Results 7,341-7,360 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The following table details the number of retirements of members of the Permanent Defence Force by rank and average years' service, to 30 November 2020, as advised by the Military Authorities: Rank Total Average years in Service Lieutenant General 0 N/A Major General 0 N/A Brigadier...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: While Covid 19 has impacted on the numbers inducted this year, inductions and training have been resumed taking public health guidelines into account. I am advised by the Military Authorities that, as of 31st October 2020, 449 personnel were inducted into the Defence Forces while 522 personnel exited the organisation. Of the 522 discharges, 137 were accounted for by personnel who left...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (16 Dec 2020)

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). A key ongoing challenge for the RDF is to recruit and retain personnel and I am aware that there continues to be a shortfall between the current strength figures and those of the establishment. The ability to conduct RDF inductions this year has been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Tá mo Roinn tiomanta do na seirbhísí a sholáthar a riarann sí trí Ghaeilge. Ar aon dul leis an Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge 2010-2030, shainaithin mo Roinn cuspóirí áirithe amhail bheith ábhartha maidir le seirbhísí a chur chun cinn trí Ghaeilge, cuspóir 2, ach go háirithe. De réir Chuspóir 2...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foireann Roinne (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Níl aon phoist sa Roinn Cosanta go bhfuil an Ghaeilge riachtanach. Faoi láthair fostaíonn an Roinn ar thimpeall 358 státseirbhísí agus 454 fostaí sibhialta. Tá 15 fostaí a bhfuil in ann seirbhís a thabhairt trí Gaeilge. Ar an iomlán, bhí 233,868 fiosrú nó idirghníomhú le glaoiteoirí in 2018. Bhí 4...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge (16 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Níor cuireadh ar an eolas mé gur tháinig aon fhadhbanna chun solais nuair a bhí na seirbhísí a chuireann mo Roinn ar fáil á soláthar trí Ghaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta.

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: Statements (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank everybody, in particular the two Deputies responsible for this debate happening, Deputies Duncan Smith and Eoghan Murphy. This has been a good opportunity for people who are genuinely interested in this topic to recognise Ireland's role in disarmament over many decades. In recent years we have seen the unravelling of many international disarmament, non-proliferation and arms...

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: Statements (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT, a treaty closely associated with Ireland and the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Ireland also ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, TPNW, this year. It will enter into force on 22 January 2021. These...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is deeply concerned by the appalling human rights situation in Belarus. Media freedoms have been curtailed and journalists, both local and international, face violence, harassment, intimidation and detention simply for doing their jobs. This is totally unacceptable and Ireland has been vocal in our condemnation of the actions of the Belarusian authorities. We have joined...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland enjoys strong relations with the Republic of Korea with a focus very much on economic and people-to-people cooperation. While I have not spoken formally with the Ambassador to Ireland in the past three months, there has been regular contact at senior-official level covering a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including boosting trade relations, Ireland's upcoming tenure on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 ("The 2008 Act"). The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. In order to meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. The Government is closely monitoring the situation in Hong Kong, following the adoption of the National Security Law on 30 June by the Chinese National People's Congress. I made a statement on 1 July to express Ireland's concern in relation to the adoption of this law, and the situation has been raised directly with the Chinese...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Government has been planning for Brexit since before the UK Referendum to ensure that Irish citizens and businesses are as ready as possible for all scenarios. As part of this work, the Government has published Brexit Contingency Plans in December, 2018, July 2019 and most recently in September 2109. Our September 2019, Brexit Readiness Action Plan outlines in substantive detail the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. Buildings refurbished in 2020 Mission Premises Total Cost Consultancy costs Professional fees Construction and related costs Athens Chancery €135,044 0 €13,100 €121,944 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft, including US aircraft, to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions. These routinely include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form any part of military...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: A number of countries have applied for and been granted annual blanket clearance for military overflights and landings in Ireland. Under these arrangements, the Embassy of the country concerned submits a notification of each proposed flight to my Department. My Department then notifies relevant Departments and Agencies. Specific arrangements for US overflights were established in 1959....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the club referred to has been contacted by my Department to advise that it is now processing requests for third party use of outdoor facilities for 2021. HSE guidelines on COVID-19 will need to be strictly adhered to. My Department will continue to consider access in line with the COVID-19 levels in place under the Government Recovery and Resilience Plan.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Overall Permanent Defence Force (PDF) recruitment plans for 2021 have not yet been finalised and will be informed by a review of the 2020 campaign taking the COVID situation into account. There is currently no separate recruitment stream for members of the Military Police and vacant positions are filled by serving members of the Permanent Defence Force.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The table below provides the details requested by the Deputy, as at 31st October 2020. Branch Establishment Strength(WTE) Vacancies Army 7,520 6,943 577 Air Corps 886 747 139 Naval Service 1,094 887 207 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The table below outlines the number of vacancies that exist in the PDF as at 31st October 2020. Vacancies are filled on an ongoing basis in line with promotional arrangements and, in certain cases, direct entry competitions. It is normal, at a particular point in time, for some ranks to be oversubscribed and others to be undersubscribed. For example, whilst there are vacancies at the rank of...