Results 5,261-5,280 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can assure Deputies that appropriate action will be taken on the on the foot of recommendations from a review that needs to be independent and comprehensive. I am committed to making sure that happens. I am committed to ensuring the women who have been brave enough to come forward are part of the process of setting up that review mechanism to make sure everybody has full confidence in it....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: -----to try to deal effectively with bullying and harassment in the Defence Forces. Clearly, that has not resulted-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: -----in the kind of change that is needed. That is why this fundamental review is now needed to make sure we get it right this time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: For the record, I am not making any assumptions in my statements today. If people took that from what I said earlier, I say that I am not prejudging any outcomes from an independent review. That will be a matter for a robust and independent process that involves skilled and experienced people. They will make their judgments and they will make their recommendations. We will deal with the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for the questions, which are linked to Deputy Connolly’s question, and this gives me a bit of time to answer it. I propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 103 together. In accordance with the terms of section 22 of the Protected Disclosure Act 2014, an annual report on the total number of protected disclosures made in the preceding year is prepared and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92, 94, 95, 108, 112, 130, 131, 137 and 142 together. As the Deputy will be aware, a number of other Deputies have submitted questions on this important matter, to which I have responded.  In that respect, the House will be aware of the actions being taken to establish an independent review, which will be undertaken...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: We are investing in accommodation. In fact, we invested in accommodation in the Curragh Camp in recent years and I visited the upgraded accommodation in the past year or 18 months. We will continue to do that under the capital investment programme that is being rolled out. I take the Deputy's point regarding the Border issues and ensuring there is knowledge of the challenges that come...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Never let it be said that the Deputy was not speaking for Dún Laoghaire. He requested in a previous parliamentary question that the replacement of theLÉ Eithne would be twinned with Dún Laoghaire. I reiterate that I cannot make a commitment on this matter now but will bear it in mind when those decisions are made. The Deputy will be aware that official celebrations marking...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: We have Defence Forces officers in headquarters in respect of the ongoing EU-led operation in the Mediterranean. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to send a ship abroad right now, either on a humanitarian mission for a sustained period or to be part of EU operations in the Mediterranean. That is because we have had recruitment and retention issues in the Naval Service, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The next question will deal with this issue in more detail. As I said earlier, however, we are taking this issue seriously. I want to acknowledge the courage of the women in the Women of Honour group, and the many women currently serving in the Defence Forces, who came forward and spoke with me in the way they did in the context of their experiences. I want to give reassurance to those...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: If anybody doubts the benefits of sail training, there are some interesting programmes in different parts of the world. From what I have seen, theSpirit of New Zealandis probably the best of them. Some people have perceptions of privilege around sail training, but it is the opposite. I have met a number of people for whom their service on the Asgard II, for example, changed the direction...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are complexities to building a boat. There may be more value for money in purchasing a vessel that is kitted out and suitable for this purpose. We have encountered complexities in the past building vessels. We need to be cautious that if we are contributing taxpayers' money, it represents full value for money and we partner with organisations that can provide transparency and good...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take questions Nos. 90 and 106 together. The programme for Government committed to an independent commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces. This commission was subsequently established by the 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: On the Deputy's last question, there is a governance and high-level command and control structure in the Defence Forces discussion within the remit. This involves, to a limited extent, the relationship of the Department of Defence. I am aware that the former Chief of Staff and the Secretary General of the Department had been working on an agreed approach towards that issue and have fed this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I do not have legal advice on that but I can get it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that WRC rulings are in the public domain and that the adjudicator, in his December 2020 ruling on two complaints brought by an individual, upheld one complaint on the grounds of gender discrimination in respect of promotion, owing to the treatment of absences in access to promotion contrary to section 8(1) of the Employment Equality Acts, 1998 to 2015.  The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: On this case, I received a recommendation from the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, which ruled that a person was not discriminated against when it was subsequently determined by the WRC that they were discriminated against. When a Minister gets a report from an ombudsman's office and disagrees with it, he or she undermines the ombudsman's authority and credibility. I have to trust in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy's comments on the impact that a small minority can have on large numbers of people and a potentially corrosive atmosphere within an organisation are very pertinent and is at the core of what we need to deal with.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: That is likely to be part of the review because everything has to be on the table. My experience of the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces office has been positive, by and large. It has to make judgment calls all the time. Cases are regularly referred to the ombudsman. The office makes recommendations, which the Minister has to accept or reject. The role of an ombudsman in the Defence...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. I will happily meet him offline on this issue to give a fuller and more detailed briefing than I am able to give on the floor today, as things progress. As the he will be aware, the Asgard II sank in 2008 and the national sail training programme run by Coiste an Asgard was subsequently wound up. I understand a number of organisations are involved in sail training...