Results 5,981-6,000 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The answer is that there is an ongoing review so we will not determine an outcome until it is concluded. In 2019, agreement was reached with PDFORRA that all privates and corporals recruited post 1994 would be allowed to continue in service to 31 December 2022. I know that is the timeline many people are concerned about now. Alternatively, they could continue until they reach the age of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: From now on I will start to challenge some of these generalisations, such as the bald statement that morale in the Defence Forces is at an all-time low. We have challenges in the Defence Forces and we also have fantastic people. Morale is not at an all-time low. I spent nearly 24 hours on a naval vessel travelling from Dublin to Cork on patrol the other day and morale was really positive...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: We can look at many people joining the Defence Forces whose parents were previously in the service, so there are also many people absolutely recommending a career there. We need to focus on ensuring balance in the discussion. The survey to which the Deputy refers highlighted that pay in the private sector is one of a number of reasons some personnel leave the Defence Forces. There are,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The first priority is to ensure people get a rewarding return from their career in the Defence Forces. That means constant development of skill sets. It means certainty of income. It means adventure, which is what many people join the Defence Forces for. It means serving their country with pride. Of course, if people want to leave the Defence Forces having served there for a period of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. This is quite a precise question. I assume the Deputy is referring to paragraph 12 of Conditions Governing the Appointment of Medical Officers in the Defence Forces Medical Corps 2013 which is attached to CCR 451. These terms and conditions, specific to the 2013 medical officers recruitment campaign, were agreed with the representative association. They provided that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The starting position that must be understood is there was an exception to the normal terms and conditions in 2013 in an effort to deal with the recruitment and retention issues at that time, which were clearly an issue. There was not deemed to be the same difficulty or pressure point in 2017 and 2018 when the terms and conditions were essentially returned to normal. During that process,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: We will take a look at it now that the Deputy has raised it. As I said before, terms and conditions for any Defence Forces competitions are always individually developed and consulted on. Terms and conditions for such competitions, including for medical officers, can have materially different terms and conditions to what was previously provided for, depending on the recruitment and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I did not get a chance to hear that meeting this morning but I will certainly look at the transcripts. I assure the Deputy that from my perspective the challenges we face with recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces are certainly not irreversible. We must apply ourselves to resolve this issue. The overall number in the Defence Forces is 1,000 people short of where we should be. We...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. Our preference is, of course, to keep people in the Defence Forces for as long as possible. As a serving member approaches retirement, either on age grounds or voluntarily, a range of supports is made available to him or her by the Defence Forces. Transition to civilian life courses are conducted by personnel support service teams throughout the year aimed at personnel...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Further initiatives arising from the 2015 White Paper on Defence will be developed. I was very much involved in ensuring the White Paper was quite ambitious in this area. Initiatives include the implementation of systems, procedures and scheduled training to ensure preparedness for the transition to civilian life after military service, the development of a career platform or portal for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 26 together. I presume the Deputy is alluding to the review of technical pay in the Defence Forces which was provided for in the Public Service Agreement 2010 - 2014 (Croke Park Agreement). The Deputy will wish to be aware that the Minister for Public Expediture and Reform on 25 May 2021 conveyed sanction for the implementation of the findings of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 and Defence Force Regulations S6 provided for the establishment of representative associations for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The associations that have since been established are RACO (for commissioned officers) and PDFORRA (for enlisted personnel). The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) for members of the Permanent Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 43 together. The Programme for Government committed to an independent Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces and include the following matters; - Arrangements for the effective defence of the country at land, air and sea. - Structure and size of the Defence Forces encompassing capabilities, structures and staffing. -...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 28 and 52 together. As of 8 June 2021, Ireland is contributing 564 personnel to 10 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 337 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was published on the 4th of July 2019. The Report was accepted in full by the Government at that time and, to facilitate implementation, an extensive High Level Plan titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces – Phase One” was also agreed and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Programme (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The purpose of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020 is to make a number of miscellaneous amendments to the Defence Act to update certain provisions in order to better reflect the current operational practices of the Defence Forces. The principal issues dealt with by this legislation relate to overseas operations as well as removing provisions in the Defence Act relating to the enlistment of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 46 together. The survey highlighted by the Deputy, mentions a number of matters which are being actively addressed in the normal course of business of the Department on an ongoing basis. A serving member can choose to leave the Permanent Defence Force for a number of reasons. A buoyant employment economy can also pose problems in the retention...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 32 and 33 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. To this end, it is vital 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Maritime Jurisdiction (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: At the outset let me state that under international law other State's naval ships or vessels are within their rights to carry out a training exercise in Ireland's EEZ or to traverse the Irish EEZ. This is not in any way an infringement of our national territory. In this context it is not unusual for naval ships or vessels of other States to carry out training exercises within Ireland's EEZ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (29 Jun 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. In this context, I would highlight and acknowledge the security role of the Naval Service, a role which by its nature can go unrecognised or unacknowledged a great number of times. While the main day-to-day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in...