Results 6,221-6,240 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service scaled up 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”. Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Following the coercive forced landing of a Ryanair aircraft in Belarus and the subsequent arbitrary detention of Roman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega, the Taoiseach conveyed Ireland's view that a strong EU response was needed during the Special European Council meeting on 24 May. EU leaders agreed to a set of concrete measures in reaction to the flagrant disregard for international law shown by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that Fort Shannon is a property in my ownership as the Minister for Defence. There are no current plans for the use of this property from a Defence Forces point of view. While my Department has no active plans for its immediate disposal, it would be prepared to work with the relevant State bodies should there be interest in developing these lands.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (15 Jun 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. This is primarily to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Advertising for recruitment campaigns is placed across all major social media platforms and radio stations as the most effective method of targeting potential recruits. The Defence Forces have recently conducted two large campaigns in this fashion along with a Naval Service Cadetship campaign in May. There are no national television advertising campaigns planned for 2021. Print...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that it was not possible to collate the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the figures to the Deputy when I am in a position to reply.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (15 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. The main day-to-day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. The Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government has fully acknowledged the recruitment and retention issues which have impacted operational capacity of the Defence Forces over recent years. In response, a range of actions have been progressed to address these issues. The report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on retention and recruitment in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) contained a wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cross-Border Co-operation (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The PDFORRA Medical Assistance Scheme (PMAS) is provided by PDFORRA to its members and does not involve my Department. It should be noted that a comprehensive range of primary and secondary medical care is provided, at no charge, to all members of the Permanent Defence Forces. In addition, the Programme for Government 2020 includes a commitment to "ensure that all enlisted members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Expenditure incurred by my Department on ministerial and civil service travel and subsistence in 2020 was €374,602.55, and to 9 June 2021 was €83,592.96.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Reviews (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The details of each value for money and high level policy review conducted by my Department from 1 January 2019 to date; with details of external costs incurred are outlined in table below. All other policy areas are updated as required. Policy Review External Costs Incurred Details Review of recruitment methods for the PDF as instructed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are no plans to draft a national strategy for military mobility which, in any event, would involve a number of Departments and agencies other than the Department of Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. At the request of my Department the military authorities are conducting the search, retrieval and collation of same. I will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Websites (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 694 and 695 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that the compliant accessibility statement for Gov.ie, the website that currently hosts 15 of the 19 Government Departments, including the Department of Defence, is available at the following link; www.gov.ie/en/help/accessibility. I understand all remaining Government Departments will have moved to gov.ie...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The challenges in recruiting and retaining certain specialists in the Air Corps and the wider Defence Forces have been acknowledged. This has been particularly the case in the buoyant economy that the country experienced, which resulted in strong demand for the skills that Defence Forces personnel acquire during their careers. A number of ‘pinch points’ exist in particular areas...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are currently no civil servants in my Department in receipt of an acting up allowance for over two years. The only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board and its only staff post is the secretary to the Board, which is provided from the staff of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (3 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland does not have any unilateral sanctions regimes, but implements EU sanctions, adopted as part of the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and UN sanctions. There are currently no EU or UN sanctions in place against Israel. Decisions on the adoption, renewal or lifting of EU sanctions regimes are taken by the Council of the European Union on proposal from the EU High Representative...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (3 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, under which Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth, by descent, or by naturalisation. For individuals born outside of Ireland, they may claim citizenship if they had at least one parent who was born in the island of Ireland and where that parent is an Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Programmes (3 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 to 281, inclusive, together. With respect to association to Horizon Europe by third countries, the criteria and principles regarding participation are set out in Article 16 of Regulation (EU) 2021/695, the Horizon Europe Regulation. Under the Horizon Europe Regulation, there are four categories of association countries: a. Members of the European Free...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (3 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Expo 2020, postponed due to Covid 19, is now scheduled to take place in Dubai from October 2021 to March 2022. Ireland’s participation in Expo was approved by Government decision in 2017, with the Department of Foreign Affairs nominated as lead Department. 192 countries are participating in what is expected to be one of the first large scale in-person events since the pandemic took...