Results 24,421-24,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishing Producer Organisations (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The role of Independent Fisheries Producer Organisations or (POs) is a varied one. Apart from the obvious function of representing their member’s interests at annual EU fishing quota negotiations in Brussels etc, POs are also an increasingly important element in terms of delivering on the EUs objectives for the recently reformed Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). The role of POs is...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Legislative Measures (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 together. Legislative matters in relation to fisheries policy in the European Union are under the sole remit and competence of the EU and its related institutions. Recognition of fisheries producer organisations in the EU is therefore governed by relevant EU legislation- (1) Regulation (EU) No 1380/2013 of the European Parliament and of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Producer Organisations (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: While individual Producer Organisations may have distinct membership provisions, in general ownership of a fishing vessel is not a necessary requirement to become a member of a fisheries Producer Organisation. Although in practice most members of POs would either own or operate a registered fishing vessel, others such as those involved in the Aquaculture sector may also be members of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Producer Organisations (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The criteria in relation to recognition of Producer Organisations are outlined in my response to the related question PQ Ref No: 4250/15. As such organisations are in essence independent representative bodies, the internal membership criteria which must be met to qualify or apply for membership of such organisations, would primarily be a matter for the organisations themselves to determine....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Producer Organisations (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are currently five officially recognised Fishery Producer Organisations (POs) in Ireland. POs are independent representative bodies who represent their member’s interest in issues such as annual quota negotiations with the EU Commission etc. They are not currently in receipt of any State funding on an ongoing basis apart from an initial assistance from the EU Commission in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the EU Regulations governing the Young Farmer Scheme, the scheme is payable for a period of no more than five years following the commencement of the eligible Young Farmer’s farming activity. The scheme is intended to provide financial assistance to young farmers during the period immediately following the setting up of their farming enterprise. My Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Appointments (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: No such representations have been made to my Department by the Deputy identified on behalf of individuals seeking appointment to positions falling within the remit of my Department. At its meeting of 30 September, the Government announced a revised model for appointments to State boards. From 1 November all vacancies on State boards must be advertised openly on the State Boards portal, ,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Ministerial Appointments (29 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: No representations were received from the named person, seeking persons to be appointed to positions on Boards under the remit of the Department since March 2011 .

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to appear before the select committee today for its consideration of the defence and Army pensions Estimates for 2015. I have a short opening statement, after which I will be happy to take questions from the members. The combined Estimates for defence and Army pensions for 2015 provides for gross expenditure of €898 million, of which €677 million will be spent on...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I wish to add some comments for the benefit of the few members present, who I am sure are concerned about media reports they have been receiving this morning regarding what is happening in southern Lebanon. There has been no official UNIFIL statement yet, but I understand that starting at about 11 a.m. Irish time this morning, there was quite significant activity in an area called the Shaaba...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is important to emphasise that southern Lebanon has been one of the safest places in the Middle East for the past 12 months. As Hezbollah has been heavily involved in the civil war in Syria, there has not been the friction and the activities that we saw a number of years ago in southern Lebanon and Israel. However, that changed this morning, but the briefing material I have received...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: This is the main block of money for pensions. The first is for administration, but the main block is for Army pensions, which is why the figure is big. The Estimate for 2015 is slightly higher than that for 2014 but slightly lower than the outturn for 2014. It should be close to what we will see at the end of the year. The scheme is demand-led and we must make an estimate that is as close...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: It decreases every year, for obvious reasons.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will answer the question in some detail, but I can provide further detail, if the Deputy wants. In the 1980s there were over 600 staff in the Department. As there are now 350, the number has almost halved. This figure can be compared to that for the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, in which there were 4,500 staff, but that number is now down to about 3,300. Defence...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Estimate for this year is the same as that for last year. The outturn fell slightly and the Estimate has not increased.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I do not wish to pre-announce the outcome of an adjudication process which has been ongoing for some time. An adjudication hearing is due to be held on 30 January and we expect an outcome more or less immediately thereafter. We will then have a much clearer picture of what compromises are doable. If we were to keep personnel in the Defence Forces for longer than had been expected, it would...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are essentially budgeting for increased activity in this area in which we will actively seek new recruits. Following the publication of the value for money report on the Defence Forces Reserve, a revised strength ceiling of 4,069 was introduced for the Reserve. A campaign is under way to recruit further members to the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve with the objective of...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The target strength is 4,069, while the current effective strength is 2,302. The number of reservists who availed of paid training in 2014 was 1,521. We have work to do to recruit more reservists to increase Reserve strength to the appropriate level. For this reason, we are examining ways in which we could make it more attractive and convenient for people to be members of the Reserve.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Ensuring an appropriate balance between voluntary activities and work and home life is a key challenge that is common to individuals involved in many voluntary organisations. The issues raised with me relate primarily to the need to hold medical examinations and fitness tests at times that do not require candidates to take days off work. We are trying to make practical improvements in these...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Department of Defence (Revised) (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I hope not. The provisional outturn for last year was slightly less than the Estimate provides for this year. If numbers remain as they are, there will be another underspend this year. I am hopeful, however, that we will be able to recruit new members and increase current strength. While we will not reach the target figure this year, I am certain we will improve on the current figure.