Results 22,001-22,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The cost of issuing hard copy payslips to staff or retired staff by my Department and agencies under the control of my Departmentin 2013 and 2014 was €147,326 and €153,958 respectively.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Defence does not fund my private travel or the private travel of my staff. The hotel accommodation costs arising from my official engagements are set out below: Minister Coveney Private Office Staff Reason 2014 €160.00 €739.05 €160.00 €739.05 EU Defence Ministers Formal Meeting in Brussels November 2014 Trip to Lebanon in December...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (16 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The only body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members. The two ordinary members must be qualified medical practitioners of whom one must be an officer of the Army Medical Corps. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Funding (16 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The gross current and capital funding allocation for my Department for 2015 and the expenditure position at the end of June is set out below. Defence(Vote 36) 2Allocation Profileto June Expenditureto June Overspend/(Underspend) Current €610. 9m €279.5m €266.6m (€12.9m) Capital €66. 4m €43.0 m €39.8m (€3.2m) Total...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not provide services to external ‘customers’ in the classic sense. For example, there are no public offices or public counters where the public can request services on demand. There are a small number of paper based applications processes operated by the Department. These would include applications for disability pensions, applications for Medal...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reports (16 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Defence and Defence Forces Annual Report for 2014 is nearing completion and I anticipate that it will be published in September.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (16 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that it is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. I shall provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.

Topical Issue Debate: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: In common with other sectors, the seafood industry needs a regular supply of suitably trained and skilled personnel to work on board fishing vessels, on fish farms and in processing plants and it needs broader skills around harbour activities. BIM has a long established record of providing the industry with vocational training for appropriate qualifications to work as crew members, skippers...

Topical Issue Debate: Apprenticeship Programmes (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is preaching to the converted. The Government is taking a collective approach to create viable coastal communities, whether in fishing, marine tourism, ocean renewables, servicing offshore oil or gas rigs, leisure and sport or technology and design. We think the marine sector will have a turnover of well over €6 billion by 2020 and that should enable us to maintain a...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: With respect, I am being told that not by the Ceann Comhairle but by an Opposition Deputy.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: My position is as follows. There will be an opportunity to do this in the context of a broader review of the legislation and we will do it at that stage. I do not think there is any reason it has to be done now. What I am asking people to facilitate is the amendment of this legislation in order that we can get on with the transition from one Chief of Staff to another. We should focus on...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. I can see sense in what is being proposed. The amendment has been ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle because of the potential cost involved and that is a ruling with which I cannot argue. To be honest, I am not sure there would be any cost implication any time soon, but that is the judgment of the Ceann Comhairle's office. We had a long discussion before coming...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I have outlined my position. I can understand and have some sympathy for the arguments being made. However, if we were to look for discrepancies in the legislation, I am sure we could find others, too.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is, but it is also our job to have this change made in a timely manner in order that we can have a seamless transition from one Chief of Staff to another and that we can have the ranking structure that is appropriate. We need to take our time and look at, review and update the legislation which has been in place for a very long time. I am sure there will be multiple suggestions on how we...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: On principle, I will change it but not now.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I did not say there was a problem.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is no immediate problem. For the purposes of accuracy and balance, what I am saying is I have sympathy for the arguments being made. There will be an opportunity to review this legislation as a whole, which we have committed to, and an opportunity to change it. There is no perceived pressure coming from any direction, including from the Opposition benches, to do this before tomorrow....

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will not accept this amendment but I do not think we disagree on much in respect of this issue. It may well be the case that when we review and amend the Defence Acts broadly we make some changes in respect of the Air Corps. Technically, the Army and the rank structure within the Army cover the Air Corps fully. For many years, until some years ago, the Air Corps was referred to as the...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are splitting hairs.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2015 [Seanad]: Committee and Remaining Stages (15 Jul 2015)

Simon Coveney: The sense I get is that the Deputy wants the Air Corps to be mentioned to give it a boost.