Results 8,261-8,280 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On 1 April last,  former Minister with responsibility for Defence, Paul Kehoe, TD., launched the scheme to re-enlist former Permanent Defence Force enlisted personnel who have the skills and expertise required to fill identified vacancies that currently exist. This includes technicians, fitters, chefs, communications and IT specialists and naval staff. The scheme will allow for initial...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: In order to ensure that the Defence Forces have the capability to deliver on all of the roles assigned by Government, I am committed to the development and improvement of the physical environment and living conditions in military installations throughout the country. This is being achieved through the Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Programme which was published in January 2020. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 596 to 598, inclusive, together. Vote 36 Defence is managed through a single programme with all operational outputs delivered from a single set of forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Capital expenditure costs for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are not identified separately, but are included in the overall programme costs in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Unlike other areas of the public service and due to the nature of the duties performed, overtime or shift allowance payments are not available to members of the Defence Forces.  Remuneration for individual members of the Permanent Defence Force is dependent on a range of factors relating to the role and duties they perform. The minimum for trained personnel is comprised of Basic Pay and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Civil Defence operates on a partnership basis between the Department of Defence and the Local Authorities.  The Department of Defence is responsible for the strategic management and development of Civil Defence at national level. The Department provides policy direction, centralised training, administrative support and guidance and centralised procurement of major items of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 601 and 603 together. The attached document provides the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as at the 30th June 2020 (the latest figures available), broken down by rank, service and gender. The capacity of the Defence Forces toinduct and train recruits was severely impacted by the COVID-19 situation but those aspects of the induction process that could be...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 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 30 June 2020, are set out below: The substantive strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the military authorities that 44 new members have been inducted into the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) from 1 January to 28 July 2020, broken down as follows: AR and NSR Inductions Year Total AR Male Female NSR Male Female 2020 44 42 36 6 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Since being appointed as Minister for Defence I have not appointed any advisers, special advisers or seconded civil servants in that role. 

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Claims Agency (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that the State Claims Agency (SCA) has delegated authority to manage personal injury and property damage claims taken against the Minister for Defence. In cases where the State is considered liable or which involve an apportionment of liability as between the State and the claimant, the SCA's approach is to settle such cases expeditiously in so far as it is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: There have been no payments for good or services made to this company by the Department of Defence since 2015.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Battle Groups (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is currently participating in one PESCO project, namely the Greek led project, Upgrade of Maritime Surveillance.  Costs may arise in respect of participation in specific PESCO projects similar to the case where the Defence Forces participate in European Defence Agency Projects.  In respect of this PESCO project, the only costs borne to date is in relation to Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I presume the Deputy is referring to the cessation of a portion of the military retirement pension of certain Defence Forces pensioners on qualifying for the social welfare State Pension (Contributory). Under the Defence Forces occupational pension scheme applicable to Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Privates enlisting in the Defence Forces before April 2004, 21 years is the minimum...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: All sudden deaths that occur in the Defence Forces are reported to the relevant Coroner's Office. It is a matter for the Coroner to determine the cause of death and this is not recorded by the Defence Forces.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the military authorities that the Defence Forces are not in a position to provide the information requested as the data is not specifically captured by the medical record system and would require a search through the medical records of each individual member. In addition it would give rise to issues of medical confidentiality and data protection.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 612 to 614, inclusive, together. The attached document contains the information in tabular form, as requested by the Deputy. The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining, the agreed strength of the PDF at 9,500 personnel.  However, the capacity of the Defence Forces to induct and train recruits in 2020 was severely impacted by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 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 30 June 2020, are set out below: The figures for the First Line Reserve for the same years are as follows:...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The current rates of pay and allowances for all members of Defence Forces are available though the Department of Defence Website ().  Defence Forces pay has increased in the past five years in accordance with recent public service pay agreements, i.e. the Public Service Stability Agreement 2013-2018 (the Lansdowne Road Agreement) and the Public Service Stability...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Funding (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government appreciates the service of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and recognises its importance in contributing to Ireland's defence capability.  The 2015 White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the RDF. The Government is committed to further developing the RDF. At end June 2020, the strength of the Army Reserve...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that during the summer of 2017, infill material comprising of clay with trace amounts of construction and demolition materials was deposited on the lands referred to by the Deputy. This occurred in the absence of the appropriate sanction or consent from officials in my Department's Property Management Branch. Since that time my Department has been engaged in legal...