Results 33,521-33,540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (9 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement, which was collectively agreed by the two Governments and the political parties in Northern Ireland after extensive talks.  The framework of the Stormont House Agreement provided for a set of institutions to deal comprehensively and fairly with the legacy of the Troubles, and this framework...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies Data (9 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are no bodies under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The total deaths in service for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service for the past 20 years as of 31 October is 204, 21 and 16 respectively. The Deputy will be aware that there is ongoing litigation in relation to allegations regarding the use of certain chemicals in the Air Corps. As the matter is subject to litigation, it would be inappropriate to comment on any speculation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (9 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The total deaths in service for the Air Corps since 2000 as of 30 November 2020 is 21.   The Military Authorities have advised that six of those deaths relate to accidents, four of which occurred while the personnel in question were on duty. Fifteen deaths were non-accident related.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (9 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The table below outlines the number of vacancies that exist in the PDF as at 31st October 2020. Vacancies are filled on an ongoing basis in line with promotional arrangements and, in certain cases, direct entry competitions. It is normal, at a particular point in time, for some ranks to be oversubscribed and others to be undersubscribed. For example, whilst there are vacancies at the rank of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Bodies Data (9 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The only State body currently under the aegis of the Department of Defence is the Army Pensions Board.  The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927, and is based in St. Bricin's Military Hospital in Dublin. The Act specifies that the Board shall consist of a chairman and two ordinary members.  The two ordinary members...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: As I have stated previously in this House, most recently on 8 December, I have engaged with my counterpart in China on this matter on a number of occasions, including recently via a phone call to discuss the case. I can further advise that the case has been raised regularly at senior political and diplomatic level with the relevant authorities in China, and with the Embassy of China in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are a number of bilateral agreements between Ireland and Israel, including in the fields of visas, taxation and scientific research. Ireland's position on settlement expansion and related infrastructure development is very clear. Settlements are illegal under international law. Ireland’s position on the illegality of Israeli settlements informs our engagement with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: In 2020, the Department of Foreign Affairs paid professional fees on behalf of 13 employees, at a total cost of €4,192 (see table below). It is the practice of the Department of Foreign Affairs to pay or reimburse officers of the Department for professional annual subscriptions where they are deemed to be relevant to the officer’s current role. These professional fees cover...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in Bahrain remains a matter of serious concern. Although Bahrain has repeatedly stated its commitment to improving its human rights record and safeguarding human rights as enshrined in the Bahraini Constitution, we are concerned by ongoing instances of violations of fundamental freedoms, including the revocation of citizenship. Respect for human rights is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (10 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The table below sets out the number of professional fees paid by my Department on behalf of civil service staff, and the amount of each fee. The information refers to fees paid from 1 January 2020 to 30 November 2020. Professional Body No. of Staff Total Cost Certified Public Accountants in Ireland 1 €615.00 ...

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

Simon Coveney: The following table details the number of Permanent Defence Force personnel medically discharged in each of the years 2000 to 2019 and to date in 2020, by service branch, as advised by the Military Authorities: Army Air Corps Naval Service 2000 18 2 2 2001 24  0 2 ...

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: Statements (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the entry into force of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, NPT, a treaty closely associated with Ireland and the cornerstone of the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime. Ireland also ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, TPNW, this year. It will enter into force on 22 January 2021. These...

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons: Statements (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank everybody, in particular the two Deputies responsible for this debate happening, Deputies Duncan Smith and Eoghan Murphy. This has been a good opportunity for people who are genuinely interested in this topic to recognise Ireland's role in disarmament over many decades. In recent years we have seen the unravelling of many international disarmament, non-proliferation and arms...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is deeply concerned by the appalling human rights situation in Belarus. Media freedoms have been curtailed and journalists, both local and international, face violence, harassment, intimidation and detention simply for doing their jobs. This is totally unacceptable and Ireland has been vocal in our condemnation of the actions of the Belarusian authorities. We have joined...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland enjoys strong relations with the Republic of Korea with a focus very much on economic and people-to-people cooperation. While I have not spoken formally with the Ambassador to Ireland in the past three months, there has been regular contact at senior-official level covering a range of bilateral and multilateral issues, including boosting trade relations, Ireland's upcoming tenure on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 ("The 2008 Act"). The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. In order to meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 296 and 297 together. The Government is closely monitoring the situation in Hong Kong, following the adoption of the National Security Law on 30 June by the Chinese National People's Congress. 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 Preparations (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Government has been planning for Brexit since before the UK Referendum to ensure that Irish citizens and businesses are as ready as possible for all scenarios. As part of this work, the Government has published Brexit Contingency Plans in December, 2018, July 2019 and most recently in September 2109. Our September 2019, Brexit Readiness Action Plan outlines in substantive detail the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following tables. Buildings refurbished in 2020 Mission Premises Total Cost Consultancy costs Professional fees Construction and related costs Athens Chancery €135,044 0 €13,100 €121,944 ...