Results 7,881-7,900 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (15 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that the establishment figure for the Communications and Information Services Corps (CIS) of the Permanent Defence Force is 491 personnel and for the Reserve Defence Force is 101 personnel. For operational reasons, current strengths are not provided. The National Cyber Security Centre, which is part of the Department of Environment, Climate and...

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

Simon Coveney: Defence Forces official email facilities are provided to members of the Defence Forces whose official duties require them to have access to Defence Forces email. The Defence Forces Internal Communication Strategy aims to ensure that Defence Forces personnel feel valued, listened to and have a common purpose. All leaders are required to pro-actively communicate with personnel so that all...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Regional Aid (15 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Defence has not been involved in the granting of regional aid, over the specified period.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Airport Data (14 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the military authorities that, based on their records from 1 August 2008 to the present day, there is no record of the aircraft referred to by the Deputy having landed in Casement Aerodrome.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Trade Union Recognition (14 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Under the Defence Acts, 1954-2015, the Permanent Defence Force representative associations are prohibited from being associated with or affiliated with any trade unions or any other body without the consent of the Minister. To compensate for these limitations there are a range of statutory redress mechanisms available to serving members, including redress of wrongs, a Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: At EU level the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region was discussed at the European Council on the 1st of October, where leaders called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged parties to recommit to a lasting ceasefire and the peaceful settlement of the conflict. The European Council clearly stated that there can be no military solution to the conflict, nor any external...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: In line with advice from the Department of Justice and Equality, all our Embassies and Consulates abroad ceased accepting new visa applications or issuing visa stickers from 20 March 2020. The decision was taken as part of combined efforts to tackle COVID-19, in line with overall Government policy. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, certain priority/ emergency visa applications continued to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is strongly supportive of efforts to develop a more coherent, effective and strategic EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. The Member States of the EU can be most influential in addressing the increasingly complex and protracted crises the world faces today when they act and speak in unison. If the EU is to successfully promote its founding values of human dignity, freedom,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that the Defence Forces have issued guidance for the use of workspaces and accommodation. This guidance was designed taking into consideration the public health guidelines that are currently in operation, with priority to ensuring protection of personnel and equipment. The guidance is based on the scientific advice that social distancing, along with the maintenance of personal...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: When former married quarters become vacant, their future use is considered in the context of ongoing military requirements, including the provision of Single Living In (SLI) accommodation for serving personnel. The provision of married quarters to serving personnel is no longer provided. This has been a long standing policy. In relation to overholders, my Department continues to seek...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces have been providing intranet services to users since the early 1990’s. I am advised by the military authorities that the Network and Information Systems associated with the delivery of Defence Forces intranet services are reviewed and upgraded on an ongoing basis, as required. The cost of the development of the various elements of the system that require upgrading...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Covid 19 global pandemic has impacted on the education and training of all sectors in society including the public and private sector. The Defence Forces have cancelled all non-essential courses as one of the measures in the national effort to restrict the transmission of Covid 19. There are no plans to provide additional pay to personnel as a result of the elongation of courses, which is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (13 Oct 2020)

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 primary day-to-day tasking 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR). End of month strength returns are collated at the mid-month point of the following month and hence September 2020 returns are not available at this time. The most up to date figures available therefore for the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have provided the information sought by the Deputy for both the Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve, which is set out in the table below. I have requested the military authorities to provide the information requested by the Deputy relating to the First Line Reserve and will revert to you once the information is received. Rank (Army) Average...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: There is currently no provision in the Defence Acts to allow members of the RDF to be deployed overseas. The primary roles allocated to the RDF, remain to augment the Permanent Defence Force in crisis situations and to contribute to State ceremonial events. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to join the Army Reserve (AR) or...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I presume the Deputy is referring the basic pay and allowances (e.g. military service allowance, technical pay, etc.) of members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) serving overseas rather than Overseas Peace Support Allowance (OPSA) and Overseas Armed Peace Support Allowance(OAPSA), which are already paid to personnel serving overseas on a non-taxable basis. It is not possible to precisely...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (13 Oct 2020)

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 information to the Deputy once it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that the establishment for Air Corps technicians is 322 personnel with a current strength (Wholetime Equivalent) of 176 personnel (as at 7th October 2020). The current gap in strength versus establishment has developed over a period of time. Eight apprentice technicians were recruited in 2019 and 19 in 2020. A total of 62 apprentices are in training...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Expenditure (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Vote is treated as a Group (comprising of Vote 35 Army Pensions and Vote 36 Defence) Gross Budget Allocation and amounts unspent for the years 2018-2020 are as follows: Year Gross Allocation Unspent Allocation 2018 €946.4 million €2.7 million 2019 €1,007.2 million ...