Results 4,381-4,400 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: 'Global Ireland 2025' providesa cross-departmental roadmap to develop a broader and deeper platform to leverage Ireland's engagement globally. This initiative will continue to support efforts to grow and diversify export markets, inward investment and tourism and underpin economic recovery, in close coordination with the relevant State Agencies. In addition, the strategy will ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to my response to PQ 3457/22.The Department is currently carrying out a review of the workplace arrangements on 17 June 2020, which will be completed by the end of this month.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: It has been the consistent position of the Government that there should be effective investigations into all Troubles-related deaths, regardless of the perpetrator. The rule of law and the protections afforded by the European Convention on Human Rights must apply equally to everyone and must be upheld, and this principle is at the core of the Stormont House framework. The Stormont House...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Department's Security Council campaign team was working in a large open plan area of Iveagh House throughout the day on 17 June 2020. When the result of the UN Security Council vote was announced and it became apparent that Ireland had won a seat in the first round, Covid-19 guidelines were momentarily not followed. The then Secretary General acknowledged the mistake on 18 June 2020....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware the Department is currently carrying out a review of the workplace arrangements on 17 June 2020. This review will be completed by the end of this month. A child was present in a photograph uploaded on Twitter at the time and the review will address this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware the Department is currently carrying out a review of the workplace arrangements on 17 June 2020. This review will be completed by the end of this month. A child was present in the photograph and the review will address this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department is currently carrying out a review of the workplace arrangements on 17 June 2020. The review will be completed by the end of this month and will include a timeline of that day.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy agenda over a ten year planning horizon and covers all aspects of defence within the broader security policy framework. Since publication of the White Paper in 2015, a total of 95 separate projects have been identified for completion over a ten-year period. To provide flexibility, projects may be sub-divided or merged, changing the top-line...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 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 and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered in the context of the lifetime of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence 2015 set out the defence policy framework for a ten year period. The White Paper, in addressing Air Corps capability, provided for the replacement of the Cessnas and Casa 235s fleets. The Cessnas have now been replaced by three Pilatus PC-12 aircraft in the Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) role providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department formally recognises two Veterans Associations which represent all former personnel. They are Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel, and the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA). My Department engages on an ongoing basis with these veterans’ organisations and has entered into Service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was published on the 4th of July 2019. The Report was accepted in full by the Government at that time and an extensive High Level Plan titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces” was also agreed and published on the same date. The high level plan comprised 15 individual projects most...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 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 requires consideration from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to implications on costs and pensions. I recently secured an agreement with the Minister for Public Expenditure and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised me that the Defence Forces regularly receive requests from schools for career talks and have themselves begun to actively engage with schools to conduct career talks. These talks generally cover career opportunities available in both the enlisted and commissioned ranks across the three services (Army, Naval Service and Air Corps). Career talks cover the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main day to day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. The Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Training and education in the Defence Forces is conducted in line with national and international best practice, including the manner in which students are supported. On average, the Defence Forces conducts between 1,200 and 1,400 courses of training and education each year. The Defence Forces is committed to the promotion of lifelong learning and the accreditation of Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116, 132 and 151 together. The Programme for Government committed to the establishment of an independent commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces. The independent Commission on the Defence Forces was established by Government in December 2020 and its terms of reference provide for their examining and making recommendations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: For 2021, the total allocation provided to the Defence Sector was €1,072 million, comprising some €262 million for Vote 35 (Army Pensions) and €810 million for Vote 36 (Defence). The provisional end of year figures indicate that there was an overall Defence Sector gross underspend of over €25 million in 2021, approximately 2% of the Defence Sector allocation....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Commemorative Events (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection (MSPC) project is a joint Department of Defence and Defence Forces contribution to the Decade of Centenaries. The MSPC owes its origins to the decision of the Oireachtas of Saorstát Éireann in June 1923 to recognise and compensate wounded members, and the widows, children and dependents of deceased members of Óglaigh na...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jan 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. As the...