Results 32,881-32,900 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Conflict Resolution (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: At EU level the situation in the Nagorno-Karabakh region was discussed at the European Council on the 1st of October, where leaders called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged parties to recommit to a lasting ceasefire and the peaceful settlement of the conflict. The European Council stated that there can be no military solution to the conflict, nor any external interference...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: In March 2020, Member States agreed an enhanced accession methodology, which seeks to make the accession process more credible and dynamic, by clustering together negotiating Chapters and phasing in participation in EU programmes and policies. The enhanced methodology also recognises the need for more decisive measures proportionally sanctioning any serious or prolonged stagnation or even...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The recruitment and use of child soldiers remains a serious problem with tens of thousands of children recruited and used as soldiers in conflicts around the world. EU policy on child soldiers is set out in Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict, first adopted in 2003 and revised in 2008. These aim to persuade governments and organisations around the world to fully respect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: 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. The Programme for Government states that the Government will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government has noted the announcement on 29 September last by the Public Prosecution Service of Northern Ireland to uphold their decision not to prosecute 15 soldiers in connection with the events of Bloody Sunday, following an internal review. We understand the disappointment felt by all of the families involved in seeking this review, and who have spent so many years in pursuit of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Culture Policy (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The appointment of specialist Cultural Officers in priority locations worldwide was identified in the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy as a key action to widen and deepen our global cultural presence and engagement. This new strategic capability is being delivered in a close partnership between my Department and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, remains deeply concerned about the credible reports regarding the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, including reports on restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance, forced labour, and forced sterilisations and birth control in the region. Ireland has been vocal about raising...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ensuring that the UK landbridge remains an efficient and effective route to market for Irish traders is a priority of the Government's Brexit planning. When the transition period ends on 31 December 2020, operators will still be able to move goods via the landbridge but the way they use the landbridge will change. Each movement will involve new procedures and require a financial guarantee...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (6 Oct 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 there. The very sudden displacement of thousands of people has caused great suffering to those in the camp, as well as posing a huge logistical challenge for the Greek authorities in the midst of the pandemic. My colleague, the Minister for European Affairs, Thomas...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: There were no such costs incurred by my Department in 2017 to 2019 and to date in 2020. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has procured an external monitoring service for press and broadcast media. While this contract allows for social media monitoring if required, this element is not currently utilised. The Department monitors its own and external social media activity through...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The arrangements for staff on sick leave are covered by the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) 2014 Regulations, SI 124 of 2014 and the Public Service Management (Sick Leave) (Amendment) Regulations 2015, SI No. 384/15. The below table highlights the number of staff recorded as being on sick leave with the associated number of sick accumulated sick days for the periods in question. These...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The circular to which the Deputy refers specifically relates to employment in the Civil Service and is governed by the Civil Service Regulation Acts 1956-2005. The arrangements for pay and allowances in the Permanent Defence Force are set by Defence Force Regulations S3, made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954 -2015. The matter is currently the subject of a claim through the Conciliation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under attack....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the Military Authorities that the provisions for the granting of Leave to members of the Permanent Defence Force are set out in Defence Forces Regulation A11. This Regulation provides that Special leave with pay may be granted to a member of the Permanent Defence Force for the purpose of attending examinations held by the Public Appointments Service, the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department is committed to ongoing positive engagement with local schools and club communities in allowing the use of military facilities, where possible. In light of COVID-19, all long term and routine users of such facilities were notified at the time that the use of facilities was suspended. My Department will be in touch with clubs and other such users shortly with a view to informing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Directives (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that no EU fines were paid by my Department relating to the non-transposition of EU directives into Irish law.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: A review of technical pay was provided for in the Public Service Agreement 2010 - 2014 (Croke Park Agreement). The purpose of the review in the context of the agreement was to rationalise existing technical pay arrangements and consider if the requirements could be met in a more cost effective manner. A review of Technical Pay Group 1 was conducted in 2014 and came into effect at the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (6 Oct 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 the Government at that time 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. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. To this end, it is vital the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way. The age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 426 and 427 together. As the Deputy may be aware, the Curragh Forum was established to provide an opportunity for key stakeholders to consider and progress a wide range of issues regarding the use and management of the Curragh Plains. On the last occasion when the Forum met in January 2018 it was attended by representatives of Kildare County Council, the...