Results 6,881-6,900 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the Army Reserve (AR), the Naval Service Reserve (NSR) and the First Line Reserve (FLR). As at 31 January 2021, the effective strength of the AR is 1,458 personnel and the NSR is 125 personnel. The strength of the FLR at that date, is 263 personnel. The Government remains committed to restoring the strength of the RDF, however the capacity to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure Programme (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe including timeframes for the delivery of projects. Over the course of the programme it is projected that some €145m will be allocated to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 793, 798 and 800 together. As at 28th February 2021, the latest date for which such data is available, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) was 599.  The following table details the number of females who discharged from Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the number who have served...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Medical Services (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: A wide range of medical services are provided to members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) at the State's expense. These include: - an annual medical examination, - sick parades, - attendance at GP surgery outside of sick parade and out-of-hours GP services, - prescription services, - laboratory services, - physiotherapy, - chiropody, - radiology, - ophthalmic examinations, - clinical...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Honours (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The issue of awarding of Military Medals for Gallantry (MMG) and Distinguished Service Medals (DSMs) to personnel who served in Jadotville in September 1961 has been considered on a number of occasions over the years and a number of actions have taken place to give due recognition to the courage and bravery of all the members of “A” Company, 35thInfantry Battalion who were...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am unable to provide a response to the Deputy as I am advised by the Military Authorities that these details are not routinely recorded and there are no parameters within the Defence Forces Personnel Management System Database to faciliate an accurate return.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 799, 801 and 802 together. The following table shows the number of women inducted into the Permanent Defence Force in each of the past five years: Year Total Females Inducted % of Total Inductions 2016 54 7.8% 2017 69 9.2% 2018 50 8.2% ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise the Deputy that the current rates of pay and allowances for all members of the Defence Forces are publicly available through the Department of Defence Website (www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/e8132-routinely-publ ished-information/#defence-forces-pay-scales).

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Meetings (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: During February, I met with the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, Mr. Jack Chambers, T.D., on two occasions where we discussed defence policy priorities. I am also aware that on the 12th February, the Minister of State met with the recently appointed UK Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Paul Johnston.  Meetings with Ministers and Ministers of State are usually held...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Transport (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The acquisition of new equipment and the upgrading of equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for the Defence Organisation. Future equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the White Paper on Defence as part of the capability development and equipment priorities planning process. In this context the principal aim over the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 806 and 809 together. The COVID-19 vaccine Allocation Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and the Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020. It sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Defence Forces has...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The discharge of personnel from the Defence Forces is governed under the provisions of Defence Forces Regulation (DFR) A10 – Enlistment, Promotions, Reductions, Transfers to the Reserve Defence Forces and Discharge. An individual member of the Permanent Defence Force may be discharged for any one of the twenty-six reasons identified in DFR A10, with the relevant reason used in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 810 and 811 together. I take it that the Deputy is referring to the absence of the concept of “supplementary pensions” from the provisions of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme. The occupational pension scheme terms of post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), are governed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government’s high level plan “Strengthening Our Defence Forces – Phase 1” sets out a range of actions to be undertaken in the short, medium and longer term. The plan is complemented by a range of other HR actions which were already underway. The immediate pay measures set out in the plan i.e. an increase in Military Service Allowance, the reversal of 10% cuts...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Directives (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The EU Working Time Directive has been transposed into national legislation by way of the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997. The Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. The Government, however, has committed to amending this Act and bringing both the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána within the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Expenditure (24 Mar 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The response by my Department to the Covid-19 pandemic involved Permanent Defence Force personnel, Civil Servants, Civilian Employees, members of the Reserve Defence Force and Civil Defence Volunteers and amounted to some €15.4 million in 2020. Expenditure was incurred across a range of areas and included €5.3 million towards the acquisition of a new Pilatus PC-12...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (24 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not receive payments in respect of fines, charges or bills from members of the public. I can confirm that my Department has the facility in place to receive online payments.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (11 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I visited Tehran on 7 March, and met with the President of Iran, Dr. Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister, Dr. Javad Zarif.The visit took place in the context of Ireland's role on the Security Council as Facilitator for Security Council Resolution 2231. This Resolution provides for the engagement of the Security Council with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, the Iran nuclear deal. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (11 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I am responsible for diplomatic clearance for overflights and landings by foreign military aircraft, on the basis of applications made by accredited Embassies of the countries concerned. In the thirteen-month period under reference, 1 February 2020 to 28 February 2021, there were 85 stop-over landings at Shannon airport by US military aircraft. It is not the...