Results 33,061-33,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I welcome this opportunity to consider the 2020 Revised Estimates for the defence sector, comprising Vote 35, which concerns Army pensions, and Vote 36, which is the broader defence Vote. As this is the first meeting of this committee, I have prepared a short opening statement that will set out the overall position and update the members on some of the main developments within the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The difference between the two is that budget day figures are for next year and the others are for this year.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Ó Snodaigh is right that the pension Vote is obviously less contentious because it is essentially money that has been committed to and is being paid. Historically, the defence Vote has been split into two. It goes back decades. My understanding is that the public service pension is also in a separate Vote so there is other precedent there but the Deputy is right. They are not...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: We are happy to move ahead with investment in Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick. It is one of a number of priorities we want to move ahead with. There has been a delay this year in some of those physical construction works we were hoping to move ahead with because of Covid and so we are now trying to catch up. I assure the Deputy there is no pulling back from that in terms of financial...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I will answer Deputy Stanton's questions first. I know he is familiar with the Naval Service and the pressures it is under. I hope that the scheme we launched last week is an indication to people working in the Naval Service that the Government is taking this issue seriously. It took a number of months to get this scheme agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations with Canada and a number of other non-European countries and regions with which we have reciprocal agreements, encouraging people-to-people contacts. Due to the pandemic, we have temporarily ceased processing new applications under the Ireland-Canada WHA programme. Canada has likewise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs publishes Travel Advice for over 200 countries to provide an objective assessment of the risks individuals could face if travelling overseas, with a view to helping them to make informed decisions for themselves. It is based on consultation with our Embassies and Consulates on the ground, the relevant local authorities in each country and our international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Intensive talks are ongoing between the EU and UK negotiating teams in an effort to close the gaps between the two sides on a Future Partnership Agreement, including on the key outstanding issues of the level playing field, governance and fisheries. An Agreement in this framework is the best way to provide for a comprehensive future partnership between the EU and the UK. At the European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Inquiries (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s firm view remains that a satisfactory outcome to the Finucane case can only be achieved through a public inquiry, as was provided for under the Weston Park Agreement reached by the UK and Irish Governments in 2001. I reaffirmed that position directly to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland once again at our last meeting on 8 October in Hillsborough. The Secretary of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 657 and 658 together. I am aware of the worrying reported increased levels of insecurity and violence against human rights defenders, social and trade union leaders and activists in Colombia. It is of particular concern that levels of violence against those supporting the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement, including through the programme for voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: A total of 177 meetings of the North South Ministerial Council, attended by Ministers from the Northern Ireland Executive and the Government, have taken place since the start of 2010. These have comprised 15 plenary meetings, 6 meetings in institutional format and 156 sectoral meetings covering the agreed twelve areas of North South cooperation. These meetings bring our Government and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The EU’s General Affairs Council on 13 October adopted a recommendation to establish a coordinated approach to travel restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. This approach, known as the traffic light system, will bring greater consistency and transparency across the European Union as we fight against the COVID-19 virus. On 20 October, the Government decided on the approach to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Programmes (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: In her State of the Union address, delivered on the 16th of September 2020, President von der Leyen presented her vision for a Europe that emerges stronger from the pandemic while playing a key role on the global scene. The initiatives in the Commission’s Work Programme for 2021 reflect the Commission's ambition to relaunch our economies and strengthen our societies, making them more...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The issue of Irish immigration, particularly the status of the undocumented Irish in the US, has been a high priority for successive Governments and continues to be one of my key priorities. Immigration issues have been raised on an ongoing basis in our engagement with the US Administration and political leaders, including by the then Taoiseach during his St. Patrick's Day visit to the White...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply concerned by the recent clashes in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, in particular along the line of contact, which have regrettably led to the loss of life and severe injury, including civilian casualties. I regret that none of the three recent ceasefires have been honoured and am troubled by continuing reports of hostilities in populated areas, which are having a devastating impact...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Equality Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 664 and 666 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs is fully committed to addressing the needs and rights of people living with disabilities. This commitment is reflected in actions across our development cooperation programme as well as in our broader engagement with the EU, UN and other international bodies. The Department’s work complements many...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department operates in a number of locations in Ireland and approximately 90 locations worldwide. It comprises two Votes: Vote 27 International Cooperation and Vote 28 Foreign Affairs. The policy of the Department is to operate competitive tendering as standard procedure in order to achieve best value for money. The Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I have noted with concern recent remarks made by President Erdogan of Turkey and directed against President Macron and the French nation. Like many others, I have made clear my dismay at these remarks and have expressed my full solidarity with President Macron and the French people. My concerns have been made known through official channels to the Turkish Government. These latest...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference is an important institution of the Good Friday Agreement, bringing together the Irish and British Governments under Strand Three of the Agreement on matters of mutual interest within the competence of both Governments. The continuing importance we place on this institution was also reflected in the Programme for Government. We believe it...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: In June 2018, the Government launched the Global Ireland initiative, whichaims to double the influence and impact of Ireland’s global footprint by 2025. To date ten new Missions have opened. In considering expansion of the Diplomatic Network, a wide range of foreign policy factors and priorities will be taken into account as well as the availability of resources. At this stage, there...