Results 19,421-19,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I continue to chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning. It comprises of those Ministers and senior officials that have a lead or support role in Government emergency planning.The Government Task Force co-ordinates and oversees the emergency management policy and activities of all Government Departments and public agencies. It is supported by the Office of Emergency Planning,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service Operations (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The provisions for the award of military medals are incorporated in Defence Force Regulations A9 (New Series) - 'Dress and Medals'. The Regulations provide that a recommendation for the award of the Distinguished Service Medal must be made and forwarded to the Chief of Staff not later than four years after the performance of the act in respect of which the recommendation is made. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to provide assistance and support to An Garda Síochána when requested to do...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Defence constantly reviews the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas. With regard to any future deployments of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests, from time to time, in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. As the Deputy is aware, I recently attended the meeting of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Easter Rising Commemorations (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Whilst responsibility for the Decade of Centenaries Programme rests with my colleague the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, both my Department and the Defence Forces are nevertheless playing a significant role in many of the events planned for 2016. My Department is currently working very closely with the Ireland 2016 Project Office in the Department of Arts, Heritage and the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: UN Missions (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: A contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been deployed to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights since 2013. The current Irish contingent, the 50th Infantry Group, comprising 131 personnel, is based in UNDOF Headquarters in Camp Ziouani. It operates in the role of a Quick Reaction Force, which is on standby to assist with ongoing operations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Government approved the allocation of €5m to be distributed as emergency humanitarian support to small businesses and community, sporting and voluntary bodies which through no fault of their own have been unable to secure flood insurance and have been flooded recently. The scheme, which is being administered by the Irish Red Cross Society, provides a once-off ex...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I received a disclosure under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014, and follow-up correspondence, from an individual alleging that a number of Air Corps Aircraft Inspectors have authorisation to certify sheet metal repairs and modifications on aircraft types currently in service in the Air Corps without the required qualifications or experience to do so. I directed that an independent...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Visits (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: During the period 20 to 22 December 2015, I accompanied the Taoiseach on a visit to Lebanon and Israel. The visit afforded us an opportunity to see, at first hand, the tremendous work done overseas by the Irish Defence Forces. On the 21st and 22nd December respectively, we met with Defence Forces personnel serving as part of a joint Finnish/Irish battalion with the United Nations Interim...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capacity of the Defence Forces, including the availability of specialised equipment, is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles both at home and overseas. In accordance with the Framework for Major Emergency Management, primary responsibility for responding to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The matter to which the Deputy is referring is the case of the deaths of Private Thomas Barrett and Private Derek Smallhorne who were murdered, and Private John O’Mahony who was seriously injured while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on 18 April 1980. In July 2014 the alleged perpetrator, Mr. Mahmoud Bazzi, who had been residing in the United States...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence, which was published in August 2015, sets out the policy framework for the Defence Organisation for the next ten years and beyond. The White Paper affirms the Government’s commitment to the continued development of Civil Defence. The future of Civil Defence will be developed around its central strategic objective of supporting the Principal Response...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: UN Missions (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: A contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been deployed to the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights since 2013. The current Irish contingent, the 50th Infantry Group, comprising 131 personnel, is based in UNDOF Headquarters in Camp Ziouani. It operates in the role of a Quick Reaction Force, which is on standby to assist with ongoing operations...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Industrial Development (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167, 173 and 176 together. The Irish Whiskey industry is expanding rapidly to meet worldwide demand as Irish whiskey is currently the fastest growing spirit internationally. In 2015 exports recorded double digit growth to reach an estimated €410 million in value. In volume terms exports are likely to rise from 7 million cases in 2014 to 12 million...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Development (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. I am happy to advise the Deputy that, notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, in excess of €9.8 million has been invested in maintenance,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Basic Payment Scheme Payments (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted two 2015 Private Contract Clause applications to my Department. All details relating to land parcel details for 2013 and 2015 and Single Payment entitlement values from 2014 have to be reconciled in order to process these applications. The applications are currently being processed with a view to payment under the Basic Payment Scheme issuing as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Applications (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted two 2015 Transfer of Allocation Right and Reference Value applications to my Department. All details relating to land parcel details for 2013 and 2015 and Single Payment entitlement values from 2014 have to be reconciled in order to process these applications. The applications are currently being processed with a view to payment under the Basic Payment Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Offices (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: In 2009, in line with government policy, my Department began a process of restructuring its local office network which reduced the number of local offices from 58 to 16 enhanced Regional Offices.  A follow-on review of the business processes and procedures and, in particular, the administrative support requirements, in those 16 offices resulted in the introduction of a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Scheme Payments (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 27 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a Ground eligibility...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced their AEOS 1 contract on 1 November 2010 and has been paid for the 2010-2014 scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System must take place. As it is their final scheme year re-checks on payments made for all...