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<p>The first community grant application from HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade was submitted
in January 2015. There have been no previous applications submitted because there
have been no Community Covenants signed in Northern Ireland.</p><p>Despite this, good
progress has been made on Covenant issues during 2014 with nearly all of the measures
in the Covenant now extending to Northern Ireland. HQ 38 (Irish) Brigade provides
a focus for taking Covenant issues forward in the region. The Armed Forces Covenant
annual report, laid before the House on 16 December 2014, highlights this progress.
I am planning to visit Northern Ireland soon, and I will take the opportunity to see
for myself the progress that has been made and its effect on the Armed Forces Community
in the Province.</p><p>We will continue to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive
to ensure that the needs of the Armed Forces community are met.</p>
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