Results 38,321-38,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (30 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: There are no State or semi-State bodies under the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (30 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: Due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow approximately 2 years from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of FBR applications at this time. Arising from Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 172 to 174, inclusive, together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, these applications are within the current turnaround times and have not yet reached their issue by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service is investigating the case and is in direct contact with the applicant in relation to same.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163, 165 to 168, inclusive, 170, 171 and 175 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 169 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the applications and progressed as appropriate. 

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Charitable and Voluntary Organisations (30 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The only State body under the aegis of my Department is the Army Pensions Board.  The Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established under the Army Pensions Act 1927 to provide for the payment of pensions, allowances and gratuities in certain circumstances to members of the Defence Forces.  The Army Pensions Board is not registered as a charity.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Pensions (30 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The occupational pension (superannuation) entitlement of members of the Defence Forces depend on the date the person joins the Defence Forces, and also on their specific circumstances and on many variables including rank, pensionable service and pensionable remuneration. The main dates of joining that dictate a difference in what pension terms apply are: - before 1 April 2004, -...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Pensions (30 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Army Pensions Vote (Vote 35) provides for retired pay, pensions, compensation, allowances and gratuities payable in respect of members of the Defence Forces and certain other military organisations, etc. All benefits are governed by the relevant rules, terms and conditions made pursuant to the Defence Forces Pensions Acts 1932 to 2004, the Public Service Pensions (Single Scheme and...

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the report by the Minister for Defence regarding service by the Defence Forces with the United Nations in 2020, a copy of which was laid before Dáil Éireann on 21st June, 2021, in accordance with Section 13 of the Defence (Amendment) Act, 2006. I welcome this opportunity to report to the Dáil on Irish Defence Forces’...

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: We can have that debate, but this is not it.

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: This is not it.

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: He is in Ukraine.

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank all the Deputies for their contributions. I will try to respond to the issues that have been raised. Ireland cannot stand still when it comes to defence and security. We cannot build a wall around our island and pretend we do not see what is going on in the rest of the world.

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should let me specifically answer the issues he and others have raised. They cannot on the one hand praise the Irish Defence Forces for their peacekeeping work and at the same time prevent them from training with other countries across Europe on projects they choose to be involved in, to upgrade their capacity to be better peacekeepers, better soldiers and better Defence Forces...

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have clear views about how that debate should evolve and so on. I hope we will be able to have some of that debate, although resourcing our Defence Forces is a different debate to the debate on neutrality, how it is defined and what is wanted for the future. I am not proposing to this House that Ireland should move away from its position of non-military alignment. I will propose to...

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: I hope that will be possible. If not, we will have a long debate on this in September and October. These are important issues. They will not go away. They will be as significant in September as they are now. This is not a party political issue and it should not be seen as something that needs an instant debate. These issues will not go away. The security landscape on our Continent is,...

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: The same applies to mine countermeasures. If we were asked by the UN to be part of an agreed international mission to help to get grain out of Odesa at some point in the next months, do the Deputies think we should train to have the capacity to be able to say yes to the request? I think we should. I do not think we should isolate ourselves from the benefit of that kind of training. That...

Defence Forces: Motions (5 Jul 2022)

Simon Coveney: -----the neutrality debates. I look forward to those. Let us focus tonight on what we are being asked to make a decision on, which is to give the Defence Forces the opportunity to train with other countries to improve their skill sets.