Tag Archives: Minister Simon Coveney

THE cost of providing military assistance to gardai for duties at Shannon Airport has come to nearly €800,000 over the last three years, writes Owen Ryan. In the Dáil Deputy Catherine Connolly asked Minister for Defence Simon Coveney for details on the expenditure and in reply he said that in 2019 it came to €214,213, in 2020 it was €270,708 and last year €273,027. Mr Coveney said, “Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP) which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested. “I am satisfied that there is ongoing and close liaison between both An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, and between my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality regarding security matters generally, including the Defence Forces ATCP roles.” He said costs relate to security duty allowance paid to members of the Defence Forces, rations and fuel.

Foreign Minister open to full-time role for Padraig Ó Ceidigh in Shannon Group, writes Dan Danaher FOREIGN Affairs Minister Simon Coveney has defended the government’s record on supporting Shannon Airport in the wake of claims it could be doing more to assist the Shannon Group and airport from the havoc wreaked by Covid-19. “This has been a devastating period for the aviation industry. The Shannon region is so impacted by the activity or the non-activity in the airport. “We have seen this in Cork Airport too, but more so in Shannon because of the linkage between the connectivity at the airport and so many businesses in a very wide radius of the airport. “Transatlantic traffic has collapsed because the US has effectively banned EU citizens from flying to the US. For a period US citizens were not allowed into Ireland either without Covid-19 certification,” he said. Although Pádraig Ó Céidigh is being appointed as part-time non executive chair of Shannon …

CLARE’S Independent TD has robustly challenged the Minister for Defence over the sector’s track record in tackling discrimination, following a ground-breaking RTE radio documentary. Deputy Michael McNamara said that while he believed that the abuse of power within the Defence Forces, and similar organisations with a command structure, is limited to a small minority, there was still a tendency to “circle the wagons rather than tackle the problem”. As Minister Simon Coveney answered Priority Questions (PQs) in the Dail last week, a number of deputies raised concerns about the revelations of sexual coercion and harassment detailed in the ‘Women of Honour’ documentary. Deputy McNamara noted that his own query for the minister was on a related theme, and he asked for an update on the Defence Forces’ process of implementing recommendations on anti-discrimination law. The Scariff-based TD drew the chamber’s attention to the findings, last December, of a Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) hearing which made a series of recommendations on …

THE professionalism and dedication to duty of Clare Civil Defence was highlighted this week at the opening of the group’s new headquarters. The new facility, at the Quin Road Campus in Ennis, was officially opened this Tuesday by Simon Coveney TD, Minister for Defence and Minister for Foreign Affairs. The headquarters is a state-of-the-art, purpose-designed building that will be utilised by more than 100 Civil Defence volunteers from around the county, and includes training facilities, office accommodation, a records management centre, storage and garage. Speaking at the official opening Minister Coveney said: “I am delighted to be here on this important occasion. It is a fantastic facility and a tribute to everyone who has been involved in this project. “We have some of the Civil Defence volunteer community here and I would like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to them. “Clare Civil Defence has undertaken 300 separate Covid-19 related tasks, and multiple other roles including a number of …

The Clare Champion has been named winner of a national award in recognition of the newspaper’s coverage of water safety issues. This week Irish Water Safety presented The Clare Champion with a Media Appreciation Award at the annual awards ceremony in Dublin Castle. The award is presented to those who have excelled in media coverage that brings awareness of water safety to the public above and beyond others. Managing director of The Clare Champion John Galvin received the award on behalf of the newspaper. He commented, “We are delighted to receive this award. As Clare is a coastal county, water safety should be of vital consideration and be taught at an early age. We at The Clare Champion want to do our part to ensure that everyone is aware of the importance of water safety.” Roger Sweeney, marketing manager and deputy CEO at Irish Water Safety, stated, “It’s thanks to The Clare Champion that more people are more aware of …

THE lifesaving actions of three heroes in Clare have been recognised at the annual Irish Water Safety Awards this week. John McDonnell, Sergeant John Casey and Sergeant Marie Crowley were presented with the Irish Water Safety Just in Time Award for their part in the rescue of a man from a car that had entered the water at Ballyvaughan Pier last August. Near tragedy was averted when Sergeant Casey, who at the time had just transferred to Ennistymon Garda Station from Ennis, jumped into the water along with local John McDonnell to save the man. They both managed to pull him from the sinking car and carried him safety ashore, while Sergeant Crowley managed gathering onlookers. At the time, Superintendent Martin McGonnell praised the garda members and Mr McDonnell for their quick thinking in dealing with the emergency. The award was presented to the trio by Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Simon Coveney at the annual national awards …

Residents on the outskirts of Clonlara, who have been left marooned by rising flood waters, have urged Agriculture Minister not to forget them ahead of Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting. Minister Coveney visited some residents in a flat bottom boat with the help of the Irish Defence Forces early on Sunday morning. The Cork Deputy, who was the first government representative to visit the devastated community, since it began to flood nearly a month ago, spoke to householders,  who are cut off from their homes due to the flooding of a local access road. Standing with the minister in the river of water surrounding her home, resident, Lisa Griffin asked the minister to save the community from the regular incidence of flooding, which first started in 1995. When the ESB-operated Parteen Weir reaches capacity, the company releases excess volumes of water, which in turn results in Springfield and the wider Clonlara area becoming flooded. “If you are going to protect Athlone you are going …

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association (ICSA) campaign threatening to withdraw from the Quality Assurance Scheme has met with a phenomenal response at the National Ploughing Championships in County Laois this week. “Since our stand opened on Tuesday morning, there has been a constant stream of farmers coming in to sign up,” said organisation president, Patrick Kent. “The anger out there is palpable among beef farmers, and this was reflected in the frank exchange of views with Minister Simon Coveney at the ICSA stand. ICSA again outlined the urgent need for a regulator for the meat industry. Farmers who came in to commit to withdrawal from the Quality Assurance Scheme were also hugely supportive of ICSA’s call for such a regulator,” he continued. Mr Kent stressed farmers want to see a successful beef export business and are committed to the highest standards. “ICSA believes it is not too late to pull back from this campaign if there are meaningful …