Results 35,061-35,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities advise that it is not possible to collate the required information in the time available. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is made available to me.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: As of 1 July 2021, Ireland is contributing 579 personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 351 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 137 personnel. The Defence Forces have a long and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) is 262 members, as of 31 May 2020. As outlined in the White Paper on Defence, the Government has decided to retain the FLR. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to join the Army Reserve or Naval Service Reserve. This is subject to their meeting certain criteria. Direct entry to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Corps (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 190 together. The Air Corps is not tasked or equipped to monitor and communicate with aircraft overflying Irish airspace, military or otherwise and irrespective of whether the transponder is switched on or not. However, on a routine basis the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Naval Service (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a concept adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (1982), whereby a coastal State assumes jurisdiction over the exploration and exploitation of marine resources in its adjacent section of the continental shelf, taken to be a band extending 200 miles from the shore. The current Irish Exclusive Economic Zone, (EEZ) or Exclusive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Corps (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: For the Deputy's awareness, 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...

Seanad: Report of Independent Review Group Jadotville: Statements (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Seanad for accommodating this debate on the report of the independent review group on Jadotville which was published today. The group examined the issue of the awarding of military medals to personnel who served at Jadotville while deployed overseas on the UN peace support mission in the Congo 60 years ago. When I announced the establishment of an independent review of this...

Seanad: Report of Independent Review Group Jadotville: Statements (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank all Senators for their contributions. It is an emotive issue and many people have invested time and effort into raising concerns about Jadotville and, more important, how people were treated when they returned. No Defence Forces member should be vilified upon returning from serving in an overseas mission but that happened to far too many in the aftermath of Jadotville. The State is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service was in contact with the applicant on 10 June to provide an update on the status of the passport application and requesting applicant to submit the correct supporting documentation. The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service was in contact with the applicant on 10 June to provide an update on the status of the passport application and requested to submit the correct supporting documentation. The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: Please see below in tabular form my Department’s offices within the State, their addresses, their associated functions, and the number of staff for each building. My Department’s office accommodation in the State, a mixture of State-owned and leased premises, is provided by the Office of Public Works. My Department does not maintain ownership or lease details of these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland recognises the value of EU accession as a transformative driver for stability and peace in the Western Balkans. We have always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries met the necessary conditions for membership. In this regard, we welcome the reform agenda underway in the countries of the Western Balkans and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: Passport applications are only valid for six months primarily due to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations on the requirement for a recent photograph. The ICAO is a UN specialised agency which defines in detail the required format for a passport. Where additional documentation has been requested and has not been received within this timeframe, these applications...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 to 248, inclusive, together. Ireland’s position on the Middle East Peace Process and the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is informed by international law, respect for human rights and the goal of a Two-State solution through a negotiated peace agreement. Ireland has been consistently vocal in its opposition to settlement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service was in contact with the applicant on 14 July to provide an update on the status of the passport application and requested necessary documentation not originally provided by applicant. The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Post Office Network (15 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The building in the Defence Forces Training Centre, which housed a Post Office, was in use until 2019. The future use of this building will be informed by the Defence Forces plans for the long term configuration of this military installation. When such proposals are developed, any building works, if required, will be incorporated into the Defence Forces Built Infrastructure Plan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am very pleased to meet with the committee today. I look forward to the questions and comments of members in a few minutes' time. I wish to make a brief opening statement to set a context around our discussion and then I will take questions. Thank you for the invitation to meet with the committee today, a Chathaoirligh. I was honoured to meet with the Ballymurphy families on several...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Senator has outlined many of the concerns I have. It will not surprise people that she and I have a very similar view on this issue. I will comment on a number of matters. There was a fear among many people that the British Government could act unilaterally to pass legislation in Westminster. We know there is a lot of pressure in Westminster to do that, to be honest, in the context of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: First, I would be very happy to meet the Ballymurphy families again. In fact, I enjoy that interaction. I recall the last time we met. There was such a sense of injustice and frustration among them in the context of their pursuit of justice. If we met again now, we could talk in a very different context. That is something I would really like to do. If there are others who Mr. Maskey...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am glad that a number of issues were raised. I am keen to address them. The first issue was in respect to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and Seamus Ludlow. As people know, last month marked the 47th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974, in which 33 were killed and hundreds seriously injured. These attacks saw the largest loss of life of any day of the Troubles, as...