Results 33,621-33,640 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (14 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, Bolivia conducted a repeat round of general elections on 18 October 2020 after the previous elections of 20 October 2019 were annulled due to irregularities detected during the preliminary results transmission and the subsequent tabulation of results. These irregularities raised suspicions and led to an audit conducted by the Organisation of American States...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Strategies (14 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Overcoming the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic presents to the health and well-being of our citizens is a critical and immediate priority for this Government. During the initial period of the crisis my Department supported the repatriation of more than 8,000 Irish citizens and secured essential PPE for our health workers. We are also supporting the Diaspora who have been effected by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (14 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland took up its seat as an elected member of the UN Security Council for the 2021-2022 term on 1 January 2021. We intend to make a constructive contribution across the agenda of the Council, which has nearly tripled since Ireland last held a seat 20 years ago.  In recognition of the areas of focus by the Security Council, both geographically and sectorally, additional posts have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (14 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and Croatia enjoy very warm relations. There is a significant Croatian diaspora living in Ireland and many Irish people visit Croatia each year. In relation to our diplomatic presence in Croatia,  there are no plans to open a Consulate General office in Dubrovnik. Our Embassy in Zagreb is well-equipped to deal with all consular issues affecting the Irish community likely to arise...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Strategies (14 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government contains an ambitious range of commitments concerning the defence sector that my Department will continue to implement over the lifetime of the Programme.  One of the main policy initiatives undertaken by my Department since the 27th June 2020 follows a commitment made in the Programme for Government to establish a Commission on the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (14 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that the 2021 competition for Air Corps aircraft maintenance technicians will be held in the first quarter of the year.   8 apprentice technicians were recruited in 2019, and 20 in 2020, while a total of 60 apprentices are in training with all due to complete by 2024.  Of those, 15 are scheduled to...

EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Motion (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: This year on 1 January we saw the single largest change in relations between the EU and UK for many decades as the transition period ended and the new framework of the EU-UK trade and co-operation agreement took effect. This House knows all too well that Ireland is the EU member state most affected by this change. I warmly welcome that Deputies today have the opportunity to make statements...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has been very clear that the UK’s decision to leave the EU would mean an end to seamless trade between the EU and UK. Even with an EU-UK trade deal in place, the UK is no longer a member of the Single Market and Customs Union. This means that businesses must engage with a range of checks and controls on their trade with the UK that did not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Correspondence (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I received correspondence from the organisation concerned on 30 November 2020. The Christmas and New Year holiday period, as well as work pressures under current circumstances, contributed to a delay in responding. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a reply to the correspondence issued from my office on 15 January 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: No employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs has received a COVID-19 vaccine in Ireland. A number of employees of the Department abroad have been advised by the host country in which they are posted that they and their dependents are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine locally should they wish to avail of it. The timing for such vaccination will be in line with the plans set out by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The approach of any Government in relation to Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998. The Government respects everyone’s right on this island to make the case for the constitutional future they wish to see for Northern Ireland - whether the continuation of the union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland. The Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Stormont House Agreement was reached in 2014 after a period of intense negotiation by the Irish Government, the UK Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland. It provides for a comprehensive and balanced framework to address the legacy of the past, including an Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) to take forward outstanding investigations in Troubles-related deaths, an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Consulate General opened in October 2019 as an important part of our efforts to strengthen Ireland’s presence in Germany. The opening of the Consulate General is a clear sign of Ireland’s commitment to deepening its relationship with Germany. The Consulate currently operates in a temporary location. Work is ongoing to identify a long-term property option that will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264, 266 and 267 together. As the Deputy will know, it has become clear that there will soon be a significant reduction in the number of Irish officials in senior roles in the EU Institutions, as many high-ranking Irish officials will soon retire. At the current rates of recruitment of Irish permanent staff, we are far below the replacement rate. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Managing the response to Brexit continues to be a priority for my Department. The approach has been to prioritise effective policy and operational measures across the Department to manage Brexit impacts, with additional staff assigned or recruited as required. In recent years my Department has established new posts in Madrid, Berlin, Paris, Rome, The Hague and Warsaw as well as at the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Tests (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy is aware, there are now new pre-departure testing requirements for all passengers travelling to Ireland.Effective from 16 January 2021, all passengers arriving into Ireland are required to have a negative/‘not detected’ result from a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test carried out no more than 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland. This does not apply to travel from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland assumed its seat on the UN Security Council on 1 January 2021. We are committed to being an active and constructive Council member and are engaging across the full Council agenda, which includes some 30 country and regional files and 20 thematic files. Three core principles will frame our approach: building peace, strengthening conflict prevention and ensuring accountability. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Fishing Industry (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government is fully aware of contact between a Scottish marine patrol vessel and an Irish fishing vessel, the Northern Celt, near Rockall earlier this month. I met with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on 7 January to discuss developments in relation to Rockall. The Government is seeking to address the issues involved, reflecting the longstanding fisheries tradition...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: No employee of my Department, civil servant or civilian employee, has received a Covid-19 vaccine due to their role in the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As regards the specific information sought by the Deputy, at end-December 2020, the numbers of retired officers and retired enlisted ranks of the Permanent Defence Force in receipt of pensions from my Department are as follows: Type of Pension No. of recipients – Retired Officers No. of recipients –Retired Enlisted Ranks Retirement...