Results 19,961-19,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Living Wage (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: Based on introducing a minimal threshold hourly rate of €11.50, the estimated additional annual cost in 2016 for staff employed by my Department would be approximately €77,000, after the sanctioned increase of 2.5% under the Lansdowne Road Agreement is taken into account. The parallel information in respect of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flood Relief Schemes Applications (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Government has allocated a sum of €5 million to be distributed as emergency humanitarian support to small businesses that have been unable to secure flood insurance and have been flooded arising from the impact of Storm Desmond. The Irish Red Cross Society have agreed to administer the scheme on behalf of the Government. The scheme is aimed at providing a contribution to the costs...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: As of the 31 of October, 2015 (the latest date for which figures are available), the serving strength of the Permanent Defence Force was 9,155 (whole-time equivalent). Budget 2016 includes a provision of some €416 million for Permanent Defence Force Pay and this amount will allow for the payment of the full establishment of 9,500 personnel, in line with the commitment in the White...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The recently published White Paper on Defence sets out a developmental path for the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). It provides that the overarching establishment of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) be set at 4,169 personnel, consisting of 3,869 Army Reservists and the expansion of the establishment of the four NSR Units from currently 200 personnel to 300. The current...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information Fees (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The total amount the Department of Defence has received in fees from Freedom of Information requests in 2014 and in 2015 to date is set out in the following table. Year Upfront Fee Search and Retrieval Fee Internal Review Fee Fees refunded * Total Net Fee 2014 €165.00 €188.55 €75.00 €45.00 €383.55 2015 0 0 €30.00 0 €30.00...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Staff (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: In my role as Minister for Defence, I have not appointed any political staff to work in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Process RIA (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has published the following Bills since 9 March 2011: 1.Defence (Amendment) Act 2011; 2. Civil Defence Act 2012; 3. Defence Forces (Second World War Amnesty and Immunity) Act 2012; 4. Defence (Amendment) Act 2015. The following proposed Bills are included in the current Government Legislation Programme: 1.Defence Forces (Forensic Evidence) Bill; 2. Red Cross Bill; 3....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I would like to clarify that meetings of the National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) are convened and chaired by the Lead Government Department. In the case of severe weather events, these meetings are chaired by senior officials of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government as the lead Department and I have been personally briefed by the Chair of the NECG...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The following tables set out the strength of the Permanent Defence Force as of 31 October, 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, across all three services and ranks, broken down by gender. The figures provided are for whole time equivalent posts. Army Rank Male Female Total Lieutenant General 1 0 1 Major General 2 0 2 Brigadier General 6 0 6 Colonel...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve Strength (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The following tables set out the effective strength of the Reserve Defence Force as of 31 October, 2015, the latest date for which figures are available, in both the Army Reserve and the Naval Service Reserve broken down by rank and gender. Army Reserve Rank Male Female Total Lieutenant Colonel 5 0 5 Commandant 48 0 48 Captain 53 3 56 Lieutenant 171 30 201 Sergeant...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: As of 1 December 2015, Ireland is contributing 493 Defence Forces personnel to 12 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 198 personnel, the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 149 personnel, and the Naval Service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to maintaining the establishment of at least 9,500 in the Permanent Defence Force, comprising of 7,520 Army, 886 Air Corps and 1,094 Naval Service as stated in the 2015 White Paper on Defence. The manpower requirement of the Defence Forces is monitored on an ongoing basis in accordance with the operational requirements of each of the three services. As there is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. 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 assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Correspondence (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I can advise you that I have contacted the representatives of the individual in question regarding procedural issues and await a response from him. I would hope that as soon as I receive his response I can progress the matter further.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flood Relief Schemes (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Government have approved the allocation of €5m to be distributed as emergency humanitarian support to small businesses, which through no fault of their own have been unable to secure flood insurance and have been flooded recently. The Irish Red Cross Society have agreed to administer the scheme on behalf of the Government. The objective of the scheme is to provide a once-off...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Appointments to State Boards (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 308 together. The State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence in March 2011 were the Civil Defence Board, the Board of Coiste an Asgard and the Army Pensions Board. The only State body currently under the aegis of the Department of Defence is the Army Pensions Board. The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Commencement of Legislation (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are no Acts currently in force under my Ministerial area of responsibility which have parts or sections yet to be formally commenced.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Aviation Museum (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is currently a museum situated at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, which contains a collection of aircraft and other aviation-related exhibits which chart the rich history of the Air Corps and aviation in Ireland. The Museum is staffed by volunteers. However security and operational considerations restrict public access, which is by appointment on weekdays only. Officials in my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Living Wage (17 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Organisation includes military personnel, civil servants and civilian employees attached to military installations. The pay structures and conditions of service of members of the Permanent Defence Force contain professional and technical remuneration elements in addition to allowances in the nature of pay which reflect the unique aspects of military life both at home and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (16 Dec 2015)

Simon Coveney: The most recent changes relating to the export of dogs were introduced as a result of new EU Regulations on intra-community trade in dogs which came into effect on 29 December 2014. Under these regulations, dogs must be at least 12 weeks old in order to be vaccinated against rabies and a waiting period of 21 days post (primary) vaccination is necessary for rabies immunity to take effect....