Results 3,121-3,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I wish to reiterate that the Government remains absolutely committed to the advancement of the RDF. The White Paper on Defence is quite clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve and that requirement will be addressed. The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Expenditure on the Defence Forces is managed through Vote 36 - Defence, with all operational outputs delivered from a single set of forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Vote 36 - Defence provides funding for the pay and allowances of members of the Defence Forces, civilian employees and Departmental staff, ongoing Defence Forces operational and standing costs, the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is continuing to provide strong political and practical support for Ukraine and we continue to assert Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. My Department, Civil Defence, and the Defence Forces have been providing a number of supports for Ukraine. While Ireland has constructively abstained on the lethal equipment package to support Ukraine, we are paying our full...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for my Department. A wide range of medical services are provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force including an annual medical examination, sick parades, GP services, prescription services, laboratory services, physiotherapy, chiropody, radiology, ophthalmic examinations, in-patient and outpatient...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that a range of actions have been taken to address recruitment issues in the Defence Forces. These include a number of projects undertaken to bolster the attractiveness of a career in the Defence Forces. The recent Report of the Commission on Defence Forces makes a range of recommendations in this area, which will all be considered. The Report proposes...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Conflicts (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 38 together. Ireland currently has Defence Forces personnel deployed in two (2) separate missions in Mali, which is part of the Sahel region. In addition to Mali, the Sahel region also comprises Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania and Niger. The Government has approved the continued deployment of up to 14 Defence Forces personnel to participate in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 30 together. The Government remains fully committed to addressing pay and conditions in the Defence Forces. As the Deputy is aware, the current public service pay agreement, ‘Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022’, provides for increases in pay and allowances to all public servants, including...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 23 and 25 together. I have previously acknowledged the ongoing staffing challenges in the Defence Forces and to tackle these a range of recruitment and retention measures continue to be taken. The Defence Forces continue to target General Service Recruits, Cadets, Air Corps Apprentice Aircraft Technicians, and specialists for the Army, Air Corps,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 58 together. Ireland's defence policy is set out in the White Paper on Defence (2015) and the White Paper Update (2019). Both the White Paper and the White Paper Update were based on security environment assessments carried out by interdepartmental groups. These threat assessments indicated a low probability of a conventional military attack on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) provides a formal mechanism for the PDF Representative Associations (RACO and PDFORRA), to engage with the Official side. Under the Scheme, and having regard to commitments under national public service pay agreements, the Representative Associations can make representations in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have been advised by the Military Authorities that the Defence Forces gathers information for the protection of the security of the State and also for the force protection and security of the Defence Forces at home and abroad. Intelligence assessments are regularly produced on perceived and emerging security threats. The nature of intelligence activities is confidential; therefore, it would...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Union (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The recently approved Strategic Compass sets out an analysis of the strategic environment and, in particular, the security and defence challenges faced by the EU, including emerging threats, the increasingly contested multi-polar world and the strategic implications for the EU. Among the proposals contained in the Strategic Compass is the establishment of an EU Rapid Deployment Capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: In terms of cyber security, at national level, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has the lead role with inputs in the security domain from An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, is the primary authority responsible for cyber security in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 33 and 56 together. The European Peace Facility allows the EU to support the capabilities and resilience of the Ukrainian armed forces. In February, March and again in April of 2022, the Council of the European Union adopted assistance measures under the European Peace Facility (EPF). To date, a €1.5 billion package has been approved that will allow...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 37, 43 and 54 together. As of the 31st of March 2022, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stands at 8,366 personnel, consisting of 6,778 Army personnel, 733 Air Corps personnel and 855 Naval Service Personnel. The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces has made it clear that the level of ambition (LOA) for the Defence Forces must...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: A civil/military review of mandatory retirement ages and service limits of all ranks in the Permanent Defence Force has been conducted. The recommendations arising from the review require consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to implications on costs and pensions. In December 2021, I secured agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Historical Conflicts (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961 where "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion, came under attack. From the 13th to the 17th September the men of “A” Company endured almost continuous attack. At the end of the Siege, the men were taken into captivity until finally released on the 25th...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: My colleague Minister Ryan, as Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, retains overall responsibility for cyber security at a national level but, of course, the response to cyber threats is a whole-of-Government challenge with inputs in the security domain from An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. I would also note that An Garda Síochána has the role of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 52 together. A civil/military review of mandatory retirement ages and service limits of all ranks in the Permanent Defence Force has been conducted. The recommendations arising from the review require consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to implications on costs and pensions. In December 2021, I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The overall Defence Vote Group allocation is determined on an annual basis within the overarching budgetary framework and approved by Dáil Éireann, having regard to the level of resources available and defence policy requirements. Thus, for 2022, the total gross allocation provided to the Defence Vote Group, as set out in Budget 2022, is €1,107 million, comprising of...