Results 5,401-5,420 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Personnel leave the Permanent Defence Force for a number of reasons including on age grounds, at the end of contract and voluntary discharges.  More than 50% of those who leave the Defence Forces do so with some form of pension. This can make taking up a position in the private sector very attractive where a full-time position, even at the same rates as those in the Defence Forces, could...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 125 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 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 to the greatest extent possible to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: 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 on an ‘as available’ basis including the provision of air ambulance services to the Health Service Executive (HSE).  The HSE’s Aeromedical Desk in its National Emergency Operations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise the Deputy that statutory exemptions from certain employment legislation come within the remit of my colleague, the Minister Enterprise, Trade and Employment and therefore it is not within my gift as Minister for Defence to review jurisdictional matters relating to complaints made to the Workplace Relations Commission.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Mental Health Wellbeing Strategy for the Defence Forces, which was launched by me on 2nd December 2020, recognises the unique nature of the experience of military life in Ireland. The aim of the strategy is to provide a coordinated and effective mental health and support system for the personnel of the Defence Forces through the adoption of a series of measures between 2020 and 2023. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Meetings (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Defence format [(FAC) Defence], which I plan to attend, is scheduled to take place on the 16th of November in Brussels. While the agenda has yet to be agreed, it is expected that this meeting will continue discussions on the Strategic Compass. The Strategic Compass is a 2-year process designed to provide enhanced direction for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Military Service Allowance (MSA) was first introduced in 1979 to compensate Defence Forces personnel for the special disadvantages associated with military life. Arising from a recommendation made in 1990 by the Commission on Remuneration and Conditions of Service in the Defence Forces (the Gleeson Commission), MSA was made pensionable in the case of personnel retiring on or after 1 August...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve, the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).  The White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the RDF and confirms that its primary role is to augment the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in crisis situations. The strength of the Reserve...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide 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 (ATCA) role.  In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: As of 2 September 2021, Ireland is contributing 574 personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 349 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 134 personnel.Ireland also contributes...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise that there are no plans to sell or dispose of the lands referred to by the Deputy.  The Department of Defence does not ordinarily enter into bilateral agreements to dispose of property by way of private treaty. Where lands are identified as being surplus to military requirements, the Department of Defence is required to determine if the Land Development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 232 together. It has always been clear that Brexit would be profoundly disruptive for the island of Ireland as a whole. The UK’s decision to leave the Customs Union and Single Market produced inevitable and unwelcome consequences for the island. Even with the Withdrawal Agreement and Trade and Cooperation Agreement in place, the seamless...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Today, Thursday 30 September, is the final day of Ireland’s Presidency of the UN Security Council, a role we held for the month of September 2021. During this time, we chaired all meetings of the Council and were responsible for managing its agenda. The Council Programme of Work for September included meetings on a range of important issues, including Libya, Sudan, South Sudan,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. The New Decade, New Approach Agreement (NDNA) reached in January 2020 was a very significant shared achievement by the parties in Northern Ireland together with the British and Irish Governments, in restoring the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement to operation. As outlined in the Programme for Government, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government continues to prioritise immigration issues in our relationship with the United States. This includes working towards secure legal pathways for Irish people to live and work in the US as well as addressing the situation of undocumented Irish. We have continued to raise these matters, including but not limited to the E3 Visa Bill, in our engagement with successive US...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The current programmes through which Afghan nationals can re-locate to Ireland are the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, managed by the Department of Children, Equality Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, and the family reunification and international protection programmes managed by the Department of Justice.  Last month I announced, together with the Minister for Children,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Afghanistan has been a priority in the work of the Security Council, including during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council in September. In these discussions, Ireland has called for a peaceful and negotiated political settlement, and we have placed a very strong emphasis on the need for any new administration to guarantee the protection of civilians, to fulfil...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Visits (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I hope to visit a number of countries in the Middle East, including Israel, before the end of this year. Preparations are ongoing in this regard. I have so far made four working visits to Israel and Palestine as Minister for Foreign Affairs. I have clearly outlined Ireland’s position on the Middle East Peace Process during these visits and will continue to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland was negotiated and agreed by this UK Government and by the European Union. It is the result of over four years of difficult negotiation with compromises on all sides. It was designed to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement, including avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland, to protect vital all-island supply chains, and to ensure the integrity...