Results 25,441-25,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The EU agri-products ban by the Russian Federation earlier this year has direct and indirect impacts for the EU and Irish dairy sectors. At an EU level, two distinct camps can be identified; those for whom the Russian ban has an immediate and substantial effect and other countries mostly in Western Europe where the effects are less immediate. The Russian ban continues to have an acute...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 13 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have recently introduced a targeted Safety Scheme to assist farmers to upgrade the standard of safety on their farms. In that Scheme, I have specifically provided for the purchase of mobile cattle crushes, because of their value in helping to control large animals safely. However, it is important that this type of equipment is designed to the correct specification, as laid down by my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Health Product Regulatory Authority (HPRA) formerly the Irish Medicines Board is the statutory authority with responsibility for the quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Ireland. The Defence Forces Medical Corps is advised that the three anti-malarial medications licensed by the HPRA – Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline – can all have significant side...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: Participation in overseas peacekeeping missions is a key element of Ireland’s foreign policy and has been an important dimension in meeting Ireland’s international obligations as a member of the UN and the EU. Irish foreign policy is directed at supporting co-operative arrangements for collective security through the development of international organisations, especially the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have not held talks with the Minister for Finance, or the Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform regarding remuneration or conditions of employment in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The original decision of March 1987, to take the total compensation into consideration in deciding the rate of disability pension applicable in this case, was quashed on foot of a High Court Order of 23 November 1987, and a new review of the case was ordered to be undertaken. The individual’s solicitors were invited to make representations on his behalf and detailed representations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table. In relation to the figures in the table, the serving strength figures for 2013 and 2014 are the Whole Time Equivalent strengths of Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. The fluctuation in strength is based on the serving strength at the end of the preceding year. The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at 30 September 2014, the latest date for which figures are available, was 9,200. This comprises 7,413 Army, 757 Air Corps and 1030 Naval Service. 556 (6.04%) are women. The following tables contain the above mentioned strength broken down into Army, Naval Service and Air Corps by gender and rank groupings. The establishment ceiling of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (13 Nov 2014)

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: Overseas Missions (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 and 102 together. As of 01 November 2014, Ireland is contributing approximately 418 Defence Forces personnel to 11 missions throughout the world. Full details of all personnel currently serving overseas are listed in the following tabular statement. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 107 together. I am satisfied that the level of resources available to the Defence Forces, including, training, equipment and up to date technology, enables the Defence Forces to carry out their roles both at home and overseas. All elements of Defence expenditure were examined for the Comprehensive Review of Expenditure in 2011. In response to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Training (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: Training and education of personnel at all levels are vital activities in any defence force as they enable such personnel to achieve their required standard of operational effectiveness. The Defence Forces conducts training and education under three broad categories namely skills training, career training and education and collective training. Skills training is the medium through which the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The resources available to the Defence Forces to carry out their operational commitments are kept under constant review. I am satisfied that the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps and Naval Service, have the necessary resources to meet these commitments. With regard to surveillance, the Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron carries out aerial surveillance of territorial waters using the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (13 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to maintaining the stabilised strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, at 30 September 2014, the latest date for which details are available, was 9,200 comprising 7,413 Army, 757 Air Corps and...

Seanad: Fisheries Sector: Statements (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have made it clear that I will not get into the detail of any one application. There are a number of applications-----

Seanad: Fisheries Sector: Statements (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: With respect, I know what gill disease is and I know the consequences of it and the complications around it, but I will not get into talking about the detail of any one licence application because that would be totally inappropriate.

Seanad: Fisheries Sector: Statements (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am afraid the Senator's questions were directly related to one particular application. Because that application is being considered-----

Seanad: Fisheries Sector: Statements (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: Because that application is being considered at the moment by those who will advise me on the science around that application, I am barred from discussing it. I have made that very clear many times. Senator Brennan raised the issue of apprenticeship opportunities. We are looking for a new generation of fishermen and there are grant-aid supports for that. Part of that will be training...

Seanad: Fisheries Sector: Statements (12 Nov 2014)

Simon Coveney: We have implemented nearly all the recommendations of the joint Oireachtas report. The main recommendation was that there would be a body that would represent inshore fishermen so that inshore fishermen would have a much-increased input into the development of policy that affects them and their industry and that is exactly what we are doing now. For the first time ever we have introduced...