Results 7,901-7,920 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Priorities (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Establishment of a Commission on the Defence Forces is an important commitment made in the recently agreed Programme for Government. The Commission will be tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review which will include the following matters: -Arrangements for the effective defence of the country at land, air and sea. - Structures for governance, joint command, and control structures. -...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Brexit Issues (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2015 relates to defence cooperation between Ireland and UK. The MoU provides a framework for developing and furthering bilateral co-operation and relations between the two states in the area of security and defence capacity, building on existing cooperation and seeking to identify new areas of cooperation with mutual benefits. It is a voluntary,...

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

Simon Coveney: Establishment of a Commission on the Defence Forces is an important commitment made in the recently agreed Programme for Government. The Commission will be tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review which will include the following matters: - Arrangements for the effective defence of the country at land, air and sea. - Structures for governance, joint command, and control structures. -...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206, 208 and 210 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Bullying in the Workplace (13 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: All members of the Defence Forces have a right to be treated with respect, equality and dignity and to carry out their duties free from any form of sexual harassment, harassment or bullying. These unacceptable forms of behaviour are not tolerated in the Defence Forces. I am advised that there are robust measures and systems currently in place within the Defence Forces to address...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Oct 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 ATCA role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel and equipment,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 26 and 46 together. I take it 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 for post-1 January 2013 new entrants to the public service, including the permanent Defence Force, PDF, are governed by the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Sector Pensions (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: As I said, a review and a conversation is ongoing in terms of required retirement ages. As the Deputy knows, there is a reason many in the Defence Forces are required to retire at a certain age. It is a challenging career, so there are age constraints in regard to some of the work that is done. That said, we are discussing and reviewing this at the moment. Many people in their 50s and 60s...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Strength (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that the whole-time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 31 August 2020 was 8,374 personnel, comprised of Army, 6,763; Air Corps, 716; and Naval Service, 895. I am aware that there continues to be a shortfall between the overall current strength figures and those of the establishment and I am committed to restoring the strength of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, I have been spending a lot of time trying to understand and address some of the current challenges in the Naval Service. Personnel in the Naval Service are paid basic pay, military service allowance and, where appropriate, technical pay at the same rates as their colleagues in the Army and Air Corps. Enlisted personnel of the Naval Service also receive naval pay. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The straight answer to the straight question as to whether the role of the Naval Service is being compromised is "Yes". We have a fleet of nine ships. One of them is in service and two are tied up because we do not have sufficient personnel to crew them. Let us call a spade a spade; we have a serious problem in the Naval Service. The service is not at full strength and cannot perform the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: In response to the Deputy's final question, there could be additional demands on the service but people like me and others must try to ensure that we reach a deal on fisheries, trade and a level playing field and fair competition before the end of the year. Those three areas will either all be agreed or none will be agreed, frankly. They come as a package, in parallel. In the absence of an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I think "Yes" is the answer to that question. I do not believe there is a country in the world, even the superpowers of the world, that can give an absolute 100% guarantee against the threat of cybersecurity challenges. There is not. We have seen such attacks on the United States of America and in China. Even the countries that spend hundreds of billions on this issue are not absolutist...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Smith, I know he has a particular interest in this area. The Government recognises the important role that the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, plays in contributing to Ireland's defence capability. The White Paper on Defence sets out a blueprint for the development of the RDF and that its primary role is to support the Permanent Defence Force in crisis situations. The Army...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I take that point but we also have to do it within the parameters and constraints of public health guidelines and so on. This even impacts on my ability to visit barracks at the moment, for example, and in the numbers of serving personnel I can meet at any one time. We all have to try to lead by example in responding to the pandemic in a responsible way. This has impacted on some of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Reserve (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: People do not join the Reserve to do nothing. They are not there just to say they are a member of the Reserve. They join up because they want to be part of the action and to make a contribution through training and putting that training to use. This is why we have a Reserve. As of the end of August, the effective strength of the Army Reserve was 1,501 in personnel and that of the Naval...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces Personnel (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: We are committed to the legislation and I do not see why it has to take an eternity to get it done. We will push to try to get that legislation amended as quickly as we can. We are not waiting for the legislation, however. Compensatory rest is provided for certain duties and this is also in line with the provisions of the directive. We are talking to the representative bodies about that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this question because it is an important one. Arising from the recommendations in the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing, a new national security analysis centre was established during 2019 under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach. The purpose of the new centre is to co-ordinate between the various State bodies with national security...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cybersecurity Policy (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can understand that concern and I have asked that question because it was when I was last in the Department of Defence that we put together the White Paper. At that time, there was a discussion within government on national security infrastructure, how the Defence Forces interact with An Garda Síochána and how we can respond to an emerging cybersecurity threat. There is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am not pitting anyone against anybody. That is not my style. That the Deputy would try to create that narrative reflects his approach to this issue. I am working hard to ensure that everyone in the Defence Forces is understood in terms of the frustrations and challenges he or she faces and that we respond to those financially and from a policy perspective. This is what I am doing to try...