Results 20,601-20,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Correspondence (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have forwarded a copy of the response to this letter directly to the Deputy .

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2015 Basic Payments / Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 29 May, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes has been finalised and payment has issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ash Dieback Threat (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The first confirmed finding of Ash dieback in Ireland was at a forestry plantation site in County Leitrim in October 2012. Surveys led to further findings of the disease. The first step was the introduction of national legislative measures in November 2012 under the Destructive Insects and Pest Acts 1958 and 1991 which listed the disease as a pest and which also regulated the import of ash...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received from the person named on 8 April 2015. Payment under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme has not issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements. Under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Production Issues (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of concerns regarding an application for PDO status for Halloumi Cheese. I am strongly supportive of the Protection of Designation of Origin (PDO) regulation and indeed a number of Irish products, supported by other member states, benefit from the protections afforded by the regime. This is a complex matter and my officials are considering an appropriate response at present.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Pensions (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Since October 2015, monthly payments from the Defence Forces pensions payroll are being made by the Payroll Shared Services Centre (PSSC) – under the aegis of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform – rather than by the Department of Defence.  In relation to the December monthly pensions, arrangements have been made by my Department with the PSSC for Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: As with many other Defence Forces barracks, Custume Barracks is used as a location for training for Units preparing to deploy overseas. The Defence Forces are participating in a German-led Battlegroup from July 2015 until December 2016. The Defence Forces Battlegroup contingent is based in Custume Barracks. This contribution to the German led Battlegroup is the Defence Forces major...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Meetings (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: At the opening session of the recent meeting of EU Ministers for Defence in Brussels, on 17th November 2015, the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drein invoked Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union. Member States offered strong messages of solidarity and support. I extended my condolences to the French Minister and the French people and pledged Ireland's support for France at...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following the invoking of Article 42.7 of the Treaty on European Union by the French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drein, at the recent meeting of EU Defence Ministers in Brussels, it is expected that the framework within which the French authorities will request the aid and assistance required, military and otherwise, will be clarified in the coming days. I will report to Government in due...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (25 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: As evidenced by the recent tragic event in Bamako, the situation in Northern and Eastern Mali remains difficult. An anti-terrorist military operation Barkhane in Africa's region is being implemented by France on a bi-lateral basis, in partnership with Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, as well as Mali. Defence Forces personnel will not become involved in this mission. On 18 February...

Leaders' Questions (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Martin should take a look at his own record.

Other Questions: White Paper on Defence (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I did not imply anything. I stated that this will be an open and transparent process, which will use basic infrastructure in the Defence Forces to be able to test, develop and design new products that can be useful to us. We have made clear that it will not involve facilitating the testing of weapons or munitions. That is not what this process is about. I encourage Deputies to read the...

Other Questions: Army Barracks Closures (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following the closure of Columb Barracks, my Department wrote to other Departments and public bodies inviting them to express an interest in the property, with a view to its disposal by the Department. No such interest was expressed at the time. My officials also met local representatives and officials from Westmeath County Council to discuss the future of the barracks. As the Deputy is...

Other Questions: Army Barracks Closures (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is ridiculous to suggest that the Government can force an outcome on this issue. The Department will work with the local authority, community groups, clubs and other Departments to find a process that can deliver full utilisation of Columb Barracks in a manner that is in the interests of Mullingar town. This is precisely what we are trying to do. However, one cannot force such an...

Other Questions: Army Barracks Closures (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: With respect, the whole point of the one force policy is that the Reserve Defence Force will train in barracks with the Permanent Defence Force.

Other Questions: Army Barracks Closures (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are moving to ensure that the Reserve and Permanent Defence Forces can operate and train together in a seamless way. The Department has considered the suggestion made by Deputy Penrose regarding the use of the barracks and does not believe it is consistent with the future needs of the Reserve Defence Force.

Other Questions: White Paper on Defence (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will not start naming individual countries but the statements in the White Paper are about promoting innovation through the Defence Forces. Public private partnerships between the Defence Forces and private, predominantly Irish, companies are well under way and have been very successful. We are developing new designs, technologies and innovations that may well be very useful to the Irish...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Properties (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are 26 overholders residing in or near the Curragh Camp. We are looking at them all individually. We will try to be as supportive as we can but we cannot put in place some kind of blanket arrangement that ignores the presence in these houses of people who should not be in them and allows them to stay in those houses indefinitely simply because there is a housing crisis in some parts...

Other Questions: Defence Forces Properties (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Department is not a housing body. Many people who are on housing lists at the moment would love to be living in this accommodation but are not.

Other Questions: Defence Forces Properties (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: There may well be some overholders who can afford to rent or potentially buy their own properties. Is the Deputy saying it is okay for them to stay for as long as they want? We will try to take a fair and compassionate approach to people who are in vulnerable positions. We have been doing that. We have been reaching out to Kildare County Council to work in partnership with us on that....