Results 33,261-33,280 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (17 Nov 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, including overseas deployments. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020 provides a comprehensive list of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.  Capability equipment requirements are kept under on-going review in the light of present and expected operational needs. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (17 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.  As part of the Defence Organisation, the Air...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 and 89 together. I am aware of the concerning situation in Hong Kong, including the detaining of a number of activists following the adoption of national security legislation in the region. I made a statement on 1 July to express Ireland's concern in relation to the adoption of this law, and the situation has been raised directly with the Chinese...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland regrets the UK’s decision to leave the EU, although we respect it. From 1 January 2021, many aspects of our relationship with our nearest neighbour will change fundamentally as we will no longer share EU membership.  However, the Government remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Ireland-UK relationship following the end of the transition period. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 to 87, inclusive, together. The sixth session of the Open Ended Inter-Governmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and other Business Enterprises took place from 26th-30th October 2020. The European Union delivered a statement and separately raised specific concerns in relation to the draft text on behalf of Ireland and other Member...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to working with the UK Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland to address the painful legacy of the Troubles through the implementation of the Stormont House Agreement framework. A key part of this work is meeting the legitimate needs of victims and survivors in Northern Ireland and across the island of Ireland. It is for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused processing of routine applications while Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency passport service for Irish citizens at home and abroad. The service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or because the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland continues to raise concerns about the treatment of Palestinian prisoners. Ireland has repeatedly recalled to Israel the applicability of international human rights standards and international humanitarian law in respect of detainees, in particular obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention. During the Universal Periodic Review of Israel at the UN Human Rights Council in 2018,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (18 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland regrets the UK’s decision to leave the EU, although we respect it. From 1 January 2021, many aspects of our relationship with our nearest neighbour will change fundamentally as we will no longer share EU membership.  However, the Government remains committed to protecting and strengthening the Ireland-UK relationship following the end of the transition period. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence property portfolio consists of a diverse range of facilities from conventional military barracks to forts, camps, married quarters and training lands. At the end of 2019, the portfolio consisted of some 70 sites, including 14 permanently occupied military installations, together with lands comprising over 20,000 acres. The specific information requested by the Deputy is set out...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (18 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The provisions for pay and allowances for both the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) are set out in Defence Force Regulation S.3.   The rates of pay for members of the RDF is calculated in line with the rates of pay for members of the PDF. As per Defence Force Regulations, the rate of pay for the RDF is linked with first point of the scale of the rate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused the processing of Foreign Births Registration applications as Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Applications that have been sent to the FBR team are being held securely and will be processed when normal services resume at Level 3. Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, often...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government closely follows developments in relation to the treatment of members of the LGBTI+ community in Russia and, in particular, is well aware of the widespread reports of the persecution of gay men in Chechnya. When the reports first emerged in 2017, senior officials of the Department of Foreign Affairs met with the Russian Ambassador to convey the grave concerns of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are no agencies under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 180 together. Along with my European counterparts, I have been appalled by events in Belarus, including the recent death of a peaceful protester in police custody. We have discussed the situation in Belarus at the Foreign Affairs Council each month since the fraudulent election and we have been firmly engaged in seeking a peaceful and democratic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Crime Data (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of this long-running issue. I can confirm that the Embassy in Rome was in contact with a number of individuals that experienced difficulties in relation to their purchases of property in Italy. At the time, the Embassy in Rome provided assistance to these investors in any way open to it, including in finding suitable legal representation. The Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has been consistent in calling for a cessation of hostilities and we welcome the agreement reached by Armenia and Azerbaijan to end the military conflict in and around Nagorno Karabakh. We hope that this deal leads to renewed efforts to settle the long-standing territorial dispute. Crucial details of the implementation of the nine-point deal remain unclear, but my Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: US Presidential Election (19 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government has offered the warmest congratulations to Joe Biden on his election as the 46th President of the United States. We have also congratulated Vice President-elect Kamala Harris and recognise the significance of her election as the first woman and first person of colour to hold that office. The Taoiseach and President-elect Biden spoke by telephone last week during which the...