Results 5,441-5,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: As of 2 September 2021, Ireland is contributing 574 personnel to 9 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 349 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 134 personnel.Ireland also contributes...

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputies for contributing to the debate. It has been quite an extensive debate over three hours or so and has been very useful. I will try to respond to the questions and comments. Some of the questions apply to programmes that will be outlined and administered by other Ministers, but I will try to respond to the thrust of the questions. Perhaps I will break my response up...

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: That is not the reason.

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am sharing time with the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy. It is several weeks now since the Taliban captured Kabul and the attention of the world was drawn to Afghanistan. Although the gaze of the media has shifted somewhat since the middle of August when we were all shocked by the scenes of panic and chaos at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, there is no doubt that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 to 121, inclusive, and 123 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant.  The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department commissions external contractors, consultancy services and outsourcing services where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular, where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is necessary. External expertise has informed, and continues to inform, my Department's strategies and policies and the effective delivery of our services...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s position on the Middle East Peace Process and the situation in the occupied Palestinian territory is informed by international law, respect for human rights and the goal of a two-state solution through a negotiated peace agreement. Ireland has been consistently vocal in its opposition to settlement expansion and annexation. The Government's support for the Dáil...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I remain gravely concerned by the ongoing human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and particularly the impact on children and their access to education, which has been highlighted in the report from the Norwegian Refugee Council of November 2020, and referred to by the Deputy. Ireland raises the issue of settler violence and intimidation in our interactions with the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: It was not possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the timeframe available.  As soon as it is complete, I will provide the Deputy with the requested information directly.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Services (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 128 together. The Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary defence and security role. It also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks including the provision of air ambulance services to the Health Service Executive (HSE). The HSE’s Aeromedical Desk in its National Emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Services (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Emergency Aeromedical Support (EAS) Service is a daily, day-time service based in Custume Barracks, Athlone and which operates primarily in the West of Ireland.  Since the commencement of this service in June 2012, the Air Corps has completed over 3,300 missions, 1,805 of which were completed in the period 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020.  The following table...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Before I address the legislation before us this evening, perhaps the House will allow me to say that I met with some very brave women today. I had the privilege of meeting the group that is now referred to as the "Women of Honour" and also a group of serving women of various ranks from the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. The accounts of the experiences...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: We have had battle groups for years.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank Senators for their contributions. To respond to the issues they raised, which have come to light because of public comments made by the group now called "Women of Honour" and which have been reinforced by conversations my Department and I had with serving personnel, I wish to reinforce to the House how determined I am to address this issue. I say to anyone who suffered during his or...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I take the point Senator Craughwell made and am not casting aspersions on that. I am just giving the reasoning for why we are so clear on that. Some Members have raised individual barracks and so on, such as Custume Barracks in Athlone. It is a fantastic facility and I can promise we will continue investing there. It is a very strategic part of our Defence Forces infrastructure, as...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am just dealing with the general point. When we sent ships to the Mediterranean Sea, I was the Minister who made that decision. Some people did not agree with that at the time but it turned out to be an extremely valuable mission for the Defence Forces, particularly the Naval Service, and also for some 18,000 people who were taken from the sea by our personnel. That was, in the first...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: One of the reasons for this Bill is that we have asked the Commission on the Defence Forces to do quite a lot of work on the future role of the Reserve Defence Force and the capacity issues relating to it. I wanted this legislation done by the time the commission makes its recommendations. The last thing I want is for the commission to make a recommendation for new roles for the Reserve and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 403, 405, 406, 410, 412, 415 and 422 to , inclusive,424 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant. The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific passport application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has tried to make contact with the applicant to provide an update on the status of the passport application. The Passport Service currently has a turnaround time of 8 weeks for Passport Express applications which have been completed correctly and we are currently within this turnaround...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department did not run a training programme or course and therefore a procurement process was not required. Participation in this programme was requested by a member of staff, in line with their learning and development needs. A business case for the request, setting out the benefits of participation in this course, was submitted and approved. As the total cost of participation was under...