Results 33,801-33,820 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Strengthening bilateral relations with the US is a priority for Ireland as set out in our Programme for Government,as wellin our Strategy for the US and Canada (2019-2025). With each successive Administration in the White House and each successive US Congress, our bilateral relationship has been valued and strengthened, to the benefit of our people on both sides of the Atlantic. While I have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Feb 2021)

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. Passport Service staff have been temporarily reassigned to provide consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas. The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency passport service for Irish citizens at home and abroad. The service is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department does not lead on the response to Covid-19 from the operational perspective. However, I, and officials in my Department, continue to facilitate regular, necessary contact and coordination with Northern Ireland counterparts. Regular engagement is ongoing also between Health Ministers, Chief Medical Officers and relevant Ministers on specific...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Strengthening bilateral relations with the US is a priority for Ireland as set out in our Programme for Government,as wellin our Strategy for the US and Canada (2019-2025). We continue to maintain close relations with Members of Congress and contacts from across the political spectrum, and will continue to seek opportunities to deepen and strengthen our bilateral relations with the Biden...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 369 and 380 together. In response to events in Myanmar, I issued a statement, condemning the coup in the strongest possible terms. In the statement, I further condemned the detention of political figures and have called for their immediate release. The coup is a reversal of progress made towards democracy and rule of law in Myanmar that have taken years...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the agreement on visas, this refers to a 1985 Exchange of Notes relating to the abolition of visas between Ireland and Israel. This is given effect through the exemption of Israeli passport holders from Irish Visa Requirements, as provided for under the Immigration Act 2004 (Visas) Order 2014. Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements in the occupied...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The importance of acknowledging, respecting and effectively dealing with the tragic legacy of the past cannot be underestimated. Lost Lives, which chronicles all of the 3,700 people killed in the conflict, is a significant historical and social resource. The rights to Lost Lives are solely a matter for its authors, who have made such a valuable contribution to history in compiling this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am in regular contact with the First Minister, deputy First Minister, Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and other political leaders in Northern Ireland on a range of issues. Most recently, on Monday 1 February, I jointly chaired a 'quad' meeting with the Minister of State for Northern Ireland Robin Walker, First Minister Arlene Foster, deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces, including the Air Corps, is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable them to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020, completed through extensive joint civil-military work, provides a comprehensive list of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department currently employs one civilian pharmacist, together with two military pharmacists serving in the Defence Forces. The information for the years requested is outlined in the table. Year Civilian Pharmacists Military Pharmacists 2019 2 2 2020 1 2 2021 1 2

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department employs a broad spectrum of grades to support the upkeep and maintenance of military infrastructure and equipment. My Department does not employ anyone as a full-time, qualified, gas boiler engineer, nor is there anyone serving in the Corps of Engineers of the Defence Forces as a full-time, qualified, gas boiler engineer. However, such a qualification is held by a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: A direct entry competition for Electrical Artificers was launched in November 2019 with a view to inducting personnel in 2020. However no applicants were successful and there were no inductions arising. The Electrical Artificer Trainee Technician scheme (TTS) continues to run and there are 17 personnel scheduled to qualify from that scheme between now and 2024. These personnel will fill the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Review (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Following Government approval for the establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces in December 2020, the Commission was tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces with a mandate to report within 12 months. The Government also approved the Terms of Reference and the membership of the Commission. The members of the Commission have been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 386 to 388, inclusive, together. Section 11 of the Defence Act 1954 provides that there shall stand established a body to be called the Council of Defence. The Council consists of the Minister of State at the Department of Defence, the Secretary General of the Department, the Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Support) and the Deputy Chief of Staff...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Government and Dáil approval was received in June 2019 for the deployment of a contingent of up to 14 Defence Forces personnel, drawn primarily from the Army Ranger Wing, to participate in MINUSMA, the United Nations authorised operation in Mali. MINUSMA was established on 25 April 2013 by UN Security Council Resolution 2100 to stabilise the country after the Tuareg rebellion...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Funding (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission proposed a new regulation establishing the European Defence Fund (EDF) under the draft Multi Annual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. The Regulation has been agreed by the Council and the EU Parliament and funding of approximately €8 billion has been provided for the instrument under the MFF 2021-2027. The EDF aims to trigger co-operative programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The European Security and Defence College (ESDC) is a virtual college operating under the European External Action Service. It offers a range of courses to support both civilian and military CSDP. These courses are provided free of charge to participants by institutions from the Member States. In Ireland, the Edward Kennedy Institute at NUI Maynooth became a participating institute in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together. EU Member States, including Ireland, have committed to strengthening synergies and complementarity between the civilian and military dimensions of CSDP, in line with the EU’s integrated approach and the Civilian CSDP Compact. Synergies relate primarily to common interests of Civilian and Military CSDP missions deployed in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs currently funds 17 Irish experts in civilian CSDP missions in Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Africa. Seven of these experts have previously served with An Garda Síochána, and two are retired members of the Defence Forces. The skills and experience these individuals have gained in their previous roles have been evaluated favourably...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: No decision has been made to recruit eight additional full-time Principal Development Specialists in my Department. In November 2019 following engagement between the management and staff sides an agreement was reached to restructure the Development Specialist grades in my Department. As part of that agreement, the Principal Development Specialist (PDS) and Senior Development Specialist...