Results 24,721-24,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 7 May 2014 and processing of same has recently been complete d . Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is due to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Russian market accounted for approximately 2.5% of total agrifood exports prior to the trade restrictions announced during 2014. Notwithstanding this, the importance of this market in terms of its future potential cannot be understated. The obvious preference is for a normalisation of trade relations but these issues cannot be viewed without taking into account the overall political...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Noxious Weeds (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Japanese knotweed ( Fallopia japonica) is an invasive herbaceous perennial which has the potential to seriously damage buildings and hard surfaces by growing through concrete, tarmac and other hard surfaces while also threatening native plants and animals by forming dense thickets.Regulation 49 of SI 477 of 2011 European Communities (Birds And Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 makes it an...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Directives (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: In answer to the Deputy’s question, there are currently 9 EU Directives which remain to be implemented within my Department, with eight of them due to be implemented in 2015 and 2016. One Directive was due to be implemented on 25 November 2014. The Statutory Instrument is currently being prepared for this Directive, 2014/22/EU, and is expected to be signed shortly. The following table...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Legislative Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are currently three draft Bills under preparation in my Department: 1. Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014; 2. A Bill to amend the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006 ; 3. Greyhound Industry (Amendment) Bill 2014 . The General Scheme of the Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014 has been through pre-legislative scrutiny but has not yet been initiated as it has...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Legislative Programme (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: One Bill was initiated in my Department since September 2013 – Act No. 10 of 2014 (Bill No. 46 of 2014) Johnstown Estate Agricultural College (Amendment) Act, 2014, which was presented in Seanad Eireann on 15 May 2014. The Forestry Act 2014 was presented in Dail Eireann on 24 April 2013 (Act no. 31 of 2014).

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Data (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 to 353, inclusive, together. No staff from my Department have been seconded to external private firms nor were any staff seconded from such firms into my Department during the period in question. A Superintending Veterinary Inspector from my Department has been seconded to Animal Health Ireland, which is a limited liability company part funded by my...

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

Simon Coveney: I remain fully committed to making Defence resources available to provide assistance where possible to support the implementation of the Strategy on Homelessness. My Department recently made available to Dublin City Council 25 bed places in St Bricin’s military installation in Dublin as emergency accommodation for the homeless. The Department continues to co-operate in whatever way it...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft Landings (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland rests with the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade in accordance with the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952. I understand from my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs & Trade, that arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Contracts (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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Bodies Data (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: The bodies under the aegis of my Department when the Government took office in March 2011 were the Civil Defence Board, the Board of Coiste an Asgard and the Army Pensions Board. The Civil Defence Board was identified in the Public Service Reform Plan as a body to be abolished and legislation was passed by the Oireachtas in December 2012 for the dissolution of the Board. Its functions and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Decentralisation Programme Data (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has decentralised offices in Newbridge, Galway and Roscrea. My Department’s headquarters decentralised to Newbridge in 2010, preceded by the decentralisation of the Department’s Civil Defence Branch to Roscrea in 2006 and the decentralisation of the Department’s Finance Branch to Galway in 1989. Information on travel to and from decentralised offices is not...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on external consultants, professional companies or advisors in relation to the Action Plan for Jobs .

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Court of Human Rights Judgments (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: There have been a number of recent judgements by the European Court of Human Rights in respect of the French military and also findings in a recent case brought to the European Committee on Social Rights by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), the outcomes of which will require very careful consideration. In a non-binding ruling, the European Committee on Social Rights...

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

Simon Coveney: The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a focus for me as Minister for Defence and is a matter that is kept under constant review. The budgetary situation will continue to dictate the level of funding available for new equipment, training and equipment upgrades for the organisation. The development of a new White Paper on Defence is underway. The White Paper will...

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

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence (2000) sets out the roles the Defence Forces might play in the provision of support and services in both Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP), which in practice means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so, and in the provision of assistance to the Civil Authorities in a range of emergency situations. In relation to its Aid to the Civil Authority...

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

Simon Coveney: Rates of remuneration and conditions of employment in the Irish public sector have traditionally been set by reference to relative levels of pay across the various sectors of the Irish public sector. In this regard, the level of remuneration in the Defence sector has maintained relativity with the levels available in other related public sector employments. The Financial Emergency Measures in...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 to 366, inclusive, together. 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. The Green Paper on Defence, which was published in July 2013, initiated a public consultation process which will inform the development of the White Paper on Defence. A total of...

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

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that at present there is a Recruit Platoon of 29 personnel in training in Custume Barracks, Athlone. These personnel were inducted as part of the recent recruitment campaign. Upon completion of their initial training these personnel will be assigned to Units across the Defence Forces on an ‘as required’ basis in order to maintain Unit...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks Closures (14 Jan 2015)

Simon Coveney: Following the closure of Columb Barracks, Government Departments and other Public Bodies were invited to identify any interest in the property. No such interest was expressed. Consequently a portion of the former barracks has been licensed by my Department to Westmeath GAA Board for use as a training centre. Discussions are at an advanced stage with the Board in relation to the possible lease...