Results 25,121-25,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: There is €1 million out of €35.2 million.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Yes, we are just over €2 million. The value for money review was published in November 2012. Among the recommendations outlined in it was the retention of an Army reserve and Naval Service reserve with a combined strength of approximately 4,000 personnel. A major reorganisation of the reserve was initiated, overseen by a joint civilian and military high-level implementation group....

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: These are relatively small amounts of money and there is no major saving there.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Allow me to answer that because the Deputy has raised some fair questions. First, like many others paid by the State, the pay levels within the Defence Forces are subject to pay agreements that are in place. Consequently, I cannot simply decide that the Defence Forces will be paid more overnight without a negotiation to do that with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Incidentally, Deputy Ó Fearghaíl or Sinn Féin - I cannot remember which - raised an issue regarding pay on Question Time. There is an ongoing assessment under way with regard to some of the pay and allowances within the Defence Forces. Its purpose is to assess whether they are at appropriate levels and obviously, when those assessments are finalised, I will make the decisions...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The answer to the Deputy's question is yes, I am happy to meet PDFORRA. We were due to meet before the end of the year and I will try to do that but if not, it will be early in the new year. I of course am happy to meet its representatives, as PDFORRA represents the vast majority of the people for whom I have responsibility. I look forward to meeting them.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: When I attended the PDFORRA conference a couple of months ago, I made it clear that I was looking forward to meeting them. One thing I could not discuss with them in detail was the 21-year rule until a recommendation was actually received. Decisions should not be made on that subject from a political perspective. It needs to be that a recommendation is made that is then discussed. I...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I will provide the Chairman with some figures in this regard. This year, up to 10 November, a total of 111 officers and 174 enlisted personnel have been promoted. The non-commissioned officer, NCO, competitions have just concluded and it is expected that promotions from the panels formed will commence in the near future on or about 15 December. It is anticipated that once promotions...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The straight answer to that is I do not think there is any connection between the payment and lariam. We can check the matter and revert to the Deputy. The note I have states that payments under subhead A3 comprise disability pensions and gratuities granted to former members of the Defence Forces. Currently, there are 774 recipients. Currently, 225 allowances are paid to dependants for...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The original Estimate was €9.4 million and the actual outturn will be €8.27 million so we will make a saving.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is coming from drawdown. This is essentially a demand-led payment structure. The disability pensions and the gratuities granted to both former Defence Forces personnel and to their dependants is essentially on the basis of everybody who is claiming, but we have not changed the rate.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Essentially, we made a prudent estimate to make sure all claims would be covered. When one has demand-led schemes, as in the Department of Health, one essentially makes a guesstimate at the start of each year on the basis of patterns that have emerged in recent years. In some cases we have got them wrong and the Estimates are either slightly too high or slightly too low. On the previous...

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The amount is slightly down - the Estimate was €600,000 and we anticipate that the actual expenditure will be €562,000.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: This figure is quite considerably down but we always have to put a figure in at the start of each year in case somebody wins a compensation claim and there is a big bill attached to it. The figure was €200,000 and we expect the actual outturn to be only approximately €8,000. The payments relate to death-in-service overseas and I am pleased to say nobody has died this year.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is savings that essentially go into plugging a hole where we have underestimated. In subhead A2, we had a shortfall of just over €6 million, and the savings go into reducing the shortfall, which at the end turns out to be approximately €4.8 million.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: I understand Deputy Farrell's point but this subhead applies purely to pensioners of the Permanent Defence Force.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: On the issue raised, my official has informed me that the Defence Forces are looking to see how medical examinations could be facilitated at more convenient times. The point that was made to the committee has been taken on board and we are trying to do something to facilitate members of the Reserve Defence Force. It makes sense.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: The savings are not significant on subhead A1. The provision is for €17.951 million and that is more or less what we are paying. I do not think any savings are proposed in that regard. There are significant savings later on pay and allowances but not for civil servants in the Department.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Civilian employees and civil servants are two separate categories.

Select Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2014
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Supplementary)
Vote 36 - Defence (Supplementary) (3 Dec 2014)

Simon Coveney: Exactly, some civilians are attached to units.