Results 2,601-2,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: Following a conference at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 26 April, organised by the United States to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine, particularly Ukraine's defence capabilities, as well as to pledge and co-ordinate further support to Ukraine, Ireland was invited to join the newly-formed Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Meetings of the group took place on 23 May and 15 June. On both...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: There were many countries in attendance who are not in NATO. We are not neutral in this war. I have used my voice around the Security Council table and within the EU and the Council of Europe to look at ways in which we can promote peace and bring an end to this madness. I have been to Turkey and have spoken to the Turkish foreign minister about that country's efforts, co-ordinating with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: However, all the advice we are getting at the moment suggests there is no appetite in the Kremlin at this time for a peaceful outcome in the short term in the form of a ceasefire.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I wish we could use our voice to bring about a ceasefire and peace. However, anybody who looks at Russia's actions will see it has sent a signal to western leaders meeting this week by way of the brutality of what it did yesterday. This is not a country that is seeking peace. It is a country that is seeking to dominate its neighbour and bring Ukraine back into the Russian sphere of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I assure the House that nobody is seeking to use the war in Ukraine to do anything apart from to have an honest conversation in respect of what our security needs are, how we respond to them and how, as a member of the European Union and a contributing state on this Continent, we can contribute to peace and security on the Continent of Europe. That is a perfectly valid debate to have....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have previously acknowledged the staffing challenges in the Defence Forces, both in specialist and general roles, and a range of measures are being implemented to tackle these. In this regard, I recently launched the new Defence Forces recruitment rebrand, entitled Be More with the Irish Defence Forces.  By demonstrating the opportunities and skills a career in the Defence Forces...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy referred to my recent visit to Cork. I live there, actually. I live a couple of miles from the naval base, so I visit it regularly. "No" is the straight answer to the Deputy's question. I was not informed that another ship would potentially be tied up. We are seeking to decommission three ships in the Naval Service. That is well known at this stage. To replace them, we have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: First, I met RACO on this and other issues last week and we had a discussion on it. However, the process that involves civil and military management needs to conclude first in terms of understanding the Chief of Staff and the General Staff's concerns around ensuring we have a functioning military and learning from international experience around what is and is not appropriate, where...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: This is just a sequencing issue. We need to conclude the work between civil and military management first so we actually know what we are consulting on. My understanding is that work is now very close to completion and I gave an assurance to RACO last week that then we would move to the structure around proper consultation to ensure everybody understands the rationale for all the decisions....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government. As Minister for Defence, I welcomed the publication of the report of the commission on 9 February last.  The commission has undertaken a significant body of work that encompassed wide-ranging terms of reference.  The report contains 69 main recommendations with a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Reports (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: Nobody is dithering and neither is anybody denying we have had significant recruitment and retention pressures in the Naval Service for many months now. We have discussed this both publicly and privately many times so let us get back to the real issue here, which is delivering a comprehensive Government decision on the back of a really good commission report that gives us an evidence base to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure about recognising that the commission's recommendations on pay would be the equivalent of a Labour Court recommendation but certainly they need to be taken seriously, regardless of what equivalence there may be. The Government needs to deliver on the recommendations of this commission report. It is credible and badly needed. It has exposed significant capacity gaps in our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister for Defence does not make a final decision, certainly not on their own, in regard to pay and allowances in the Defence Forces and how the military is treated in terms of public sector pay policy. That requires the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform's approval. The Deputy will have seen for example the Naval Service supports on going to sea...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: EU Directives (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: That is a fair question. As the Deputy will be aware, the Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, which transposed the EU working time directive into Irish law. The Government, however, has committed to amending this Act and bringing both the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána within the scope of its provisions...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for giving me an opportunity to update the House on this issue. I am fully committed to ensuring that every member of the Defence Forces has the right to undertake their duties in a safe environment underpinned by dignity and equality. As the Deputy is aware, there was extensive engagement with the Women of Honour group and other stakeholders on the establishment of an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I, too, want to recognise the significance of that documentary and the bravery of those who contributed to it and, indeed, what that triggered, which was that many others were willing to come forward and speak either in confidence to me at meetings that we set up for that purpose, or speak out publicly. In terms of the judge-led independent review, we will get the interim report that I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: There is a lot happening in this space. Last October, I introduced a number of interim support measures for both serving and former members of the Defence Forces impacted by unacceptable behaviour in the workplace. I appointed a confidential contact person, CCP, within an external independent company, Raiseaconcern, to assist both serving and former members of the Defence Forces. The CCP...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy is aware, the Commission on the Defence Forces has undertaken a significant body of work encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference, including an examination of the evolution of remuneration systems and structures currently in place in the Defence Forces. The report makes a number of recommendations in this regard, including on pay structures, pay review, pay bargaining and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s participation in European defence policy takes place within the framework of the European Union's Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP), which sets the EU’s policy in the field of defence and crisis management, including defence cooperation and coordination between Member States.  CSDP provides the EU with the capacity to undertake peacekeeping and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: In March 2022, the Government approved the continued deployment of up to twenty (20) members of the Permanent Defence Force for service with EUTM Mali up to March 2023.  Defence Forces personnel are primarily deployed at Koulikoro and Bamako, but deploy as part of Combined Mobile Advisory Training Teams within Mali.  EUTM Mali is an integral part of the EU’s...