Results 3,141-3,160 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The civil/military Joint Standing Committee on Medical Service Delivery is tasked with advancing the development of a sustainable, integrated medical service to meet the needs of the Defence Forces. As part of its work, it has committed to reviewing each key medical capability separately. The objective of each review is to evaluate and make recommendations regarding the most appropriate means...

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

Simon Coveney: The Strategic Compass is an exercise intended to provide enhanced political and strategic direction for EU security and defence policy for the next five to ten years. It 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...

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

Simon Coveney: The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was published in February 2022. It is a substantial report running to over 180 pages and 69 main recommendations many of which have sub recommendations. It recommends significant changes for the Defence Forces and Defence provision in Ireland. It covers high level Defence Forces structures, defence capabilities, organisation, culture and...

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

Simon Coveney: The next meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers’ configuration will take place in Brussels on Tuesday, 17 May 2022. While the agenda has not yet been finalised, it is expected that Ministers will receive briefings on a range of topics touching on the latest developments in the area of security and defence. Ministers will also hold discussions on the...

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

Simon Coveney: The granting of Annual Leave to members of the Permanent Defence Force is governed by Defence Forces Regulations. I am advised by the Military Authorities that under these Regulations, a member may carry forward annual leave not granted or availed of in the leave year concerned, to a subsequent leave year, subject to a maximum of 24 days in the case of Commissioned Officers; 19 days in the...

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

Simon Coveney: A key priority for me as Minister for Defence is my duty of care obligation to all members of the Defence Forces. I am fully committed to ensuring that every member has the right to be treated with dignity, equality and respect to carry out their duties in a safe workplace underpinned by a culture of zero-tolerance for any kind of bullying, discrimination, harassment or sexual abuse. The...

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

Simon Coveney: The Defence Act 1954, as amended, prohibits the unlawful wearing of any Defence Force uniform or dress. Section 264 of the Defence Act 1954 provides that it shall be an offence for any person (not being a member of the Defence Forces) to wear, without permission granted by or on behalf of the Minister for Defence, any uniform of the Defence Forces or any colourable imitation thereof....

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

Simon Coveney: Within the Defence Forces Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Statement and Action Plan, the Defence Forces recognises the need to ensure that the societal changes being witnessed in Ireland would also be reflected in the Defence organisation. The Strategy has clear focus on promoting respect for diversity and recognising the strength that inclusion can bring to the organisation. However,...

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

Simon Coveney: Irish Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed in two separate missions in Mali, the European Union Training Mission Mali (EUTM Mali) and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission (MINUSMA). EUTM Mali mission is an integral part of the EU’s comprehensive approach to the situation in Mali and Africa’s Sahel region. EUTM Mali complements other...

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

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments. The Department of Defence has received a capital allocation under the national development plan of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I travelled to the United States from 27 - 29 April for a series of engagements in Washington, D.C. and Boston. Over the course of the two-day programme, I met with senior officials from President Biden's Administration, engaged with a number of foreign policy organisations, and met representatives from the Irish American community. In Washington D.C., I participated in a public...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the complex nature of the FBR process, the large increase in applications...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 to 201, inclusive, and 213 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport applications to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 to 207, inclusive, together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: There are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. These applications include: - All Passport Express applications - Section 9 Certificate of Identity - First time adult online applications - Identity Verification Form - First time child online applications - Child Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 to 211, inclusive, together. There are currently 88,000 first time online passport applications in the Passport Service system. Of these, 39,000 (44%) are incomplete passport applications which require further action from the applicant. Figures show that consistently 40% of applications in the Passport Service system are incomplete. It is not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific case about which the Deputy has inquired, the Passport Service has issued a replacement Foreign Birth Registration Certificate to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service is working with the Deputy's office to clarify the information supplied for the application. Once clarification is received the Passport Service will review the application.

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

Simon Coveney: In line with the commitment laid out in the 2020 Programme for Government and the provisions of the memorandum on the European Peace Facility (EPF), approved by the Irish government in March 2021, Ireland’s financial contribution supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces via the EPF is directed towards providing non-lethal support such as food, medicine and personal protection equipment...

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

Simon Coveney: The European Union's common security and defence policy (CSDP) is a policy setting the EU’s framework in the field of defence and crisis management, including defence cooperation and coordination between Member States. Ireland is a strong proponent of the important role the EU can play in support of international peace and security and of the UN. It is essential, therefore, that...