Results 32,721-32,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: I am shocked and saddened by the unrest and violence witnessed at some of the protests in the United States in recent months. The circumstances around the recent shootings in Wisconsin and Portland are alarming and highlight the harm that can arise from division in a society. We are witnessing sustained months of protests in the US decrying racism and issues of racial inequality. Wherever...

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

Simon Coveney: Ireland has condemned the human rights violations we have seen in Belarus, including indiscriminate detentions of peaceful protesters, ill treatment of detainees and curtailments on freedoms of expression, assembly, and the media. Ireland, and the EU, have made it repeatedly clear that the violence must stop and that those unjustly detained, including political prisoners, must be released and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Cork and Dublin Passport Offices were closed to the public on 27 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Passport Service commenced a phased return to full operation on 8 June and has since processed over 140,000 passport applications. The re-opening of the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork to the public is kept under regular review, with due consideration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply saddened by the fire at the Moria camp on Lesbos and the impact this has had on the refugees and migrants based at the camp. It is a relief that there are no reported deaths or injuries, but the very sudden displacement of thousands of people has caused great suffering and created a major humanitarian emergency as well as posing a huge logistical challenge for the Greek...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Projects (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are no Exchequer funded projects over €1 billion currently overseen by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a process under which groups of Member States can come together to develop capabilities in support of Common CSDP Operations.  The objective of PESCO is to generate a coherent full spectrum of defence capabilities which will be available to Member States for national and multinational (EU, NATO, UN, etc.) missions and operations. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Common Security and Defence Policy (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) provides the EU with the capacity to undertake peacekeeping and conflict prevention missions and to strengthen international security in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter.  The EU is currently involved in 17 CSDP missions and operations, of these six are military, and 11 are civilian. Ireland is an active participant in both...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 378 and 380 together. The table below shows the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 31st July 2020, the latest date for which such data is available, broken down by rank, service and gender.  To date 147 personnel (9 female) were inducted into the Permanent Defence Force in 2020 which includes 10 (0 Female) re-enlisted personnel. Of those...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Reserve Defence Force (RDF) is comprised of the First Line Reserve (FLR), the Army Reserve (AR) and the Naval Service Reserve (NSR).  The most up to date figures available for the effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR), as of 31 July 2020, are set out below. End of month returns are collated at the mid-month point of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the military authorities that 58 new members have been inducted into the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) from 1 January to 11 September 2020, broken down as follows: While a recruitment campaign for the AR and NSR was opened in March 2020, the restrictions imposed in the interests of public health as a result of the Covid 19 Pandemic...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was published on the 4th of July 2019. The Report was accepted in full by Government and, to facilitate implementation, an extensive High Level Plan titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces – Phase One” was also agreed and published on the same date. The PSPC report...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Projects (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are currently no Exchequer funded projects of over €1 billion overseen by the Department of Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (16 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 process, 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: Brexit Issues (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together. An Taoiseach, my Cabinet colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage, as appropriate, with counterparts in Britain and in Northern Ireland, to discuss matters arising from the UK's withdrawal from the EU, including the EU-UK future partnership negotiations, implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reports (16 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 its terms of reference and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are currently two full-time clinical psychologists employed by the Defence Forces. This number was increased following the review of mental health services for the Defence Forces in 2017, which recommended the appointment of a civilian psychologist in addition to the existing Defence Forces psychologist. There are no plans currently in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Public Service pay policy is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform having regard to Public Sector Pay Agreements. Similar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was reduced as one of the measures to assist in stabilising national finances during the financial crisis. Pay is being restored to members of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Defence Forces medical capability encompasses a broad range of disciplines including doctors (medical officers), dentists, physiotherapists and pharmacists. Vacancies in these disciplines are advertised as they arise and are filled in a number of different ways. The Defence Forces have also trained enlisted Defence Forces personnel at Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Under the Army Pensions Acts 1923-1980 a disability pension or gratuity may, following retirement, be granted to a former member of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) for permanent disablement due to a wound or injury attributable to military service (whether at home or abroad)  or to a disease attributable to, or aggravated by, overseas service with a United Nations Force.  I can...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (22 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Syria continues to be one of utmost concern. Over 12 million Syrians remain in need of humanitarian assistance, while over 5 million Syrians are refugees, mainly in neighboring countries. The impact of Covid-19, and worsening economic conditions risks increasing vulnerability further. This year, Ireland has provided €25 million in humanitarian assistance for the...