Results 8,141-8,160 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (23 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The construction of a new Gymnasium at Sarsfield Barracks, Limerick, commenced earlier this year. I have been advised that the expected completion date is March 2021 at an estimated cost of €3.16 million.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Honours (23 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under attack....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Syria continues to be one of utmost concern. Over 12 million Syrians remain in need of humanitarian assistance, while over 5 million Syrians are refugees, mainly in neighboring countries. The impact of Covid-19, and worsening economic conditions risks increasing vulnerability further. This year, Ireland has provided €25 million in humanitarian assistance for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Foreign Births Registration Section has now resumed the processing of applications. Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation related to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. At present, it takes between 12 to 18 months to process an application to completion. The Foreign Births...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland continues to be deeply concerned about the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the province of Xinjiang, including in relation to reports of forced labour. Ireland, along with our EU partners, has addressed this issue in our contacts with the Chinese authorities, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora. Ireland was one of 27 States to issue a Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 370 and 371 together. Ireland requires diplomatic clearance to be sought in advance for overflight of Irish sovereign airspace by foreign state and military aircraft. Diplomatic clearance is granted subject to strict conditions. These conditions routinely include stipulations that the aircraft in question is unarmed, carries no arms, ammunition or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Disaster Response (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply saddened by the fire at the Moria camp on Lesbos and the impact this has had on the refugees and migrants based at the camp. It is a relief that there are no reported deaths or injuries, but the very sudden displacement of thousands of people has caused great suffering and created a major humanitarian emergency as well as posing a huge logistical challenge for the Greek...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the concerns that have been raised regarding the treatment of Palestinian detainees, and their particular vulnerability to COVID-19. Irish diplomatic Missions in the region continue to monitor this situation closely, including reports of a small number of positive cases in recent months. More generally, there are well-founded concerns about the treatment of Palestinian...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Review (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces. The Commission is to be established before the end of this year, with a mandate to report within twelve months. Planning for the Commission is in the early stages and, to date, no final decisions have been taken on the consultation process to be undertaken prior to finalisation of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The capacity of the Defence Forces toinduct and train recruits was severely impacted by the COVID-19 situation and the numbers inducted in 2020 are significantly below target at this point. Those aspects of the induction process that could be conducted remotely continued throughout the year. Inductions/training have resumed, taking public health guidelines into account. Inductions into the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Investigations (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: A reviewer in this case has been appointed and is progressing their work. Whilst the indicative timeframe for the report was three months there is scope in the terms of reference for the reviewer to exceed this, as required, and to report to me at the earliest possible opportunity. As there have been some delays in the process due to COVID it is expected that the report will not be made...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will appreciate that, for operational and security reasons, it would not be appropriate to disclose details of the operational deployment of any individual vessel in the Naval Service. It is also important to say that ships do not sail from time to time for various reasons, including weather, mechanical reasons and personnel issues. The Naval Service continues to carry out...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (22 Sep 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 role 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: A review of technical pay was provided for in the Public Service Agreement 2010 - 2014 (Croke Park Agreement). The purpose of the review in the context of the agreement was to rationalise existing technical pay arrangements and consider if the requirements could be met in a more cost effective manner. A review of Technical Pay Group 1 was conducted in 2014 and came into effect at the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Veterans (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under attack....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The attached table shows the female strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31st August 2020, the latest date for which such data is available, broken down by ranks, service and gender. The Military Authorities have advised that the data to provide a percentage figure of those female recruits who progress to upper ranks throughout their career in the Defence Forces is not...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: In June 2019 the Department for Rural and Community Development sought proposals from all Government Departments identifying any projects they wished to put forward for consideration for inclusion in the Dormant Accounts Action Plan for 2020. My Department submitted a proposal seeking funding to procure new vehicles in 2020 to upgrade the Civil Defence fleet. The ongoing provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to confirm to the Deputy that works on the Dining Hall at Custume Barracks, Athlone are now fully complete.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Under the Army Pensions Acts 1923-1980 a disability pension or gratuity may, following retirement, be granted to a former member of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) for permanent disablement due to a wound or injury attributable to military service (whether at home or abroad)  or to a disease attributable to, or aggravated by, overseas service with a United Nations Force.  I can...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Foreign Births Registration Section has now resumed the processing of applications. Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation related to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. At present, it takes between 12 to 18 months to process an application to completion. The Foreign Births...