: Naval Service Operations (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has put a lot of questions and made a number of comments. I have dealt with most of them in previous questions. I said that most people would accept it was a mistake to reduce the resource level in terms of search and rescue and in terms of the assistance we give to migrants in the Mediterranean. The tragic drownings which happened in the past six weeks or so shocked many...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The following tabular statement sets out the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 30 April, 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, broken down by rank and gender. The figures provided are for whole time equivalent posts. The total serving strength across all three services as of 30 April, 2015 was 9,112 (comprising of 553 or 6.1% female and 8559 or 93.9% male). The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Paper on Defence (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The preparation of a new White Paper on Defence is a key priority and drafting of the document is well underway. Working groups comprising civil and military representatives from the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces have identified likely future operational demands and the defence capabilities required to meet these demands. This work will inform recommendations regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that the Defence Forces ambulance fleet consists of both on-road and 4x4 off-road capable vehicles. Following a tender competition, a contract was awarded in April 2012 to Wilker Auto Conversions in Clara, County Offaly for an initial two 4x4 off-road Iveco ambulances. This was followed by a further order for four Iveco ambulances in 2013. The tender competition was carried...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: As of 31 May 2015, Ireland is contributing approximately 500 Defence Forces personnel to 13 missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas including the lead organisation for each mission are listed in the following tabular statement. The main overseas missions, in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed, are the United Nations Interim...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: In June 2012 a Memorandum of Understanding was agreed between my Department and the Department of Health in relation to the Air Corps' participation in a pilot Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) service operating out of Custume Barracks, Athlone. The purpose of the pilot service was to assess the level and type, if any, of dedicated aeromedical support needed to assist the National...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Vessels (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: L.É. Eithne arrived in the South Central Mediterranean on 23 May 2015, to assist the Italian authorities in humanitarian search and rescue operations in the Mediterranean. The role of the Irish Naval vessel is to provide a search and rescue capability and to undertake humanitarian rescue operations at sea in the Mediterranean. Assistance to persons in distress at sea is being...