Results 4,781-4,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: As I hope the Deputy knows, we have gone through a process and there was a formal review in regard to this issue. That report came to me. I am satisfied that it is a good report. It has also been shared with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, which has a role to play in terms of the cost implications and pension implications of the recommendations. We need to go through the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is important to put on the record that energy efficiency and decarbonisation are prioritised agendas already within the Defences Forces. The Defence Forces have been recording the energy consumption of their buildings and transport since 2007 and have reduced their energy consumption by 20% since the baseline year of 2009. The Defence Forces report their total final consumption to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are military-civil conversations going on all the time between the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence in terms of prioritising capital spend. There are plenty of conversational opportunities in terms of prioritising sub-sea surveillance systems, if that is what the Naval Service wants to do, but we need to do it together with it. In terms of anticipating what the maritime...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: While the Defence Forces is not the primary response agency for non-security-related emergencies, as defined in the framework for major emergency management, it provides the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its aid to civil authority role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy is aware, military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. For this reason compulsory retirement ages for ranks in the Permanent Defence Forces are considerably lower than in many other forms of employment. The age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: We are 1,000 people short. That is the straight answer to that question. We need to get back up to 9,500 and if the commission recommends more, we will have to consider that and we will do so, as a Government. On the 1994 contract issue, I have spoken to quite a few personnel who are affected by this. I have given them a commitment that we will give them clarity 12 months out, well before...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: In the next few weeks we are going to see what I hope will be a very considered and detailed report from the commission on the recruitment and retention issues more generally across the Defence Forces. We will have to take on board the commission's recommendations and try to be as effective as we can be in ensuring that a career in the defence forces is attractive and exciting and provides...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Climate Action Plan (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I have a long written answer here which I am not going to read out now but I will furnish the Deputy with a copy. The climate action plan follows the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 which commits Ireland to a legally binding target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions no later than 2050 and a reduction of 51% by 2030. These targets are a key pillar in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: On Deputy Richmond's questions, the UK position is outlined in what is known as a command paper, which it published during the summer. There is much in that command paper that the EU simply cannot facilitate but there are certainly elements that can be the basis of agreement. That is particularly the case as regards goods coming from Great Britain that we can show are staying in Northern...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. The White Paper on Defence sets out an ambitious programme of capital investment in the Naval Service, including the mid-life refit and upgrade of the P50 class of vessels and the replacement of the flagship LÉ Eithnewith a multi-role vessel, MRV. The MRV is an important element of the defence equipment development plan and is provided for in the Government's...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am more than aware of the recruitment and retention challenges across the Defence Forces and we are acting on those. I launched a recruitment campaign specifically targeting potential Naval Service recruits in Haulbowline in June. To date, 78 new personnel have been inducted, including 65 recruits, eight cadets, three direct entry specialists and two rejoined listed personnel. I am not...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Naval Service (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: To be clear, the subsea cables that connect Ireland internationally are not at the moment the legal responsibility of the Irish Naval Service. That being said, we want to improve capacity all the time and we are investing in our fleet in order to do that. We have invested significantly in our naval fleet in the last ten years and we will continue to do so. We have to do that in a way that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I take the point. It is important to make a distinction between the facility that we have set up for Oireachtas Members, which is for emergency passports, and the general call centre in the Passport Office that can be contacted by the general public and by Members’ offices. This service did not exist at all until we set it up. Many people had been coming directly to me and my office...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: If we turn that into the normal practice for following up passports, we will undermine the whole system. I am asking for some co-operation in that regard.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 13, 35, 40, 57, 65 and 70 together. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle might give me a bit of latitude with time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Of course. Talks are ongoing between the EU and the UK on the implementation of the protocol on Northern Ireland, which is part of the withdrawal agreement between the EU and the UK. The European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič and David Frost met most recently on Friday last. They agreed to continue and intensify talks at official level. They will meet...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 14 and 17 together. Passport service operations have been severely disrupted by Covid-19, as were many Government services. Notwithstanding this, the passport service has issued more than half a million passports to date in 2021 and 45% of simple adult renewals issue within one business week. Current passport processing times are ten working days for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: We know, because of the number of people who contact me in this House from all parties, that many people have had difficulty in getting their passports in the timelines they need or want. Approximately 7% of passport applications that have been given a delivery date can go beyond such a date. We are working intensively to correct that to make sure that if a date is given on the system, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I visited Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory in the first week of November. This was my fifth visit as Minister for Foreign Affairs. In respect of Ireland's role on the UN Security Council, I had useful exchanges on peace and security issues in the wider region, including the situation in Syria and Lebanon, and on regional security. I had detailed discussions with Israeli and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Many people predicted the new Israeli Government would not last very long because it is a coalition of eight different parties, some of which have diametrically opposing positions on certain issues. However, it has managed to pass a budget, not only for one year but for two, and the expectation now is it may last for a period of time. That is welcome because we need stability in the area...