Results 24,041-24,060 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks Closures (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is incorrect. There was and still is a Minister with responsibility for defence. It was previously Deputy Alan Shatter and now it is me. I do not know what the Deputy is talking about. Second, effectively the Deputy was asking about the effect of the Defence Forces reorganisation on the number of Permanent Defence Force personnel based in Custume Barracks. The Defence Force...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks Closures (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should check the numbers for the performance of his party when it was in Government in respect of this barracks.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks Closures (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: When we took office in 2011 some 900 Permanent Defence Force personnel were based in Custume Barracks. The Deputy can discuss whatever figures he wishes, but that was the fact.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks Closures (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am talking about the number of people that were in Custume Barracks. On the announcement of the reorganisation in 2012, the projected Permanent Defence Force strength for Custume Barracks was 971 personnel. There was no reduction to this number following the reorganisation and there continues to be 1,000 Permanent Defence Force personnel in the barracks. Obviously, the figure can vary...

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: Shannon Airport Facilities (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: We have debated this issue before. An Garda Síochána has primary responsibility for law and order, including the protection of the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces is the provision of aid for the civil power, ATCP, which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested. The Garda has requested ATCP support from...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will update the Deputy on the facts as I understand them. I understand from my colleague, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, that arrangements under which permission is granted for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports are governed by strict conditions. They include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed and carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: How do we know that?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: There is what is called trust.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I will give the Deputy an example of trust in the other direction. As of last week, we are exporting Irish beef to the United States. We approve beef factories that meet the standards required to sell meat to the United States. This is the result of an arrangement between two friendly sovereign countries. We have an agreement, too, on the matter raised by the Deputy and we expect the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: In this regard, we are speaking about a government, one with which the Irish Government has a good relationship.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: We are facilitating the landing of aircraft under the conditions I have outlined which are the responsibility of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The relationship is one that should be maintained.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Army Barracks Closures (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am not quite sure what information the Deputy is seeking. However, I provide the details I have before me. The 4 Cavalry Squadron, PDF, and 54 Cavalry Squadron, RDF, relocated from Connolly Barracks in County Longford to Custume Barracks in Athlone on 30 January 2009. On 29 March 2012 A Company 6Infantry Battalion, PDF, relocated from O’Neill Barracks in Cavan to Custume Barracks...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Defence Forces Fatalities (18 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Crowe for raising this issue, which is one that we have taken seriously. It relates to the case of the deaths of Privates Thomas Barrett and Derek Smallhorne, who were murdered, and the serious injuring of Private John O’Mahony while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, UNIFIL, on 18 April 1980. In July 2014, the alleged perpetrator, Mr. Mahmoud...