Results 5,141-5,160 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities advise that, as of 4th October 2021 there were 135 qualified aircraft maintenance technicians and 34 qualified avionics technicians currently serving in the Air Corps. In addition, there are 69 apprentices, 25 of whom are undergoing basic military training along with 3 Direct Entry Aircraft Technicians.  The remaining 44 apprentices are undergoing their...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (19 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: Civilian employees are employed by the Department of Defence to support the operational capabilities of the Defence Forces. My Department recently undertook an open competition in July 2021 to recruit twelve electricians across eleven different locations. A previous recruitment campaign to recruit carpenters & plumbers took place in 2019. The recruitment of civilian...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 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) and confirms that its primary role is to augment the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in crisis situations. The White Paper acknowledges that there may be professional skills that on occasion may not be readily available in the PDF and outlines an intention to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 530 together. The Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary defence and security role. It also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks including the provision of air ambulance services to the Health Service Executive (HSE). As recently outlined to the Deputy, the 2015 Government Decision, which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: A review of contracts of service of personnel who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 1994 has been conducted by civil and military staff and a draft report has been prepared outlining various options and a number of recommendations. These recommendations require Department of Public Expenditure and Reform consideration from a costs and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that my Department has received a request for the use of this building and that my officials have sought additional information from the applicant in order to allow for the appropriate consent to be granted.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am assuming that the Deputy's question relates to capital building investment at the DFTC, Curragh Camp. The table below sets out the information sought. 2019 2020 2021 Refurbishment of Block 7 Plunkett Refurbishment of Block 7 Plunkett Refurbishment of Block 7 Plunkett Replace Ammo Depot Building Replace...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Offices (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 535 together. The Department’s Expenditure in the past ten years to date on new or refurbished office accommodation and related equipment for those offices is as follows: 2011 - 2019€ Zero Expenditure 2020 €1,435.84  Rental costs of Porta Cabins to provide for temporary accommodation during refurbishment of the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Funding (14 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Senator noted, the Asgard IIsank in 2008. The Government subsequently decided that the national sail training scheme operated by Coiste an Asgard would be discontinued, as recommended in the report of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes. Significant capital and ongoing costs are associated with investing in a national sail training vessel and a...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Departmental Funding (14 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and showing an interest in it. He appreciates the value of sail training and the opportunities it opens up for many young people who may otherwise not have the opportunity to benefit from it. I have spoken to many people, some of whom I know well, who say that their time on the Asgardchanged the direction of their lives as a result of the people...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (14 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: Since the fraudulent presidential elections of August 2020, the regime of Alexander Lukashenko has used violence and fear to silence dissent. Arbitrary detention of political dissidents is a key element of the repression, and reports from NGOs now suggest that there are over 800 political prisoners in Belarus. This is an unacceptable state of affairs, and Ireland has been highly vocal on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant. The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online and 8 weeks for Passport Express for...

Financial Resolutions 2021 - Financial Resolution No. 2: General (Resumed) (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Duncan Smith. He has given me a good introduction for my response. I propose to deal with the two Departments for which I have responsibility. I have just under nine minutes to do so. I will deal with the Department of Defence first. The total allocation for the defence sector for 2022 is €1.107 billion comprising €836 million for Vote 36 and €271...

Seanad: British Government Legacy Proposals: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank Senator Currie, in particular, and other Senators for bringing this motion on the British Government’s legacy proposals to the attention of this House, and for their strong and emotive engagement on the issue. It is clear this House shares the unanimous view of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Government that the British Government proposals cannot be the basis of a way...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Inquiries (13 Oct 2021)

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. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit, and the necessarily rigorous processing that applies to citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (13 Oct 2021)

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. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit, and the necessary rigorous processing that applies to citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 123 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 application to the applicant. The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (12 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: The reconciliation fund, which is administered by my Department, provides support for civil society organisations working to promote reconciliation and create better understanding between communities in Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. The fund has supported over 3,000 projects with more than €60 million in grant funding since its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205, 206, 211 and 217 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has already issued passports to the applicants.