Results 5,921-5,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The amount collected by my Department in respect of fees since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced are as follows; 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021* €648.21 €30.00 €170.00 €559.60 €430.00 €90.00 €60.00 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Freedom of Information (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: A total of six freedom of information requests were refused by my Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced on the basis that the estimated search and retrieval costs exceeded the overall ceiling limit. On each occasion, the requester was contacted to offer assistance in refining the request so it no longer fell within this category. As my Department did not receive any...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The majority of current occupiers of Columb Barracks are there without the express legal permission of the Department of Defence. I am advised that my Department's records indicate that three legal indentures were sought or entered into for occupiers of Columb Barracks. In October 2018, the Department wrote to all occupiers of Columb Barracks, informing them of the need to vacate the premises...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Anglo-Irish Relations (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I was pleased to co-chair the most recent meeting of the British Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) held in Dublin last week, together with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis MP. also participating were my colleague the Minister for Justice, Heather Humphreys TD, and the Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office, Robin Walker MP. The BIIGC is an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Historical Conflicts (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has great sympathy for the suffering of the Ukrainian people during the devastating famine of 1932-33, known as the Holodomor. In view of the enormous effect of famine in the nineteenth century on our own people and subsequent history, the Irish people can empathise deeply with the Ukrainian experience. The Government has not taken a stance on whether those terrible events should...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: There continues to be a Government Advisory in place against non-essential travel, which will remain in place until 18 July. From 19 July, and subject to the prevailing epidemiologic situation, Government advice will be to travel safely and in accordance with public health guidance and restrictions and to avoid non-essential travel to countries to which an ‘emergency brake’ has...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main day-to-day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. On any given patrol day the Naval Service can carry out a number of taskings on behalf of other State agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Anglo-Irish Relations (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I spoke by telephone with the current UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, MP in July of 2020. The main focus of our discussion related to areas of mutual interest covered by the UK-IRL Memorandum of Understanding on aspects of defence cooperation. An in-person meeting which was planned to take place in April of this year in London was unfortunately cancelled. It is hoped to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am very pleased to meet with the committee today. I look forward to the questions and comments of members in a few minutes' time. I wish to make a brief opening statement to set a context around our discussion and then I will take questions. Thank you for the invitation to meet with the committee today, a Chathaoirligh. I was honoured to meet with the Ballymurphy families on several...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Senator has outlined many of the concerns I have. It will not surprise people that she and I have a very similar view on this issue. I will comment on a number of matters. There was a fear among many people that the British Government could act unilaterally to pass legislation in Westminster. We know there is a lot of pressure in Westminster to do that, to be honest, in the context of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: First, I would be very happy to meet the Ballymurphy families again. In fact, I enjoy that interaction. I recall the last time we met. There was such a sense of injustice and frustration among them in the context of their pursuit of justice. If we met again now, we could talk in a very different context. That is something I would really like to do. If there are others who Mr. Maskey...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am glad that a number of issues were raised. I am keen to address them. The first issue was in respect to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings and Seamus Ludlow. As people know, last month marked the 47th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in 1974, in which 33 were killed and hundreds seriously injured. These attacks saw the largest loss of life of any day of the Troubles, as...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I understand Dr. Farry's concerns. Many of us know there is a lot of pressure in the British political system at Westminster to ensure that people who served in Northern Ireland do not end up being pulled through a court system. We need to make sure that what is motivating this process is not pressure coming from a different place, if you like, and is rather a pressure on us all to do what...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am happy to do so if that is okay with the Chairman. I agree with Mr. Molloy on the need for a victim-centred approach. This is what we must manage to achieve. I used the word "we" in that regard. While I was not the Minister at the time the Stormont House Agreement was agreed, I can remember what happened well. The idea was that we would try to have structures agreed that would allow...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: We were told the meeting would last 90 minutes. I am under a little time pressure. I can do another 15 minutes but I will be under pressure then.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Ballymurphy Families: Discussion (1 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Chair for his accommodation and apologise if there was any confusion about time. Senator Currie said that so much good faith depends on this. That is a point which really hits home with me. It does depend on this. We have had so many difficult debates in the context of the politics of Northern Ireland in recent years. There was the lead-up to the New Decade, New Approach...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 2: In page 3, line 6, after "1979" to insert the following "and the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006".

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 3: In page 3, between lines 9 and 10, to insert the following: " "Act of 1960" means the Defence (Amendment) (No. 2) Act 1960;".

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 4: In page 3, between lines 10 and 11, to insert the following: " "Act of 2006" means the Defence (Amendment) Act 2006;".

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Report and Final Stages (30 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 5: In page 5, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: "Voluntary military service of officer of Reserve Defence Force 4. The Principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following section after section 86: “Voluntary military service of officer of Reserve Defence Force 86A. (1) An officer of the Reserve Defence Force may notify his or her...