Results 7,921-7,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 14 and 43 together. I share some of the Deputies' concerns on this issue. Since I am taking three questions together, I hope that the Acting Chairman will give me a little extra time.

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

Simon Coveney: The EU working time directive has been transposed into national legislation by way of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997. As the House will be aware, the Defence Forces are excluded from the provisions of the Act. However, it is important to say that the Government has committed to amending this Act and bringing the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána within the scope of...

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

Simon Coveney: The working family payment exists for a reason. It recognises the need for increased income and support from the State for people who are on low pay. It is a safety net, as it were, for people in certain family situations. Obviously, it is not the responsibility of my Department primarily, but it is an important safety net. We need to reflect constantly on pay levels across the Defence...

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

Simon Coveney: I have spoken to Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, on this previously and I am sure that I will do so again. Under the Defence Acts, 1954 to 2015, the permanent Defence Forces 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...

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

Simon Coveney: The Deputy mentioned the number of Defence Force personnel that are on the working family payment. I understand there are as many people in my Department on working family payment as there are in the Defence Forces. The payment is calculated based on a range of factors. I do not want there to be an impression that members of the Defence Forces are the only people in the public sector that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government recognises the importance of the role of the Reserve Defence Force, RDF, in contributing to Ireland's defence capability. The White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the RDF and it is currently on a developmental path arising from the recommendations of the White Paper. The primary roles allocated to the Reserve remain to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, since the closure of Columb Barracks in 2012, my Department has explored a number of avenues to try to secure its long-term future for the benefit of the local community which is, ultimately, what every asset should be about. Departments and other public bodies, including Westmeath County Council, have been invited to declare an interest in acquiring the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Army Barracks (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: While I take the Deputy's point, I am loath to start raising expectations about Columb Barracks. The community groups currently using the barracks are Westmeath GAA, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association, Lakeshore Wheelers, the Order of Malta, Mullingar Boxing Club, a crafts school, Mullingar Sub Aqua Club, the north-Westmeath adult literacy service and a youth organisation. As I...

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

Simon Coveney: On assuming my role as Minister for Defence, one of my first actions was to meet the Permanent Defence Force representative associations, namely, PDFORRA, and the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO. At the meeting in a barracks in Cork, we agreed that we should commit to meeting on a more regular basis and I am happy to follow through on that. I hope we can meet...

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

Simon Coveney: To be blunt, that is happening. It is true the benefit of the plan has not yet been seen in terms of increasing numbers in the Defence Forces. We had and continue to have a recruitment and retention challenge in the Defence Forces. That challenge was particularly acute in the Air Corps which, frankly, did not have enough pilots. That has been turned around in the past 12 months or so and...

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

Simon Coveney: I do not wish to pretend that just because I am now Minister for Defence everything is different. My Department has been working with representative organisations to get many things done relating to the reports that have been completed. I am looking at a list of projects, most of which are complete and some of which are under way. Some of the asks of the report were for reviews etc. There...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. As this is the first time she and I have had formal questions, I congratulate her on her appointment. I look forward to working with her. 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...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: It is important to be honest with people. The Air Corps is not equipped to monitor aircraft flying over the entirety of Irish airspace, nor is it tasked with that role. We have a relatively small Air Corps which does a really good job at what it is asked to do. We are not like many other countries that spend hundreds of millions or billions of euro on fighter aircraft that can monitor and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Along with many others, I am working very hard to minimise the impact of Brexit across all areas and ensure that Ireland and the UK continue to co-operate in partnership on a range of issues, as would be expected of two neighbouring countries. The idea that the Deputy has a problem with military personnel training abroad to ensure we have the most advanced training capabilities available to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Last April, the former Minister with responsibility for Defence launched a scheme to re-enlist former Permanent Defence Force (PDF) enlisted personnel. The focus of the scheme was those former PDF personnel with particular skillsets identified as required by the Chief of Staff. The scheme allows for initial re-enlistment for a minimum of six months and up to 3 years and the duration of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The resources available to the Defence Forces to carry out their operational commitments are kept under constant review and future equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 35 together. The Report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was published on the 4th of July 2019. The Report was accepted in full by the Government at that time and, to facilitate implementation, an extensive High Level Plan titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces – Phase...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Coast Guard Service (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non security related tasks. The Defence Forces continue to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including security operations, critical supports to An Garda Síochána and Aid To Civil Authority (ATCA) supports to other Government...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with constitutional and statutory provisions, the Department of Defence has civil and military branches and, with the serving Minister as head, ensures civil control of the armed forces of the State. The Secretary General heads the civil element of my Department while the Chief of Staff heads the military element, known as Defence Forces Headquarters (DFHQ), which has an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role. It also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks on an ‘as available’ basis including the provision of air ambulance services to the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE’s Aeromedical Desk in its National Emergency Operations Centre is responsible for...