Results 7,301-7,320 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs procured the services of Quadra Consulting in 2020 to undertake Covid-19 workplace risk assessments for our offices in Ireland. The service provider was selected from the Office of Government Procurement National Health & Safety Training & Consultancy and Advisory Services Framework. The total value of the services outsourced is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are no issues with training requirements for helicopter operations into Galway Hospital. Night landings are a matter of routine at that location for inter-hospital transfers. The Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) Service is limited to daytime operations only in line with government decision S180/20/10/1996. This is incorporated in the White Paper on Defence 2015. There are no plans...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: In the period since 2016, my Department has no record of having awarded any contracts to the company referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 405 and 410 together. As of 4 January 2021, Ireland is contributing 586 Defence Forces personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations. The main overseas missions in which the Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Fire Safety (13 Jan 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 to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The acquisition of new equipment and the upgrading of equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are currently thirteen (13) vacancies for Nurses and four (4) for Dental Officers in the DF medical corps. Both the Army Nursing Service and the provision of dental services to DF personnel are currently under review. Following a previous review of the DF Physiotherapy service, sanction was received to appoint 5.5 civilian phyiotherapists on a full-time basis. There are currently 3.5...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Resources (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the upgrade of the dining hall at Gormanston Camp forms part of the Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025, with a planned commencement in 2024 for completion in 2025. This Programme is a five year plan that provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (13 Jan 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 so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government both at home and overseas. The White Paper on Defence sets out an ambitious programme of capital investment in the Naval Service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The table below provides details of external consultants engaged by my Department for Covid-19 related work, services, or advice. Consultancy Firm Service Provided Cost Quadra Ltd. Completed Covid-19 risk assessments for Department buildings; Provided input to Department's Covid-19 Response Plan; Provided Covid-19 updates for the...

Brexit Readiness for the End of the Transition Period: Statements (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank all the speakers for taking the time to stay late this evening to be part of this debate. It is appreciated. I would like to think that I have always been non-party political when it comes to Brexit, in sharing information, responding to questions, inviting people to stakeholder groups and organising briefings whenever I have been asked for them. There has been great strength in...

Brexit Readiness for the End of the Transition Period: Statements (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I see we have a packed House this evening.

Brexit Readiness for the End of the Transition Period: Statements (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: As we find ourselves just two weeks away from a comprehensive and permanent change in the relationship between the EU and the UK, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak on this last sitting of the Dáil before Christmas. I promised to keep Members updated on Brexit developments and I think I have kept my word. This is the 18th session of statements on Brexit that I have taken in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Naval Service (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government is aware of the report made in July of this year by an Irish fishing vessel to the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency concerning a UK naval ship conducting an exercise off the North West coast of Donegal. The location where the UK naval ship was conducting training exercises was not within Ireland’s territorial sea and did not therefore infringe our sovereignty. In general,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Use of Sonar in Irish Waters (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: No contact has been made with the Irish Naval Service or the Department of Defence by other naval services with respect to the use of sonar in Irish Waters.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Funding (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: In 2021, the overall Defence Capital funding envelope will increase by €18 million to €131 million. This significant allocation demonstrates the Government’s commitment to Defence and will facilitate an ongoing programme of equipment replacement and infrastructural development, as set out in the Defence Equipment Development Plan and Defence Infrastructure Development...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Irish Territorial Waters (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Neither my Department nor the Defence Forces have any record of maritime vessels, crafts or submarine vessels belonging to naval services of other nations incurring into Irish Territorial Waters during the period 01 April - 31 October 2018. With regard to Ireland's EEZ, it is not unusual for naval ships of other States to carry out training exercises within this area. This would normally...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Irish Territorial Waters (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of a UK naval ship conducting an exercise off the North West coast of Donegal in July. The location where the Royal Navy ship was conducting training exercises was within the Irish EEZ. However the ship did not enter into Irish territorial waters. This is not in any way an infringement of our national territory. It is not unusual for naval ships of other States,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Under the Framework for Major Emergency Management the Defence Forces can be tasked in aid of Civil Power to provide operational support in a response to a national chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) incident in order to mark, cordon, monitor, measure, decontaminate, retrieve and dispose of any CBRN devices and matter so found. Additionally, the Defence Forces in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Protected Disclosures (17 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the terms of section 22 of the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 an annual report in relation to the total number of protected disclosures made in the preceding year is prepared and published on the departmental website . This report is required to be prepared and published not later than 30 June in each year in relation to the immediately preceding year in a form which does...