Results 24,461-24,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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 doing some refurbishment that we could not afford to do in the past few years.

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 archives.

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: Again there is a slight increase under this heading. There was some commentary on Defence Forces uniforms during the year by PDFORRA. We undertook a rigorous examination. I have been told in no uncertain terms by the Chief of Staff that there is no issue with the availability of uniforms. There is a slight increase in this subhead on both the outturn and the Estimate for last year.

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 more or less a roll-over.

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 annual travel plans are developed based on anticipated operational training and overseas commitments. It can be demand led. I suspect the figure was up slightly in 2014 because there was extra travel back and forth to New York because of what was happening in the Golan Heights. Certainly I was there and I would not otherwise have been in New York.

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 is more or less the same as the outturn from last year.

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 down somewhat because we are offloading some of the properties we no longer have a strategic use for, mainly to other State agencies, local authorities or to the Garda Síochána. It would be expected that the Estimate would be down slightly.

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: In this subhead it is important to note that the figure is being recorded as a reduction but it is actually the same Estimate as last year. If the expenditure goes slightly above we will deal with it. Anyone who has not visited the Army Equitation School should do so, it is really impressive and is not just for people who are interested in horses. For me this is a really important...

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 an Estimate. We cannot know what will come down the tracks, but we have to have a budget for it.

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: Last year the Estimate was €5 million and the expenditure was €4.24 million. We have the same Estimate this year.

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 this year is the same as the Estimate last year. The expenditure was a bit less, but we are just being prudent.

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 Estimate is slightly higher than it was last year. Again we are anticipating a slight increase in activity.

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 the same Estimate as last year but the outturn last year was slightly higher. Most of this money goes to local authorities because the Civil Defence works closely with the local authorities in their area. We cover the cost of 70% of that work.

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: That is the same as last year and the outturn was the same as well.

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: In the 2015 Estimates receipts from banks for cash-in-transit escorts have been reduced to €6.8 million from €8.1 million in 2014.

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 thank the committee for giving me the opportunity to discuss the Revised Estimates. If there are further developments in southern Lebanon or on the Golan Heights on which members require to be briefed, they are free to contact my office directly. We will try to be as open as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Appeals (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 11 April 2014. During the validation of the application, issues relating to the verification of compliance with the minimum stocking density were identified. There are two criteria to be satisfied in relation to those applicants under 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme availing of equines to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Section 11 of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 provides that a person who has a protected animal, including a dog,  in his or her possession or under his or her control, is obliged to ensure that the animal is kept and treated in a manner that safeguards the health and welfare of the animal and does not threaten the health and welfare of that animal or another animal.  This...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: GLAS (the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme) is part of a suite of proposed measures under Ireland’s Rural Development Programme (RDP) which was submitted to the European Commission in July. The Commission services notified us of their detailed observations on the draft Programme at the end of October last year, to which my Department provided immediate and detailed replies....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (28 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: 6,300 applications received , including the application referred to in this case, for the Farm Safety Scheme are currently being examined in my Department. Approvals will issue at the earliest possible opportunity.