Results 24,641-24,660 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: If one were to follow through on the logic of the Deputy's argument, the international community would simply pull out of Afghanistan. In my view, if that were to happen, the country would implode and would be taken over once again by tribal leaders, some of them fundamentalist in their thinking, and that is not what the international community would like to see happen. Therefore, we are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I think, with respect, that is a revision of history on the part of the Deputy. The reason there was a military campaign in Afghanistan was that terrorists were being trained there.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: That triggered a whole series of events that have taken place since. Rather than just pointing out mistakes, we all have an obligation to make an effort to contribute in a constructive and positive way to helping countries that are in real difficulty to achieve stable government and, as a result, some level of normalisation for their populations. This is the reason I have sanctioned...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Daly for her question. The deployment of Defence Forces personnel to the UN-mandated, NATO-led ISAF mission in Afghanistan between 2002 and 2014 had no implications for Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality.  The service of Defence Forces personnel with ISAF represented a further example of Ireland’s commitment to participation in UN-mandated...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Operation ATALANTA is specifically about counteracting and preventing piracy and providing a significant deterrent for what had become a serious problem whereby ships, some of which were carrying World Food Programme aid, were under threat of being attacked and having their cargo robbed. It has been a successful mission. The numbers of acts of piracy in that part of the world have been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: To reassure people, this is a mission that is working really well. The kind of questions Deputy Crowe is asking have been asked by many other countries before they would have participated in Operation ATALANTA. There is an efficient system working successfully to patrol off that part of Africa. The decision we must make is whether it is appropriate for Ireland to contribute to those...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is trying to make a big issue out of something that I admit is an issue in terms of our capacity to recruit the required number of doctors suited to be in the Defence Forces. Recruiting them is a problem. We have 20 but need 28. We need to find ways of attracting medical practitioners into the Defence Forces more successfully. However, I take issue with the Deputy's suggestion...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: In response to the rising levels of piracy and armed robbery off the Horn of Africa and in the western Indian Ocean, the European Union launched its first maritime operation, EUNAVFOR ATALANTA, on 8 December 2008. The primary aims of the operation are to contribute to the protection of vessels of the World Food Programme delivering food aid to displaced persons in Somalia, in accordance with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy quoted a number of figures. Defence Forces personnel are not like everyone else in society. They are constantly checked in terms of their mental and physical fitness, they are driven hard in the context of the training they must undergo and they are benchmarked with regard to the standards etc., which they need to set. As the Deputy knows, medical assessment of Defence Forces...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I join Deputy Ó Fearghaíl in wishing colleagues and staff a happy new year and welcoming them back for what we expect to be a busy term in the Dáil. I am advised by the military authorities that as of 9 January 2015, there are 20 doctors employed as medical officers in the Permanent Defence Force. The current establishment figure for medical officers qualified as doctors in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is an ongoing requirement to examine new and innovative means of improving capabilities in the security and the defence domain, so that the Defence Forces are in a position to undertake the roles assigned by Government. In July 2011, the Government approved arrangements, whereby Enterprise Ireland would support the Department of Defence and Defence Forces capability development, by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: A Value for Money Review of the Reserve Defence Force was published in November 2012 arising from which a major re-organisation was implemented in 2013. The Reserve is now organised alongside the Permanent Defence Force, within a more efficient single force structure. There have been no recommendations relating to the introduction of employment protection legislation for members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the military authorities that as of 9thJanuary 2015 the Defence Forces have two personnel deployed to Sierra Leone as part of Ireland’s response to the Ebola crisis. A further five Defence Forces medical personnel, one doctor and four medics recently deployed to the UK on Tuesday 6thof January for mission specific pre-deployment training. These personnel are due in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An Garda Síochána has the primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. Since 2003, the Gardaí have requested support from the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces have a long association with peacekeeping missions in Africa. The work carried out by Irish personnel deployed with such missions represents an important contribution to the peace and security of the region. Ireland is currently contributing four personnel to the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO). Ireland has...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: In common with all areas of the public sector, the priority in recent years has been to ensure that the Defence Forces can continue to meet all operational requirements within a reduced resource envelope. Arising from the comprehensive review of expenditure in 2011, the Government decided to stabilise the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 9,500 personnel. Resulting from the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Paper on Defence (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The preparation of a new White Paper on Defence is a key priority as it will provide the defence policy framework for the next decade and beyond. Defence policy is a critical aspect of Government policy and I am determined to ensure that the new White Paper fully addresses the Defence response to future security challenges and associated resource requirements in a comprehensive way. Working...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts of 2009-2013 and the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2016 (Haddington Road Agreement) define current pay policy. In the Haddington Road Agreement the Government reaffirmed its commitment that public service pay and any related issues will not be revisited over the lifetime of the Agreement, subject to compliance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps Operations (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence (2000) sets out the current defence policy framework. The role of the Air Corps as set out in the White Paper is to provide a range of military and non-military services in support of the State. These supports include maintenance of a general helicopter capability for a variety of tasks, including support to An Garda Síochána, as well as provision of a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: As I have outlined previously to the House, a claim has been received from the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) in relation to this matter and it is being dealt with under the Conciliation and Arbitration Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. Discussions have been taking place with the Representative Association, with regards to their...