Results 8,181-8,200 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a process under which groups of Member States can come together to develop capabilities in support of Common CSDP Operations.  The objective of PESCO is to generate a coherent full spectrum of defence capabilities which will be available to Member States for national and multinational (EU, NATO, UN, etc.) missions and operations. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Common Security and Defence Policy (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) provides the EU with the capacity to undertake peacekeeping and conflict prevention missions and to strengthen international security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.  The EU is currently involved in 17 CSDP missions and operations, of these six are military, and 11 are civilian. Ireland is an active participant in both...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 380 together. The table below shows the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31st July 2020, the latest date for which such data is available, broken down by rank, service and gender.  To date 147 personnel (9 female) were inducted into the Permanent Defence Force in 2020 which includes 10 (0 Female) re-enlisted personnel. Of those...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (15 Sep 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).  The most up to date figures available for the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR), as of 31 July 2020, are set out below. End of month returns are collated at the mid-month point of the...

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

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the military authorities that 58 new members have been inducted into the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) from 1 January to 11 September 2020, broken down as follows: While a recruitment campaign for the AR and NSR was opened in March 2020, the restrictions imposed in the interests of public health as a result of the Covid 19 Pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: 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 Government and, to facilitate implementation, an extensive High Level Plan titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces – Phase One” was also agreed and published on the same date. The PSPC report...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Projects (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are currently no Exchequer funded projects of over €1 billion overseen by the Department of Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (10 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that consular assistance is being provided to this citizen, through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin and our Embassy on the ground. While fully appreciating the toll the present situation is taking on the citizen, the issues constitute a private legal matter which is before the local courts as the appropriate judicial authority. As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (10 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that an applicant's medical standard and fitness to serve is determined by a Medical Officer at the medical examination stage of the recruitment process, in accordance with Defence Force Regulations and instructions issued by the Director Medical Branch.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reports (10 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 no final decisions have yet been taken to date on the consultation process.  I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, made under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946, gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. Successive Ministers for Foreign Affairs have put in place strict conditions which must be satisfied before permission to overfly the territory of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (10 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The issue raised by the Deputy relates to the operation of Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012. This provides that where a person who is in receipt of a public service retirement pension resumes employment anywhere in the public service on or after 1 November 2012, their pension is liable to abatement, that is, cessation or reduction as...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Ministerial Meetings (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Over the past three months, I have participated in a number of Foreign Affairs Council video conference meetings along with the Slovenian Foreign Minister. In regard to direct contact, I had an introductory phone call with Dr. Anže Logar on 27 May, which focused on a number of issues, including the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and the EU’s Multi-annual Financial...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Middle East (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has long worked to keep international attention on the situation in Gaza. The particular risk posed by COVID-19 in the Gaza Strip was addressed in Ireland’s statement at the UN Security Council Open Debate on the Situation in the Middle East on 23 April. During my most recent visit to Gaza in December 2019, I saw for myself the impact of the blockade. Ireland contributes...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Middle East Peace Process (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 146 together. I have given a high priority to the Middle East Peace Process since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2017, and I continue to do so as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence in the current Government. I have made four working visits to Israel and Palestine, most recently in December 2019. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Middle East Peace Process (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government states that the Government will “Honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a Two-State solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”. In recognition of the lack of progress towards a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Transport (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: 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 roles as assigned by Government both at home and overseas. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Budget 2020 provides funding for the full establishment strength of the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500 personnel. The recruitment of personnel to fill vacancies across the establishment is provided for in that funding.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: 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 to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The acquisition of new equipment and the upgrading of equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future equipment...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (8 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: It is the current practice, yes.