Results 3,581-3,600 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: It is my judgment that having a diplomatic channel for communication and sending messages makes sense on lots of levels. Even if there is a war going on, people need to talk. If we are going to continue to try to bring an end to that war, talking is necessary and diplomatic interventions are necessary, even if we fundamentally disagree with the people we are talking to in terms of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: In response to that comment, I have said many times that we are not neutral in this conflict.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: We are being asked by the Ukrainian ambassador and the Ukrainian Government to make interventions and we are trying to do as much as we can to support the people of Ukraine who are under attack. We are also working as part of a collective effort within the EU and the broader international community to try to find a way of bringing this to an end. The Deputy is correct that there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: On the question of the IFSC, Ireland will ensure we will play our part in the full implementation of sanctions, full stop.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: It is primarily a matter for the Department of Finance and the Central Bank of Ireland, along with other Departments. From my perspective, we have made commitments to EU sanctions and we must ensure they are fully implemented, including if that involves the IFSC. With respect to Deputy Lahart's question, because of the pace of the issue there is a need to respond quickly. Normally,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am responding to four Deputies.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: There were three. I am in your hands.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81, 111 and 123 together. Ireland implements UN sanctions, as adopted by the UN Security Council, and EU sanctions, as adopted as part of the EU Common Foreign and Security Policy. Ireland does not adopt unilateral sanctions; the sanctions in force in Ireland in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine are EU sanctions, agreed and adopted by all EU...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: There were many questions there and I will try to be as precise as I can in responding. Ireland and other EU member states have asked for, effectively, an impact assessment as we go in respect of these sanctions. This war, though, has only been going on for a month. The first three rounds of sanctions packages happened over five days. Normally, it takes months to put an impact assessment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: Given the importance of the issue we are discussing and its consequences for people in Yemen, terminology such as the Tánaiste "wining and dining" and so on in an attempt to cast aspersions is unhelpful.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: I listened to the Deputy so he should hear my answer, please. My understanding is issues have been raised in relation to the war in Yemen by the Tánaiste but it is my responsibility as the Minister for Foreign Affairs to raise these issues directly with the countries involved, which I have done repeatedly on behalf of the Irish Government and people, in terms of expressing concerns. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: There are no plans to send any Irish naval vessels abroad for now. We have challenges in the Naval Service at the moment in terms of recruitment and retention. We have work to do to get our personnel strength up to where it needs to be so we have the flexibility to be able to send a vessel from our naval fleet perhaps to another part of the world, should it be justified to do so, should it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy does not need to tell me there has been a war raging in Yemen for the past seven years. I have answered questions on that many times here and I have spoken on it at multiple fora. Yemen is one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, driven by seven years of conflict, economic collapse and the breakdown of public institutions and services which has left millions of people in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: The idea that the war in Yemen is categorised as a war for which one country is solely responsible is completely inaccurate. This simplified notion that it is all Saudi Arabia's fault is just not true. Saudi Arabia has a role to play in terms of bringing about a ceasefire and Saudi Arabia has responsibilities in terms of ensuring that civilians are protected in war, as any warring party has...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Acting Chairman might suggest some music.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: We are always open to suggestions to improve the experience. There have been very high volumes this week. I understand that the wait time on phones has been longer than normal. We will respond to that by increasing resources accordingly. That line is up and running; it was never there before. People effectively had to look online to see the status of their passport application. We put...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: We now have more than 770 staff in the Passport Office compared with 450 last summer. Within the next six weeks or so that number should be up to 900. That effectively means a doubling of staff in the Passport Office over the past six or eight months. I agree with the Deputy on the turnaround times. Passport express is a bit of a misnomer. It is not an express service. It is a much...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: This is also a useful question to respond to on the record. Ireland’s policy of military neutrality has long been an important strand of our independent foreign policy. As practised by successive Governments, the policy means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or mutual defence arrangements. While militarily neutral, Ireland has always been politically active,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: I stand over all those things. People have questioned the triple lock for years on the basis of not being comfortable with a country in the UN Security Council being able to veto a decision Ireland might want to make to send troops to some part of the world. On balance - I have advocated for this - I think the triple lock is a good thing. I can completely understand why people would...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (24 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: Many people have questioned the wisdom of it. I can give the Deputy details on it if he wants. In the context of my comments on Ireland potentially participating in a rapid reaction force, that is simply a development of what already exists. Irish personnel have been training for years in what are called battle groups, the most recent one led by Germany, which ensures interoperability,...