Results 22,781-22,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: On 9 December 2014, the Government approved the participation of seven members of the Defence Forces in the new NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, which commenced on 1 January 2015, following the withdrawal of the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) mission from Afghanistan. Resolute Support Mission is a non-combat training and advisory mission. It is designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Seirbhísi trí Ghaeilge (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Tá mo Roinn tiomanta chun seirbhísí den chaighdeán is airde a chur ar fáil don phobal ar bhonn dátheangach. Cuirtear baill den phobal ar a n-eolas faoi na seirbhísí atá ar fáil i nGaeilge ón Roinn agus ó Óglaigh na hÉireann tríd an gCairt Chustaiméirí a roinneann an Roinn Cosanta agus Óglaigh na...

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

Simon Coveney: The primary purpose for the procurement of defensive equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Irish Defence Forces on overseas Peace Support Operations and to afford the greatest possible force protection to Irish troops whilst on such missions. Tender competitions for defensive equipment for the Defence Forces are conducted by the Department of Defence...

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

Simon Coveney: At the request of the United Nations, following Government and Dáil Éireann approval, 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 2013. The current Irish contingent, the 48th Infantry Group, comprising 130 personnel, is based in UNDOF Headquarters in Camp Ziouani. It...

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

Simon Coveney: At a special meeting of the European Council on 23 April 2015, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland was prepared to allocate a fully crewed Naval vessel to assist in the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean once the legal clarifications were received.  Following Government approval and agreement with the Italian authorities, the L.É. Eithne arrived in the South Central...

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

Simon Coveney: The matter to which the Deputy is referring is the case of the deaths of Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne who were murdered, and Private John O'Mahony who was seriously injured while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on 18 April 1980. In July 2014 the alleged perpetrator, Mr. Mahmoud Bazzi, who had been residing in the United States was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Easter Rising Commemorations (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Overall responsibility for the 1916-2016 Centenary Programme rests with my colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Following the formal launch of the Programme in March of this year by the Taoiseach and Minister Humphreys, my Department has been engaged in ongoing discussions in relation to the involvement of the Defence Forces in the various State events that are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Irish Red Cross Governance (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: Arising from legislative changes made by this Government in 2012, Government may nominate up to 10% of the membership of the General Assembly of the Irish Red Cross Society. On 20 May last, I received Government approval for the nomination of Ms Mary Flaherty and Mr. Darren Ryan to the Society's General Assembly for a three year term. The maximum number of Government nominees is three...

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

Simon Coveney: The strength figures for year end to 31 December 2104 are set out below. I wish to advise the Deputy that the strength figure for 2012 includes personnel who were on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. Since September 2013, all strength figures have been calculated on the basis of actual numbers serving, excluding those members on secondment or career...

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

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 31 May 2015, the latest date for which figures are available was 9,294, comprising 7,442 Army, 766 Air Corps and 1,086 Naval Service personnel. The following table outlines the establishment, strength and vacancies of the Permanent Defence Force, by Army, Air Corps and Naval Service as at 31 May...

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

Simon Coveney: The table below sets out the number of females in the Defence Forces at all ranks over the past five years (i.e. on the 31stof December, 2010 to 2014 inclusive). I wish to advise the Deputy that the strength figures for 2010, 2011 and 2012 include personnel who were on secondment to, and being paid by other organisations, or on career breaks. Since September 2013, all strength figures have...

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

Simon Coveney: As of 01 June 2015, Ireland is contributing approximately 497 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 tabular statement attached. The most recent deployment overseas was the despatch of the Irish naval vessel, L.É. Eithne, to assist the...

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

Simon Coveney: At a special meeting of the European Council on 23 April 2015, the Taoiseach announced that Ireland would deploy an Irish Naval Service vessel to assist in the humanitarian crisis in the Mediterranean. Following Government approval and agreement with the Italian authorities, L.É. Eithne arrived in the South Central Mediterranean on 23 May 2015, to assist the Italian authorities in...

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

Simon Coveney: As of 01 June 2015, Ireland is contributing approximately 497 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 tabular statement attached. The most recent deployment overseas was the despatch of the Irish naval vessel, L.É. Eithne, to assist the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Defence Capabilities (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am regularly in touch with my EU colleagues both in the context of European Defence and Security and other matters. In addition to bilateral contacts two official meeting of EU Defence Ministers are held during each six month EU Presidency. The most recent meeting that I attended was the meeting of Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministers, which took place in Brussels on 18 May 2015....

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

Simon Coveney: Primary responsibility for the maintenance of law and order including the protection of the internal security of the State rests with An Garda Síochána. However, one of the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence (2000) is to provide Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. ...

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

Simon Coveney: The UN reimburses some personnel and Contingent Owned Equipment costs in respect of contributions of personnel to UN led operations. Rates of reimbursement, fixed in accordance with UN categories of equipment and personnel, are agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the UN for each mission. The missions for which Ireland is currently entitled to reimbursement of some...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Commissions of Investigation (9 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 521 to 523, inclusive, together. No Commissions of Investigation have been established by my Department since the Commissions of Investigation Act 2004 came into effect.

Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I welcome this debate and in particular congratulate my colleague, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, for doing a very competent and good job over the last six months in negotiating a deal for Aer Lingus, Ireland, regional connectivity and the staff of the company that is very much worth supporting. It is important in debating this issue to do so on the...

Aer Lingus Share Disposal: Motion (Resumed) (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Anyone who understood the sensitivities of a deal like this would understand that when one has Stock Exchange rules and is looking at off-loading a minority shareholding in a public company, there are certain things one can and cannot say. What has happened here is that the Government has taken an ultra-cautious approach. It rejected the offer initially and has gone back and taken its time...