Results 32,701-32,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Middle East Peace Process (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 146 together. I have given a high priority to the Middle East Peace Process since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2017, and I continue to do so as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence in the current Government. I have made four working visits to Israel and Palestine, most recently in December 2019. ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Middle East Peace Process (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government states that the Government will “Honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a Two-State solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”. In recognition of the lack of progress towards a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Transport (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government both at home and overseas. The acquisition of new equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Budget 2020 provides funding for the full establishment strength of the Permanent Defence Force of 9,500 personnel. The recruitment of personnel to fill vacancies across the establishment is provided for in that funding.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (9 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The acquisition of new equipment and the upgrading of equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (10 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that consular assistance is being provided to this citizen, through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin and our Embassy on the ground. While fully appreciating the toll the present situation is taking on the citizen, the issues constitute a private legal matter which is before the local courts as the appropriate judicial authority. As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (10 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that an applicant's medical standard and fitness to serve is determined by a Medical Officer at the medical examination stage of the recruitment process, in accordance with Defence Force Regulations and instructions issued by the Director Medical Branch.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reports (10 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces. The Commission is to be established before the end of this year, with a mandate to report within twelve months. Planning for the Commission is in the early stages and no final decisions have yet been taken to date on the consultation process.  I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, made under the Air Navigation and Transport Act 1946, gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. Successive Ministers for Foreign Affairs have put in place strict conditions which must be satisfied before permission to overfly the territory of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (10 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The issue raised by the Deputy relates to the operation of Section 52 of the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and other Provisions) Act 2012. This provides that where a person who is in receipt of a public service retirement pension resumes employment anywhere in the public service on or after 1 November 2012, their pension is liable to abatement, that is, cessation or reduction as...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Sometimes Irish.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: We have the acting force commander in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, at the moment, Maureen O'Brien.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent agreements is an utmost priority for this Government. The New Decade, New Approach agreement reached in January was a very significant shared achievement in restoring the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement to operation after three years of their absence. As we have set out...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 371 together. The Withdrawal Agreement, of which the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is an integral part, is an international agreement, as agreed between the EU and the UK in October 2019. Its implementation is an obligation under international law. Any unilateral attempt to undermine the Withdrawal Agreement, or a unilateral departure from its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Working Holiday Visas (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the individual in question submitted an application for a Working Holiday Authorisation under the Ireland–Canada Working Holiday Programme, and that this was received by the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa in early August. Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations with Canada and a number of other...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Foreign Births Registration Section has now resumed the processing of applications. Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex proces, often involving official documentation related to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. At present, it takes between 12 to 18 months to process an application to completion. The Foreign Births...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of reports that Poland’s Minister of Justice has filed a formal request to the Polish Family Ministry to launch the procedure to facilitate Poland’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. Should this become the official policy of the Polish Government, I would be concerned by such a policy. It is my understanding that the Polish Prime Minister has decided to submit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland firmly supports the rule of law as a core value of the European Union. The rule of law is and should remain a fundamental principle that all EU Member States respect, protect and promote. It is important for the EU to have the necessary tools to monitor the rule of law across Member States and effectively respond to challenges where they arise. We welcome the priority given...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland firmly supports the rule of law as a core value of the European Union. The rule of law is and should remain a fundamental principle that all EU Member States respect, protect and promote. The conclusions of the special meeting of the European Council in July this year state that a regime of conditionality, based on the general principles and values enshrined in the EU Treaties,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of assessments of democracy in Hungary by the organisation mentioned by the Deputy. Ireland firmly supports the rule of law as a core value of the European Union. The rule of law is and should remain a fundamental principle that all EU Member States respect, protect and promote. Our concerns about issues relating to the rule of law in Hungary are well known, specifically...