Results 6,001-6,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Action 20 of the Civil Service Renewal Plan, which is overseen by the Civil Service Management Board, provides for a programme of organisational reviews to embed a culture of regular and objective assessments of the capacity and capability of each Department to achieve its objectives, and take the necessary action to close any gaps. An Organisational Capability Review of my Department is...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34, 39, 47 and 50 together. As we have all seen from recent incidents, Cyber security is an issue with very significant implications for governmental administration, for industry, for economic wellbeing and for the security and safety of citizens. It is a standing item on the agenda of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which I Chair where it...

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

Simon Coveney: The Deputy may wish to note that the Land Development Agency has confirmed to my Department that they are interested in acquiring the St. Bricins land holding for the purpose of developing housing provision. The necessary legal preparatory work to give effect to this transfer is well advanced. In this regard, I can confirm that the Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Programme includes...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 306 together. The primary function of training in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. The Defence Forces conduct training under four broad categories, namely; Leadership, Skills, Career, and Collective. Leadership Training is the medium through which the...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 297 together. Ireland implements UNSCR 1325 through our National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace and Security. Irelands 3rd NAP on Women Peace and Security was published in June 2019 and covers a five-year period up to 2024. Its implementation is overseen by an Oversight Group, which includes representatives from both the Department of Defence...

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

Simon Coveney: I attended the recent Informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers which took place between the 27th and 28th of May in Lisbon. This meeting consisted of three main sessions; a working dinner on reinvigorating EU - NATO cooperation, a working session on the Strategic Compass (an initiative within the framework of the EU Global Strategy to examine key current and future threats in the context of...

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

Simon Coveney: The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under attack....

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

Simon Coveney: The European Defence Fund (EDF) is a co-funded industrial sectoral programme, which provides funding for research and capability development, fosters innovation and allow economies of scale, which will enhance the competitiveness of the EU defence industry. It facilitates Member States to better coordinate and supplement national investments in defence and to achieve greater output and...

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

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces are not the primary response agency for serach and rescue (SAR) services in Ireland, either on-island or at sea. This being said, the Defence Forces provide supports and services to the relevant Lead Department or Primary Response Agency on an as available basis as and when required. In relation to on-island SAR, as I have already noted, the Defence Forces are not a...

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

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence sets the defence policy agenda over a ten year planning horizon and covers all aspects of defence within the broader security policy framework. Since publication of the White Paper, a total of 95 separate projects have been identified for completion over a ten-year period. To provide flexibility, projects may be sub-divided or merged, changing the top-line number....

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

Simon Coveney: The Air Corps is not tasked or equipped to monitor and communicate with aircraft overflying Irish airspace, military or otherwise and irrespective of whether the transponder is switched on or not. However, on a routine basis the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel,...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48, 54 and 55 together. The military authorities have advised that, as at 31st May 2021, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 8,570 personnel. While the Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, there are a number of factors, many of which are hard to predict,...

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

Simon Coveney: The Government recognises the importance of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) in contributing to Ireland's defence capability. The 2015 White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the RDF. The White Paper acknowledges that there may be professional skills that on occasion may not be readily available in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and...

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

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy is aware the Programme for Government contains a commitment to “ensure that all enlisted members of the Defence Forces have the same access to health care as officers currently do”. I am advised that a joint military-civilian working group has been established to identify an approach to implementing this commitment. The Working Group will analyse the range and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 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 Defence Force, as of 31...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is responsible for the regulation of foreign military aircraft overflying Irish sovereign airspace. There is no suggestion that Russian or any other military aircraft have entered Irish sovereign airspace without due authorisation. It may be helpful to clarify that the area where the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 275 together. My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register. At present, there are nearly 31,000 applications in the Foreign Births Registration (FBR) system that await processing.Prior to COVID-19 it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to the complex nature of FBR...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 270, 271, 280 and 281 together. The Passport Service has been in direct contact with the people referred to in the Deputies' questions. The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. The Service has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: To assist with the wider State response to COVID-19, 166 Passport Service personnel have been redeployed, at the request of different Departments, into other, essential public service roles, such as contact tracing for the HSE, assisting the Department of Social Protection to facilitate the processing of COVID-19 related benefits, providing consular assistance to Irish citizens overseas and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service scaled up to more normal operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. The Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace that the...