Results 20,121-20,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Review (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: While these are interesting questions, the Deputy will appreciate that it is not appropriate for me to discuss operational matters such as those about which he is asking, for example, response times.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Review (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am sorry, but the people on the street should be reassured that we have An Garda Síochána, which is the primary response body in emergencies. Its emergency response units have been highly trained at home and abroad and have significant capacity. They are supported by Defence Forces personnel when called upon to do so. Speaking as the Minister with responsibility for the Defence...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which Deputy Clare Daly has also raised repeatedly and on which she has submitted another question for later today. I am aware that the vigil took place. Since then, I have received a letter from the group seeking a meeting. I am more than happy to meet it. I will respond to it in the coming days and set up a meeting before Christmas. Since...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: First, it is not an inquiry; it is a working group of experts that is to make recommendations to me on the continuing use, or otherwise, of Lariam as an effective antimalarial drug. Some 1 million people die in sub-Saharan Africa each year from malaria. It poses a very serious risk to military personnel when they are serving in that region. We have choices. Approximately three drugs are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: We have had troops going to various parts of the world for 58 years. If we are to send more troops to any part of the world - we have not decided to do this, so let us not start overstepping the mark - we will have to go through the usual procedures for assessment and reconnaissance. We will also have to go through a triple-lock decision-making process, as is appropriate. In addition, we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: First, for the record of the House, I will state what Article 42.7 actually is. It is not a mutual defence clause but a mutual assistance clause. There is a big difference. The article states:If a Member State is the victim of armed aggression on its territory, the other Member States shall have towards it an obligation of aid and assistance by all the means in their power, in accordance...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: With respect, I think France is better placed to make decisions on how it protects its citizens than Deputy Daly, which is what she seems to be proposing. The country saw over 130 of its citizens mowed down or blown up on the streets of Paris. An Irish citizen, who luckily was not killed, was injured significantly. France has a right to respond to protect itself and it will do that....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: What I think is reprehensible is that Deputy Daly seems to be suggesting that the tragedy in Paris is the fault of the French Government as opposed to madmen, who are fundamentalists and who want to destroy the way of life that cities like Paris represent. Paris is multicultural, multi-ethnic and multi-colourful. No city in the world has more mixed marriages than Paris. It is a place I had...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: As of 1 November, Ireland has contributed 429 Defence Forces personnel to 12 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Irish Defence Forces personnel are deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, which comprises 192 personnel, and UNDOF in Syria, with 150 personnel. The Naval Service humanitarian service mission in the Mediterranean...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I had a very interesting meeting last week with representatives from Médecins Sans Frontières, which is very much part of the humanitarian mission in the Mediterranean and is doing a fantastic job as an NGO. The numbers have reduced quite significantly in recent weeks. The LE Niamh, which was in the Mediterranean before the LE Samuel Beckettwhich is currently there, rescued about...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is right, as the mission in which we are involved at present is a training mission, but there are multiple missions in Mali. There is a bilateral mission with a series of African countries in the Sahel region, in which France is involved. There is also a European mission and a UN mission. Prior to the attacks in Paris, we had completed a piece of reconnaissance work on Mali...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the paper recently published to which the Deputy refers and the ongoing debate relating to the use of Lariam. The health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a priority, as I said earlier to Deputy Crowe. As I have already indicated to the House, the choice of medication for overseas deployment, including the use of Lariam, is a medical decision made by...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Americans have not suspended its use.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Of course we will publish recommendations as soon as we have them. The Deputy is making sweeping generalisations. The United States decided to stop using Lariam for troops sent to Afghanistan. We have troops in Afghanistan and we never gave them Lariam because it is not the appropriate drug for troops being sent to Afghanistan. It depends on the region, where personnel are going and for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: It depends on the region. The Deputy is trying to exaggerate for effect.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: We have assessed that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: I know the Deputy has genuine concerns about this issue, but so do I. Let us try not to make sweeping statements that are not true. We have looked at the incidence of suicide in the Defence Forces and among ex-Defence Forces personnel. We have looked at that in a lot of detail as regards trends over the last 20 years. We have tried to make comparisons between times when a lot of Lariam...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: No, there is not. I asked that very direct question of our Chief Medical Officer. Rather than jumping to conclusions and making political decisions to be popular, I am trying to make decisions on the basis of the best medical advice I can get, both nationally and internationally, just like in the UK-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: Despite the inquiries that are being made at the moment, the policy in the UK has not changed-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (24 Nov 2015)

Simon Coveney: -----in terms of using Lariam to protect their troops, and is the Deputy suggesting-----