Results 39,061-39,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has been consistently forthright in expressing concern regarding the unequal treatment of Palestinians and the application of different standards in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. In particular, Ireland has been proactive in highlighting many of the issues raised, including demolitions and settler violence, at the UN Security Council during our current term. At...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant's parent in relation to the application. All supporting documents have been returned. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have regular meetings and telephone contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton Harris.  Our last conversation was yesterday, 9 November, in advance of the Secretary of State's statement to the House of Commons announcing his intention to extend the period for Executive formation. We will remain in close contact in the period ahead. My discussions with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is unable to provide the number of Irish passports held by individuals referenced by the Deputy as the profession of applicants is not captured as part of the application process. The Passport Service does not compile statistics according to the elected status of an applicant. The number of passport applications from applicants residing in Great Britain in the years 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Visits (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Visits to Ireland by foreign Heads of State provide an important opportunity to promote Ireland’s interests and values internationally. They contribute to the development of strong economic, political and cultural links between Ireland and other States. Depending on the timing and nature of such foreign Head of State visits, these can include elements such as an official welcome...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces are not currently involved in training members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) will provide specialised training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and coordinate existing Member State training activities. The mission has been developed within the framework of the EU’s Common Security and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Properties (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will appreciate that in the first instance, the provision of social housing is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on same.  However, I can advise that my Department has offered Nenagh Barracks to Tipperary County Council. This  offer remains open should the Council wish to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention. I assure him that my Department takes this information very seriously. Given the private and sensitive nature of the issues raised, I will not refer to the specifics of this case here. Following security normalisation in Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State has not appointed an Independent Assessor of Military Complaints...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities, including the detention of political prisoners and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The promotion and protection of universal human rights is a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy. Ireland has consistently engaged with Pakistan on human rights issues both bilaterally and multilaterally. In the context of our bilateral relationship, Ireland’s Ambassador to Pakistan visited Pakistan last week and discussed human rights issues with a number of Pakistani governmental...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Table 1 - DATE Location Purpose 1 24.05.2021 Shannon Airport Bilateral Meeting 2 08.06.2021 Ennis Open new civil defence HQ 3 19.10.2021 Clare County Visit 4 30.10.22 Clare County visit ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Data (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not paid any EU fines within the specified timeframe..

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Constitution and the Defence Acts enshrine the governance of the Defence sector. Under the provisions of the Defence Act, members of the Permanent Defence Force are prohibited from being members of a political organisation and members of the Reserve Defence Force are prohibited from political activities when called out on permanent service or when deployed on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cybersecurity Policy (17 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: There are international and domestic procedures for authorising the arrival of military personnel from another State to operate in or be based in Ireland. For instance, in line with Article 7 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, prior approval by the Irish State is required for the appointment of military, naval or air attachés to a diplomatic mission resident in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (17 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities, including the detention of political prisoners and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (17 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable them to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. Two Inshore Patrol Vessels have been purchased from the New Zealand Government to replace the decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara. The two vessels are undergoing an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Since the further invasion of Ukraine in February, Ireland has been steadfast in its support for the Government and people of Ukraine, and we continue to be today. It is crucial that international law is respected and Ireland has been to the forefront of efforts at the United Nations to hold Russia accountable and to bring an end to the war in Ukraine as soon as possible. We have been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: This is a horrific war. We may have seen up to 250,000 people killed already, and perhaps 200,000 of those have been military personnel on both sides. It is hard to know what the figure is in respect of civilian losses, but it could be anything between 40,000 and 60,000 people, or maybe more. This is horrific. We know the brutality with which civilians have been treated because we have,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I can understand the sentiment behind the call for closing the Russian Embassy here and the expulsion of the Russian ambassador. I can understand this anger and frustration when we see images daily of civilians and infrastructure being targeted and homes, apartment complexes, shopping centres and hospitals having been targeted and hit with missiles, drones etc. I understand that sentiment,...