Results 81-100 of 450 for going forward speaker:Simon Coveney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recent Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the UN Security Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...seal off borders in the region and try to manage the number of refugees crossing. What is occurring is effectively the state-sponsored use of vulnerable migrants to create political tension as a negotiating influencer. It is incredibly irresponsible. We are working to try to target new sanctions to respond to that. Members will see a fifth round of sanctions coming forward. Ireland...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Recent Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council and the UN Security Council: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The international community is trying but it has limited leverage with the Taliban, to tell the truth. Of course, we want to advocate for a more inclusive government, and we are doing so. We want to advocate for women's rights and particularly the rights of girls in terms of education and employment and so on, and we are doing so. However, are we being successful in protecting women's...

Seanad: British Government Legacy Proposals: Motion (13 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...emotive engagement on the issue. It is clear this House shares the unanimous view of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Government that the British Government proposals cannot be the basis of a way forward on the legacy of the conflict. It is an issue which we know to be of profound personal importance to many families across this island - North and South - and has touched the lives...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...measures undertaken, aimed at retaining capacity, include two Commitment Schemes, one in the Air Corps which has had a stabilising effect on pilot numbers and one in the Naval Service to incentivise sea going duties. A sea going naval personnel tax credit has been extended for the 2021 tax year and has been increased to €1,500. Recruitment in 2021 has resulted in 406 inductions as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ..., however, we are taking this issue seriously. I want to acknowledge the courage of the women in the Women of Honour group, and the many women currently serving in the Defence Forces, who came forward and spoke with me in the way they did in the context of their experiences. I want to give reassurance to those women that, one, I believe them, and, two, we are going to act with them to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...in the Defence Forces but they have not worked. Dr. Eileen Doyle, for example, did fantastic work on some of the independent monitoring group reports that she was involved in and her efforts are ongoing. Many people in the Defence Forces have also been advocating for change in this space. A women's network has been set up as well as a support network for LGBTQ communities within the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...of Honour group and with serving women from the Defence Forces were deeply impactful, not only on me but on my Secretary General and indeed the incoming Chief of Staff. This is an issue we are going to get a handle on. We are going to put a process in place that will deliver real change. I say that very directly to the House. Anybody who chooses to enter the Defence Forces and wants to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...Defence Force at 9,500 personnel, there are a number of factors, many of which are hard to predict, which will impact on the timeframe within which this will be achieved. I have acknowledged the on-going staffing challenges in the Defence Forces and these have been well-documented. Initiatives to counter those challenges and play a role in restoring and retaining capacity and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...pilots, introduced in 2019, which has had a stabilising effect on Air Corps pilot numbers, with 25 officers currently participating.  A further iteration of the Scheme is scheduled in Q4 2021.   - A Naval Service Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme, aimed at retaining experienced personnel and incentivising sea going duties, was also introduced this year with 81 applications...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...,435 492 6,927 Air Corps 886 684 39 723 Naval Service 1,094 828 72 900 Recruitment remains ongoing and has resulted in 354 inductions, including 320 General Service recruits, as of 31st August 2021.  As of the same date, 97 recruits discharged from the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...for pilots, introduced in 2019, which has had a stabilising effect on Air Corps pilot numbers, with 25 officers currently participating.  A further iteration of the Scheme is scheduled in Q4 2021.   - A Naval Service Sea-going Service Commitment Scheme, aimed at retaining experienced personnel and incentivising sea going duties, was also introduced this year with 81...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...specialist numbers: - Continuing traditional recruitment. - The scope of direct entry competitions was expanded in 2021 and competition terms and conditions continue to be revised to further improve intakes. - Ongoing re-enlistment & re-commissioning former PDF members who possess the skills to fill specialist posts. - Commitment scheme for Flying Officers in the...

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...to get out safely. On top of that, there is the Irish refugee protection programme. I wish to single out the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman. There was talk earlier about picking up the telephone and talking to Ministers late at night. In my view, Deputy O'Gorman has been phenomenal through this process in respect of interventions...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...a comprehensive review mechanism, which will be independent of the Defence Forces and the Department of Defence, in order to ensure that we do an extremely in-depth piece of work here. We are going to work with that group of women, those I met today and others, to ensure that they can believe in and be convinced by the terms of reference and make-up and focus of the group. There have...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...the Defence Forces. That is a matter that my Department and I and the leadership of the Defence Forces are determined to deliver. We will first work with women who have been brave enough to come forward, and others, to make sure we put in place a structure that is independent, strong and robust enough, has terms of reference that are fit for purpose and allows a group to start that piece...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Appointment of Special Envoys and Update on Afghanistan: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence (31 Aug 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...Zappone decided not to take the job. She said she would not accept it because of the publicity around it. Clearly, the process and her appointment did not have public confidence and so it did not go ahead. That is the unfortunate consequence of what happened and of some of the mistakes that were made on our side. I will address how we can take matters forward, about which Senator...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...contract and voluntary discharges and, as shown above, also includes a number of trainees who exited prior to completion of their initial training. I have acknowledged in the past that there are on-going difficulties in the Defence Forces, and these have been well-documented. The sea-going service commitment scheme and an extension of a tax credit, both for sea-going Naval Service...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am very pleased to meet with the committee today. I look forward to the questions and comments of members in a few minutes' time. I wish to make a brief opening statement to set a context around our discussion and then I will take questions. Thank you for the invitation to meet with the committee today, a Chathaoirligh. I was honoured to meet with the Ballymurphy families on several...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: ...The relationship is good on this issue. I have made it clear that the position of the Irish Government is that we support the Stormont House Agreement, which we think is, on balance, the best way forward. As people know, the Stormont House Agreement effectively sets up four structures. It establishes a historical investigations unit to take forward investigations that are outstanding...