Results 33,121-33,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Permission for foreign military aircraft to overfly the State is subject to strict conditions. These routinely include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations. Overflights by US military aircraft are permitted...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in Iran is very worrying, and has long formed an important part of Ireland's engagement and dialogue with Iran. At the 45th session of the Human Rights Council in October, Ireland co-signed a Joint Statement expressing deep concern at the continuing human rights violations in Iran, making particular reference to Iran’s ill-treatment of detainees and use of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I have not met with Ambassador Burgess in the past three months but I greatly appreciate his work in promoting our bilateral relations with New Zealand since the establishment of a resident New Zealand Embassy here two years ago, in parallel with the opening of our Embassy in Wellington. Ambassador Burgess is in regular, close contact with my Department on many issues and, most recently,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Communications (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and the United States enjoy close political, economic and people-to-people relations. This Government engages regularly with the US Administration and with US elected representatives from across Congress. This engagement extends to our contacts from across the political spectrum at federal, state, city and local levels. In September, as the House will be aware, I travelled to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department has filled staff posts through open competitions, inter-departmental competitions and internal competitions. This was targeted at filling vacancies; supporting Brexit-related negotiations and preparations; modernising the passport service through the move to online applications and fraud prevention; the expansion of Ireland’s diplomatic and consular mission network as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The following table details the current strength (Whole Time Equivalent) figures of the Permanent Defence Force, as of the 30th September 2020, and those of the agreed establishment. Branch Establishment Strength Army 7,520 6,878 Air Corps 886 752 Naval Service 1,094 899 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non security related tasks. The Defence Forces continue to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including security operations, critical supports to An Garda Síochána and ATCA supports to other Government Departments and Agencies....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: As of 4 November 2020, Ireland is contributing 569 Defence Forces personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations. The conditions under which the Defence Forces may participate on overseas peace support operations are set out in the Defence Acts. Where the Defence Forces contingent comprises part of an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The 97% referenced by the Deputy relates to the advised position as at 30 September 2020. The following table sets out the number of patrol days completed up to 30 September 2020 against the number of scheduled patrol days cancelled. As at 30 September: No. % Number of Patrol Days (fisheries and non-fisheries) carried out 793 95% ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The ‘Defence Forces 5 year Infrastructure Programme 2020 – 2025’,published earlier this year will facilitate the implementation of the policy approach contained in the White Paper on Defence and will enhance Defence Forces physical infrastructure and accommodation as an important component of defence capability. This Programme reflects the complex environment in which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe. Over the course of the Programme it is projected that some € 145m will be allocation to ensure programme delivery. The upgrade of Block H in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe. Over the course of the programme it is projected that some €145m will be allocated to ensure programme delivery. As part of this programme, I can...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The tables below provide details of the number of staff at Principal, Assistant Principal, Higher Executive Officer, Executive Officer and Clerical Officer grades, for the period from 2016 to 31 October 2020, in my Department. The tables also provide the payroll expenditure for those staff. My Department recruits staff for full-time positions. However, a range of reduced attendance schemes,...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Order for Second Stage (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Bill before us is essential to ensuring we are as ready as we can be for the challenges coming in just 50 days' time. The support of the House has been a hallmark of Ireland's approach to Brexit. I look forward to continuing that constructive engagement and working closely with all Members as the Bill passes through the Oireachtas. Last year, when I opened the Second Reading on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. The demolition of Palestinian homes, and demolition or seizure of related structures such as water tanks, wells, solar panels, schools and animal housing, are cruel and unjust actions. These practices also cause suffering to ordinary Palestinians, and impinge on the right of children to an education. I am deeply concerned by an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The breakdown of the funding allocation for the Department of Foreign Affairs for 2021 is as detailed in the Estimates for Public Services 2021, published on Budget Day. The Department has secured a €30 million increase on its 2020 allocation. €10 million of that increase will be allocated to programmes to assist the Department in meeting the many challenges and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department currently rents office space in one location from the company in question. The premises operates as a temporary location for the Consulate General of Ireland in Frankfurt. The cost to my Department, as of end October 2020, of renting this office space is set out in tabular form below. 2019 (July to Dec) 2020 (Jan to Oct) Frankfurt,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Properties (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department currently rents office space in one location from the company in question. The premises operates as a temporary location for the Consulate General of Ireland in Frankfurt. Four staff members currently work out of this premises. The Mission in Frankfurt was opened in 2019 as part of the Government's commitment outlined in the strategy Global Ireland 2025, a strategy which aims to...