Results 4,861-4,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Corps (18 Nov 2021)

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 Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The COVID-19 pandemic has had a very significant impact on Defence Forces recruitment, including to the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and has resulted in a pause to most collective induction processing and training activities. The Military Authorities have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94, 99, 109, 112 and 117 together. The strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), as at 31st October 2021, is 8,572 of which 601 are female. The detailed breakdown of the female strength requested will be provided separately. Strength v establishment Female Strength As of the same date, 541 personnel left the PDF. Personnel leave the Permanent Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emergency Planning (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Office of Emergency Planning (OEP) is a joint civil military office which supports me in my role as Chair of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. The Government Task Force coordinates emergency management policy across Government Departments and Agencies. The OEP acts as a focal point in matters of emergency planning and risk assessment and also acts to improve coordination of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 96 and 134 together. In July this year, the decision was taken to withdraw the two Defence Forces' personnel deployed to the MINURSO mission. This followed a review of current overseas deployments and a proposal from the General Staff. The withdrawal of the personnel arose from a need identified by the General Staff to consolidate current operational...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 107 together. 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 Force are considerably lower than in other employments. The age and fitness profile of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I believe it is critically important that the Defence Forces reflects the modern demographics of today’s Irish society. To that end, the Defence Forces is committed to supporting a diverse workforce through its various policies and strategies. The Defence Forces Diversity and Inclusion Strategy Statement and Action Plan, launched in 2016, commits to an inclusive workplace environment...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Priorities (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The situation at the Belarussian border has escalated further and presents a significant challenge for Poland, Lithuania and Latvia, but also more broadly to the European Union as a whole. The situation in Belarus was discussed earlier this week by EU Foreign and Defence Ministers and is clearly very serious. Ministers expressed solidarity with Polish, Latvian and Lithuanian colleagues at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The total gross allocation provided to the Defence Sector in Budget 2022 is €1,107 million, comprising of €836 million for Vote 36 (Defence) and €271 million for Vote 35 (Army Pensions). This allocation represents an overall increase of €35 million on 2021 and ensures that sufficient funding is available to the Defence Organisation to carry out all its assigned...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to advise the Deputy that tenders for the provision of a new Cadet school in the Defence Forces Training Centre are currently being examined with a view to a contractor being awarded the contracts in the coming weeks. I am advised that subject to contract award, the project should commence construction in early 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Since my appointment as Minister for Defence, in 2020, I have met with the Representative Association for Commissioned Officers (RACO) on four occasions: 17 July 2020, 20 October 2020, 17 December 2020 and 13 October 2021. I have met with the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) on five occasions: 17 July 2020, 20 October 2020, 17 December 2020, 24 May 2021...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: x (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: My colleague Minister Ryan, as Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, has overall responsibility for cyber security at a national level. The National Cyber Security Centre in his Department is the national response authority for cyber security incidents. But, of course, response to cyber threats is a whole-of-Government challenge with inputs in the security domain from An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Naval Service (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, that is RACO (in respect of Commissioned Officers) and PDFORRA (in respect of other ranks), to bring forward claims for improvements in the remuneration and terms and conditions for their members. At present a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government committed to an independent Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces. This independent Commission on the Defence Forces was subsequently established by Government in December 2020, with a mandate to report within 12 months. The Government also approved the Terms of Reference, based on the Programme for Government, and the membership...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence (2015) and the 2019 White Paper update, highlighted the importance of capability development and the necessity for continued renewal, upgrade and acquisition of defence military equipment and infrastructure. As part of Project Ireland 2040, the National Development Plan (NDP) set out the Government’s overarching investment strategy and capital budget for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). A key ongoing challenge for the RDF is to recruit and retain personnel and I am aware that there continues to be a shortfall between the current strength figures and those of the establishment. As outlined in the previous PQ referred to, the regulatory...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115, 118 and 131 together. Public Service pay policy is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform having regard to Public Sector Pay Agreements. Since the formation of the Government last year, members of the Defence Forces received a 2% increase on annualised salaries from 1stOctober 2020, in line with the terms of the Public Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Civil Defence (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Civil Defence is a volunteer based organisation that supports the Principal Response Agencies (i.e. An Garda Síochána , the HSE and local authorities), government departments and state agencies during national, regional and local emergency and non-emergency events. From 17 March 2020 to 31 October 2021 Civil Defence volunteers completed 9,184 COVID-19 related taskings while...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Development Plan (18 Nov 2021)

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 so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments. In accordance with the National Development Plan, the Department of Defence has received a capital envelope of €566...