Results 34,561-34,580 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for the Public Services 2021
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (20 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is pretty straightforward this year. There is no funding shortfall.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly condemns the ongoing repression in Belarus. While security forces continue to act with impunity, ordinary citizens face lengthy sentences and heavy fines for even the most trivial expressions of dissent. This is an issue of concern across the political spectrum in Europe and many members of the Oireachtas, and Irish MEPs, joined a Belarusian civil society campaign earlier...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: As I stated in Parliamentary Question No. 435 of 18 May 2021, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 there are a suite of measures provided for the conduct of relations between States. In addition to ongoing regular diplomatic engagements at senior official level between my Department and the Embassy of the People's Republic of China to Ireland, I have, since my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. The provision of diplomatic clearance to land in, or overfly, the State is subject to strict conditions, namely, that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware that Nepal, like other countries in South Asia, is severely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, and this is exacerbated by shortages of medical equipment. The Government of Nepal made a request for emergency assistance to the EU through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism on 7 May and Ireland, along with its EU partners, is considering its response. Nepal has requested...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department implements a strict daily back up policy in line with best practice and guidance from the National Cyber Security Centre. There are no Agencies under the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Registration of Births (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register. At present, there are 30,000 applications in the Foreign Births Registration (FBR) system that are awaiting processing. It is anticipated that further resources will be allocated to this service to assist with this volume of applications when regular processing resumes. Entitlement to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Services (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department generally seeks advice on domestic legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Depending on the subject matter, litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency which engage lawyers to act for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service scaled up to more normal operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I will focus my response on Ireland’s engagement since the Deputy previously requested an update in March 2021. Since 10 May, the Security Council has met four times on the situation in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. At the Security Council Open Debate on the situation on 16 May, I made it clear that the Council and its Members have a responsibility to speak out,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cybersecurity Policy (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are no agencies under the remit of my Department. The approach to cyber security is multi-dimensional and in line with the advice of the National Cyber Security Centre. The expenditure on cyber security is integrated in overall ICT costs. Details of these for the last 10 years are as follows: 2011€13,994,067 2012€13,632,644 2013€13,543,983 2014€15,719,431...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: In so far as this question relates to my policy brief or my functions, any person having any knowledge of possible criminal activity should report it to an Garda Síochána who are the proper authority to investigate such matters. Allegations relating to sexual offences are taken very seriously by both the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces have...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was published on 4 July 2019. The Report was accepted in full by the Government at that time and, to facilitate implementation, an extensive High Level Plan titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces – Phase One” was also agreed and published on the same date. The High...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 322 and 323 together. 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. This is primarily to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the legislative requirements of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly or land in the State require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. A request is received by the Department of Foreign Affairs from the relevant embassy of the visiting/overflying foreign aircraft. This request is then...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces who died in the service of the State was unveiled at a ceremony in November 2008. The ceremony was led by the then President, Mrs. Mary McAleese, who laid a wreath at the memorial. The memorial which is situated in a prominent position close to Dáil Éireann and to Government Buildings was designed by Mr. Brian King. It is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 May 2021)

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. This is primarily to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Maritime Jurisdiction (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to Ireland's EEZ, it is not unusual for naval ships or vessels of other States to carry out training exercises within this area or to passage through this area. This would normally involve prior notification to Irish Authorities where an exercise was taking place close to our Territorial Waters but this is not a requirement. In the case of the USS Paul Ignatius the US...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the legislative requirements of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly or land in the State require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. A request is received by the Department of Foreign Affairs from the relevant embassy of the visiting/overflying foreign aircraft. This request is then...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (25 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: For operational security reasons, my Department is not in a position to provide any details of its data security systems or those of the bodies under its aegis, as it would be inappropriate to disclose information that may in any way assist those with malicious intent.