Results 16,781-16,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy needs to think about the accuracy of that statement, frankly.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is a matter referred to as humanitarian assistance. The suggestion that the Israelis are working with Syrian rebels is something of an exaggeration. At the request of the United Nations, following Government and Dáil Éireann approval, a contingent of the Permanent Defence Force has been deployed to the United Nations disengagement observer force, UNDOF, on the Golan...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I agree with the Deputy that Irish troops could be used very effectively in many missions all over the world. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of conflict zones requiring UN peacekeeping efforts right now. We made a judgment call, which I believe was the right judgment call, to stay as part of the UNDOF mission, although the mission came under strain and had to be reconfigured because of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy seems to suggest our peacekeeping missions should go into areas that are not militarised or complex because that would be an easy job. We are in the Golan Heights as part of the UNDOF mission because it is highly complex, volatile and militarised, and because the two countries have been at war.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are. The UNDOF mission has been very successful in terms of bringing some level of stability. It has prevented-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: That is the Deputy's view.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Overseas Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is not the view of the UN Security Council or of UN headquarters. People who are engaged in peacekeeping missions all over the world all the time strongly hold the view that UNDOF still has value in terms of bringing some stability and capacity for observance. It acts as a significant deterrent on both sides not to breach the agreement that is linked to the setting up of the UNDOF...

Other Questions: Naval Service Vessels (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: It is normal practice for the Minister for Defence to approve the twinning of a Naval Service vessel with a coastal city or town when the vessel is commissioned and has come into service. While no protocols for twinning are set down, the relationship between the town or city that was twinned with a recently decommissioned Naval Service vessel is traditionally maintained by twinning the newly...

Other Questions: Naval Service Vessels (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I know Foynes very well. As the Deputy said, it is a tier 1 port in Ireland. It is one of the finest natural deep water ports and harbours in Europe. In the past week, I was glad to hear the announcement of a significant investment programme for Foynes. I think it is worth approximately €50 million. The ambitious and talented management team that is managing Foynes Port has big...

Other Questions: Naval Service Vessels (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: On the pecking order, Foynes is certainly not close to the bottom.

Other Questions: Naval Service Vessels (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I refer to the priority list. The Deputy has raised with me many times issues associated with Foynes. He prioritises the port and is right to do so. Partly because of the political prioritisation of Foynes, we are seeing many quite exciting developments there. When making twinning decisions, I must obviously take into account the proximity of cities and ports that do not have a twinned...

Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for asking about this because it is an area in which I am really interested. In July 2011, the Government approved an approach whereby Enterprise Ireland supports the defence organisation by raising awareness of and engaging with Irish-based enterprise and research institutes that are engaged in activities related to the Defence Forces’ capacity potential. The...

Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Absolutely. I am referring to maritime surveillance, energy conservation, chemical, biological and radiological research, and improvised explosive devices detection. These initiatives have direct relevance to defence but can use the Defence Forces' infrastructure to test products that may well have relevance and an application outside the defence sphere. In Cork Harbour at present, a...

Other Questions: Defence Forces (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Most of the strategic thinking in this area is now happening in the context of the White Paper. I hope to bring a draft White Paper to the Government before we break up for the summer, if possible. I believe it is possible. One objective of the White Paper is to focus on how the Defence Forces can contribute to the innovation agenda in terms of developing new products and technology that...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I discussed this issue with the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht as recently as yesterday. Responsibility for the decade of centenaries programme rests with the Minister, Deputy Heather Humphreys, but my Department and the Defence Forces will play a significant role in many of the events planned for 2016. Two existing annual 1916 commemoration events which...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I met the representative bodies in recent weeks, and this issue arose in the course of our discussions. Members of the Permanent and Reserve Defence Forces want to participate, and former members of the Defence Forces are also anxious to be involved. I assure the Deputy we will do what we can to ensure this is a year in which everybody in Ireland, including in particular those in the...

Other Questions: Easter Rising Commemorations (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Many of the plans have already been finalised but there are still things we need to do. The Government is broadly ambitious in terms of what it wants to undertake regarding the commemorations. Some of this involves capital works in Dublin city centre and elsewhere, while others are ceremonial events. I hope everybody in this Hose will work together to ensure this is an appropriate...

Other Questions: UN Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: On 28 January 2015, a member of the Spanish armed forces who was serving in Sector East with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon was killed near Ghajar on the border with Israel. I understand that the precise cause of the peacekeeper’s death remains undetermined. UNIFIL has launched an investigation to determine the facts and circumstances of the incident. One Irish officer...

Other Questions: UN Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: There are always conversations ongoing between the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Department of Defence on peacekeeping missions and the conditions under which we operate. I visited our troops with UNIFIL and UNDOF before Christmas and it was a fascinating experience. In the build-up to it, I am glad that we had seen a sustained and lengthy peaceful period in southern...

Other Questions: UN Missions (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The advice I have received is that there has not been a dramatic change of circumstances in southern Lebanon. There was a very significant and serious exchange between Hezbollah and the Israeli defence forces, but there has been no other incident since. My interest is in ensuing Irish troops are safe and that the UNIFIL mission generally is as safe as it can be and performs its role of...