Results 34,601-34,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The situation is unavoidably unchanged since my reply of 21 April to the original question. COVID-19 restrictions on physical attendance at Departmental premises continue to prevent my staff from accessing the physical files required to compile data for the pre-2015 period. My Department will make direct contact with the Deputy at a later stage with regard to the remainder of the data requested.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly condemns the forced landing of a Ryanair aircraft by the Belarusian authorities on 23 May. It is clear that this action was taken with the sole purpose of detaining a journalist whose views are critical of the Lukashenko regime. These totally unacceptable actions put the safety of the passengers and crew at risk. Ireland calls for the immediate and unconditional release...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Our new Consulate General in Manchester will be operational from 1 July 2021. I plan to formally open this diplomatic Mission later this year. To advance preparations for the Mission, a site visit to Manchester and Liverpool was undertaken last week by my officials. They visited the temporary premises that has been secured for the Consulate General, adjacent to Enterprise Ireland's...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent Agreements is an utmost priority for this Government. The various measures included in the package agreed at Weston Park in August 2001 addressed four issues to assist in the successful implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: policing, normalisation, the stability of the institutions and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Last month saw the 47th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, in which thirty-three people were killed and hundreds seriously injured; the largest loss of life on a single day in the Troubles. The Government will continue to seek the full truth of these appalling attacks, and some measure of closure for those affected, in accordance with the three Motions passed unanimously by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Occupied Territories Bill would not be compatible with EU law, and would not be implementable. This is the clear legal advice on this matter. The Government will therefore not be taking it forward. We have supported legal avenues to differentiate between settlements and Israel, for example by joining a case before the European Courts in 2019 on labelling of certain goods produced in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The murder of Gavin McShane and Shane McArdle in Armagh City on 17 May, 1994, was a senseless tragedy. Following the 27th anniversary of their deaths last week, I would like to extend my heartfelt condolences and those of the Government to the McShane and McArdle families. It is particularly frustrating for the McShane and McArdle families that, 27 years on, the full truth about what...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (27 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: United Nations (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The United Nations reimburses some personnel and Contingent Owed Equipment costs in respect of contributions to UN led operations. Rates of reimbursement, fixed in accordance with UN categories of equipment and personnel, are agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the UN for each mission. The only missions for which Ireland has received reimbursement of some troop and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 (IDP) was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe. Over the course of the programme it is projected that some €145m will be allocated to ensure programme delivery. This year’s...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government committed to an independent Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces and to include the following matters: - Arrangements for the effective defence of the country at land, air and sea. - Structure and size of the Defence Forces encompassing capabilities, structures and staffing. - Appropriate governance and high level command and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Since this occurrence in 2017, officials from both my Department and the local authority have been in regular and continuing contact with a view to resolving this matter to the satisfaction of all parties. I am advised that Kildare County Council has acknowledged that the results of the environmental assessment carried out on the site adjacent to Donnelly's Hollow show no evidence of any...

Situation in Belarus: Motion (1 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I move: That Dáil Éireann: affirms Ireland's solidarity with the Belarusian people in their peaceful defence of democratic principles and fundamental human rights; rejects the democratic legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko following the fraudulent 9th August, 2020, Presidential Election that was neither free nor fair; condemns the violence and repression perpetrated by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Travel Area (1 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Common Travel Area (CTA) has continued to operate throughout the pandemic and, over the last number of years, significant steps have been taken by the Irish and British Governments and the European Union to safeguard CTA rights and privileges for the future.  Over the last year, in a range of areas, the two Governments have legislated to ensure continued access to CTA rights and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council (1 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: On 24 May EU leaders discussed Belarus, Russia, relations with the UK, and the situation in the Middle East and in Mali. The coercive forced landing of a Ryanair flight over Belarus to detain a journalist and opposition activist featured prominently during those discussions. The Taoiseach communicated clearly Ireland’s view that a strong EU response is needed....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question no. 61 answered on 11 May 2021.  I have been clear in my engagement with both Israel and the Palestinian Authority of the commitment of this Government to advancing a Two-State solution, in line with the agreed parameters for a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Programme for Government states that the Government will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Functions (1 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: As I set out in my reply to the Deputy on this matter on 19 May last, the request for diplomatic clearance for this landing confirmed that our required conditions were met. Permission was granted on that basis.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (1 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department and our officials in the Embassy in Washington DC are aware of the draft legislation proposed in the US Senate. The proposed bill aims to amend the US export control regime in order to limit the sale and transfer of US citizens’ data to countries which are deemed to have insufficient safeguards for the protection of personal data and inadequate enforcement of data...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Third Level Education (1 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: On 6 May last, Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne launched “A Career for EU”, Ireland’s new sSrategy to increase our representation among the staff of the EU’s Institutions and Agencies.  Ireland is facing a “demographic cliff” in its representation among the staff of the EU’s Institutions, as many senior Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (1 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department necessarily collects, processes, and stores significant volumes of personal data from our customers, staff, and service providers. In particular, the effective delivery of passport and consular services for Irish citizens at home and abroad is a central component of the Department's work and necessitates the processing of personal data. My Department endeavours to safeguard...