Results 7,621-7,640 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The capacity of the Defence Forces toinduct and train recruits was severely impacted by the COVID-19 situation but those aspects of the induction process that could be conducted remotely continued throughout the year and inductions/training have been resumed taking public health guidelines into account.  While additional safety measures have necessitated the re-scheduling of aspects of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Records (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: In the timeframe available for answering PQs it is not possible to compile the information requested by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that neither my Department, or any agencies operating under the remit of my Department, have entered into third-party contracts for the operation of community and voluntary organisations.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme recently introduced, is targeted at retaining and incentivising personnel of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) who have accrued an appropriate level of service and experience. It is one of a number of measures aimed at addressing retention issues with Naval service PDF personnel. The Scheme is not open to members of the Naval Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 89 together. I am aware of the concerning situation in Hong Kong, including the detaining of a number of activists following the adoption of national security legislation in the region. 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 Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland regrets the UK’s decision to leave the EU, although we respect it. From 1 January 2021, many aspects of our relationship with our nearest neighbour will change fundamentally as we will no longer share EU membership.  However, the Government remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Ireland-UK relationship following the end of the transition period. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 to 87, inclusive, together. The sixth session of the Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises took place from 26th-30th October 2020. The European Union delivered a statement and separately raised specific concerns in relation to the draft text on behalf of Ireland and other Member...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to working with the UK Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland to address the painful legacy of the Troubles through the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement framework. A key part of this work is meeting the legitimate needs of victims and survivors in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland. It is for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused processing of routine applications while Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency passport service for Irish citizens at home and abroad. The service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or because the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland continues to raise concerns about the treatment of Palestinian prisoners. Ireland has repeatedly recalled to Israel the applicability of international human rights standards and international humanitarian law in respect of detainees, in particular obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention. During the Universal Periodic Review of Israel at the UN Human Rights Council in 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (18 Nov 2020)

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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland regrets the UK’s decision to leave the EU, although we respect it. From 1 January 2021, many aspects of our relationship with our nearest neighbour will change fundamentally as we will no longer share EU membership.  However, the Government remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Ireland-UK relationship following the end of the transition period. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence property portfolio consists of a diverse range of facilities from conventional military barracks to forts, camps, married quarters and training lands. At the end of 2019, the portfolio consisted of some 70 sites, including 14 permanently occupied military installations, together with lands comprising over 20,000 acres. The specific information requested by the Deputy is set out...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The provisions for pay and allowances for both the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) are set out in Defence Force Regulation S.3.   The rates of pay for members of the RDF is calculated in line with the rates of pay for members of the PDF. As per Defence Force Regulations, the rate of pay for the RDF is linked with first point of the scale of the rate...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The commission will follow through on the commitments we have made in the programme for Government. I believe the people we are approaching to be on the commission are first class. I am very confident they will be able to do a very good job, but we need to get them approved by Government first and so on. That process is under way. I take Deputy Costello's point that we need to plan...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 57 and 424 together. From my previous time in the Department of Defence when the Deputy held the purse strings, I was not alone in caring about the Naval Service as he was extremely supportive at the time. I recognise that. Coming from a coastal county, he understands why that is so important as do I. I am frustrated and concerned that we do not have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Search and Rescue Service Provision (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: First, it has not been finalised yet. I assure Deputy Brady that any assessment of companies tendering to provide this service will be very robust. The process will be independent. The State will go through an appropriate process. I think the Deputy indicated earlier that we will be committing hundreds of millions of euro in this regard. Over the lifetime of the next contract the State...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Search and Rescue Service Provision (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: First, we are ploughing money into the Air Corps. The Air Corps operates a fleet of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft which provide military support to the Army and Naval Service, together with support for non-military air services such as Garda air support, air ambulance, fisheries protection and, at times, ministerial air travel. Priorities for the Defence Forces, including the Air...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Search and Rescue Service Provision (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: A contract for the supply of two C-295 maritime patrol aircraft was entered into with Airbus Defence and Space in December 2019.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Search and Rescue Service Provision (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: That is a contract that is worth approximately €221 million. The aircraft should be delivered in 2023. It takes time. The idea that we are not ploughing money into the Air Corps and that its future is in any way threatened just does not stack up. We are doing the opposite: we are building capacity.