Results 8,441-8,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Tánaiste is a constitutional appointment, and is required to act in the place of the Taoiseach during his or her temporary absence. Under the Partnership Government, there is a plan in place to facilitate a rotating Taoiseach. The current Tánaiste will become Taoiseach and vice versa. Furthermore, the Taoiseach and Tánaiste will both be conducting a number of public...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: As of 8 July 2020, Ireland is contributing 541 personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 321 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 134 personnel. In relation to UNDOF, Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: As this matter is currently the subject of legal proceedings, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Responsibilities (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: A copy of the Ministerial Brief, provided following my recent appointment as Minister for Defence, has been published on my Department's website. Where there are any redactions, these are line with the provisions of Freedom of Information legislation.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) of 2019 contains a range of recommendations aimed at improving work-force planning, recruitment and conditions of service for members of the Defence Forces. A High Level Plan to give effect to the recommendations of the PSPC is being implemented. It should be noted that as the High Level Implementation Plan contains short, medium and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (14 Jul 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (14 Jul 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe.  As part of this programme,  I can confirm that the construction of a new headquarter block for the Army Ranger Wing at the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Pensions (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Army Pensions Acts provide for the grant of pensions and gratuities to former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in respect of permanent disablement due to a wound or injury attributable to military service (whether at home or abroad) or due to disease attributable to or aggravated by overseas service with the United Nations. Section 13(2) of the Army Pensions Act, 1923, as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 492 together. I am advised that my Department was not in a position to dispose of the properties referred to because of legal difficulties in relation to the site. After taking all matters into consideration, and based on the legal advices, my Department had no alternative but to withdraw from the offer of sale.  Those who were offered the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Member of the Defence Forces who were allocated a Married Quarter and who subsequently retire or leave are required under Regulation to return vacant possession of that property. Where the property is not vacated those remaining in the property, be they the former serving member, their spouse, children and/or other person, are regarded as Overholding. It was brought to my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 495 together. The attached tables contain the information requested by the Deputy. The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of each branch of the Irish Permanent Defence Force. However, the capacity of the Defence Forces toinduct and train recruits has been severely impacted by the COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (14 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 31 May 2020, are set out below:  EFFECTIVE LT COL COMDT CAPT LT ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the military authorities that 32 new members have been inducted into the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) from 1 January to 8 July 2020, broken down as follows: - Total number inducted Number of females inducted Army Reserve  30 3 Naval Service Reserve 2 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Vote 36 Defence was allocated a gross funding provision of €781 million for 2020. This allocation provides for the pay and allowances of over 10,400 public service employees, the upgrade and replacement of essential military equipment and infrastructure, ongoing Defence Forces operational and standing costs as well as funding in respect of Civil Defence and the Irish Red Cross Society....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Inquiries (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are no tribunals, public investigations, or commissions of investigations in process within the remit of my Department.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am glad to be able to respond to several of those questions and comment on some of the broader issues that have been raised. Deputy Richmond is correct. The plans for Ireland to increase its footprint and influence across the world are not confined to activity outside of the European Union. The EU will certainly be very different in a post-Brexit world to how it was when the UK was very...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. I will need some time to answer his question. Deputy Brady asked the same question earlier and I did not get a chance to get back to him. Deputy Harkin and others also mentioned the commitment to 0.7% of GNI and how we can get there. As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government includes a commitment to getting to 0.7% by 2030. We have also committed to...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy and I will try to deal with some of the questions. I thank her for the comments about our efforts with the United Nations Security Council. I assure everybody in the House that we did not aspire to be on the United Nations Security Council again just to sit there and win the competition. We want to make a difference and use all the influence we have, including the...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for her compliments on the work of the Department's consular division during the Covid crisis. We are not finished yet because the virus is still accelerating in many parts of the world, including where Irish citizens live. This is the case in Latin America, South America, the United States itself and across Africa. I expect our consular division will continue to be very...