Results 21,381-21,400 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: In the most recent report on the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, the UN Secretary General stated that the continued presence of UNDOF in the area remains essential. Moreover, Israel and the Syrian Arab Republic have stated their continued commitment to the disengagement of forces agreement and to the presence of UNDOF. UNDOF is implementing its mandate and continues to engage...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: We are there to try to bring some calm and international observation to a region that has an extraordinarily difficult conflict to overcome. The idea that removing the UNDOF mission from the stabilising role it is playing in the Golan Heights does not make sense. The area is no longer a flashpoint between Israel and Syria, for the moment anyway. The idea that we would reduce or remove that...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: That was not it. Its intention was to ensure that hostilities did not begin again between Syria and Israel, and it has been successful.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: This was about recognising and enforcing a disengagement agreement and treaty.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: No, it was about enforcing a disengagement agreement. It was a relatively stable mission until some years ago. The success of the mission has been to keep two warring parties apart, and it has worked. What has made it a far more complex mission in recent years has been the civil war in Syria. I am sorry but Deputy Daly's accusations about human shields simply do not stand up given what...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Projects (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I thank all Deputies for welcoming this initiative. I do not think there has been any criticism of the idea. The idea is essentially based on trying to build on Ireland's international reputation as a very effective peacekeeping nation that can offer and share training capacity to help in the broad efforts around making peacekeeping, peace enforcement and peace management more effective....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Projects (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: My intention is to make sure that this happens before I leave so it is in a process of delivery, as opposed to a decision having to be made about it after the election. Any future Minister can make any decisions he or she wants to. The Deputy mentioned His Highness, the Aga Khan. I travelled to Paris recently to talk to him about this project. To say he was very interested would be an...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Departmental Projects (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The idea is that the Defence Forces would provide a platform, similar to a university campus, which would be safe and secure and would allow people to stay for relatively short-term courses, to be provided by universities from various parts of the world which have real expertise in various areas. Whether one is a diplomat, working for an NGO or an officer in a defence force somewhere, one...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: We do not prescribe Lariam as the first drug of choice. We look at a region and we take the best possible medical advice on the most appropriate drug for the region, depending on how long people will stay and the strain of malaria in the region. It is also not true to say that the UK and the US have abandoned Lariam. They have not.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: They do use Lariam, but only in certain circumstances. They have screening processes and information processing to ensure they do everything they can to manage the risk regarding the use of Lariam. We are trying to do the same. I had a very good meeting with the group advocating for a change in policy on the use of Lariam. As the Deputy would expect, it was a very emotive meeting as well...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: If the expert group recommends that we change policy, I will be first to make it happen.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: No, the Deputy said they had abandoned it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: We do not have large numbers of Defence Forces personnel in sub-Saharan Africa at the moment, but that is not the point. The point is that if the recommendation is that Lariam is the most appropriate drug for a region to which we are sending Defence Forces personnel, then of course there is a screening process. I have had long and detailed meetings with the Defence Forces and the Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The reason we have a working group is to be able to make detailed recommendations on which we can act.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: I can only answer from the evidence that I have seen, which is that the current screening process is a robust one and that individual soldiers, before they go, must fill out individual forms in relation to Lariam. It was quite a different situation when we had many more troops in sub-Saharan Africa because we had troops on rotation, perhaps every six months. In recent years, we may well...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Medicinal Products (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: We will make changes, but on the basis of expert advice.

Other Questions: Army Barracks Closures (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: Following the closure of Columb Barracks, my Department wrote to Departments and other public bodies inviting them to express any interest in the property with a view to its disposal by the Department. No such interest was expressed at that time. My officials also met local representatives and officials from Westmeath County Council to discuss the future of the barracks. As the Deputy...

Other Questions: Army Barracks Closures (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: It is part of the process. The Deputy should stop playing politics.

Other Questions: Army Barracks Closures (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The problem is that the Deputy is trying to turn this into a political football. The Deputy should know, although he probably does not, that the approach towards the Reserve Defence Force has changed. We now have a one force strategy whereby the reserves train with Permanent Defence Force personnel so they can work with them should they be required to do so rather than having them operate...

Other Questions: Army Barracks Closures (26 Jan 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy can keep asking the same question if he wants, but he will get the same answer. If this barracks of approximately 24 acres is to be developed, a partnership will be needed to find sustainable and good community uses for it. That is why we have been working to accommodate the GAA, the Garda Síochána, Westmeath County Council and other groups, including voluntary groups,...