Results 36,021-36,040 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I will certainly come back to the Deputy on where it is. With regard to accommodation, I visited the modernised, upgraded facilities at the Curragh and the new ones are excellent. We will continue to invest in upgrading and improving accommodation for everybody at the Curragh. Of course, we have to continue to do that. If there is substandard accommodation, we have to make sure that is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I do not have the plans in front of me. With respect, I cannot respond to that. However, I will happily look at them. What I can say for sure is that there is a concerted effort to try to attract more women into the Defence Forces. We have a lot of work to do in that regard because women currently are far too small a percentage of our overall Defence Forces. That needs to be factored...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I cannot respond on plans that I have not seen. If there are issues there, we will try and address them.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: It would be helpful, in terms of the accuracy of debate in this House, if the Deputy did not make comments like he has just made, quoting me as saying it is okay for Israel to plunder Palestinian territories.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: If the Deputy Brady wants to be taken seriously on this issue, we need to have accurate and civil debate. There is nobody in the European Union who is more vocal than I am in government in relation to concerns about the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel activities there.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy does not want to listen.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy does not want to listen because he wants to get a sound bite. That is the truth. He is using this issue for domestic political reasons rather than-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: What about the Deputy's charge?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: That is something the Deputy could not possibly allow - that maybe I would be a strong voice for the aspirations of Palestinian people to have their own state. Perhaps Sinn Féin is not comfortable with others having a strong voice in that space.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: What action has the Deputy taken?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy would isolate Ireland and make our voice far less influential than it currently is.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has no operational military co-operation with Israel. The Defence Forces have no regular contact with the Israel Defence Forces, and Ireland does not buy any military equipment directly from the Israeli Government. The primary focus for the procurement of defence equipment by the Department of Defence is to maintain the capability of the Defence Forces to fulfil the roles as assigned...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Tender competitions are open to any company or country in accordance with the terms of all UN, OSCE and EU arms embargoes or restrictions. In this regard there are no such restrictions or embargoes in place on Israeli companies. The matter of barring Israeli companies from entering tender competitions for the provision of military goods would be akin to Ireland unilaterally placing an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: As I said, the manner in which the Department of Defence procures both goods and services remains consistent with international best practice and is in line with EU and UN decisions on trade embargoes. The one thing the Deputy and I share is the outcome we would like to see which is an end to settlement expansion, demolitions, forced evictions and a peace process that works for both...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy does not want to hear a different perspective.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy does not want to hear a different perspective, that is the problem. He wants to operate on the basis of isolating Ireland. He wants us to expel the Israeli ambassador and not to talk to the Israeli Government at all.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I believe that would be completely counterproductive in terms of what we are actually trying to achieve here which is a peace process.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 81, 84, 90, 92, 98 and 107 together. Deputies will be aware that there have been three reports from the independent monitoring group, IMG, since the publication in 2002 of the report of the external advisory committee on the Defence Forces, The Challenge of the Workplace. Following extensive discussions over several months between the Secretary General...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The timeframe for the review to take place will be agreed as part of the terms of reference. My understanding is we are looking at a review that will probably take about six months. This will produce a report with recommendations which we will obviously want to act on fully within the Defence Forces, supported by the Department and the Government more generally. I am sure there will be an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are many questions there. The independent contact person is in place. The importance of that person is to provide a service that is professionally delivered but also confidential so people can feel they are speaking in confidence to somebody who can take on board their concerns. That person will make a report to me as Minister but will not identify people by name. That is the way it...