Results 5,601-5,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that I only use the official phone provided by my Department for Government business.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The table below shows the total numbers of Freedom of Information requests responded to by my Department for the years listed. Year Number of FOI requests answered 2016 214 2017 262 2018 316 2019 364 2020 241 2021 to date 206 The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government of Ireland does not provide healthcare to Irish citizens residing outside the State. The Irish Embassy network globally has no role in the procurement of vaccines or the registration of Irish citizens for vaccinations abroad anywhere in the world. The roll-out of vaccinations in the Kingdom of Thailand is entirely a matter for the Government of Thailand....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I confirm that I have not used the applications mentioned for official communications in the last 18 months, nor have my advisors. A number of other officials across the Department use the Signal for IOS application on official phones in accordance with business needs. There is minimal use of the Slack for IOS application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Fishing Industry (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I continue to work closely with my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, to resolve the current difficulties regarding access for our fishing fleets to the waters around Rockall.   Over the course of the past year, I have outlined Ireland's position in relation to Rockall and considered possible  ways forward in contacts with both the UK and Scottish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The UK Government assertion of jurisdiction over the whole of Lough Foyle has never been accepted by Ireland and this position remains unchanged. Following discussions in 2011 between the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the British Foreign Secretary, the British and Irish Governments agreed to seek to resolve jurisdictional issues relating to both Lough Foyle and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: 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. To this end, it is vital that the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way. For this reason compulsory retirement ages for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the Disability Act 2005, statistics on the number of employees within my Department who have declared a disability are compiled and submitted to the National Disability Authority annually. The figures are compiled retrospectively during the first quarter of each year in respect of the previous year and therefore, the figures for 2021 are not available currently. In 2020,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Electoral Process (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces place a very high level of importance on ensuring that all Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel are provided with the opportunity to register for, and to receive, a postal vote. To that end, personnel are provided with access to registration forms, through the chain of command. Defence Forces personnel who wish to exercise their right to vote are required to complete a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flexible Work Practices (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Departments and Offices are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department, in line with other civil and public service organisations, has adhered to public health advice and to the Guidance for Public Service Employers published by the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Pension Provisions (9 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 (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The age limits for personnel wishing to enter the Defence Forces are as set out in Regulations made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended. There are currently no plans to change these age limits. An independently chaired review, which has examined recruitment practices and procedures, including entry criteria, in the Defence Forces, has now concluded and I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flexible Work Practices (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Departments and Offices are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department, in line with other civil and public service organisations, has adhered to public health advice and to the Guidance for Public Service Employers published by the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flexible Work Practices (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Departments and Offices are currently working in line with Government COVID-19 guidance, which provides for home working to continue where possible. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department, in line with other civil and public service organisations, has adhered to public health advice and to the Guidance for Public Service Employers published by the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The number of freedom of information requests responded to by my Department in each of the years 2016 to 2021are set out in the table below. - 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 No. of FOI requests received 120  155 140 166 104 107* Those that included...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Commissions of Investigation (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not incurred any expenditure on a commission of investigation in the past decade.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Appointments (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: There have been no formal or informal roles held by the person to whom the Deputy referred, in the name of my Department or associated agency in in the lifetime of this Government.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Government Communications (9 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that neither my special advisers nor I have used the services specified to communicate in the past 18 months. The services specified are not approved for official communication in my Department. 

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence (7 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Chair and members of the committee for the opportunity to come before them again today. The first thing I want to do is to apologise to all committee members for creating the circumstances that require a second hearing in a week on the same issue of the appointment of a special envoy. Due to the sloppiness of some of my answers to their legitimate questions last week we are back...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence (7 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Yes. I-----