Results 41-60 of 450 for going forward speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...of the Defence (Amendment) Act 2021, I engaged with the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) on the issue of employment protection for RDF members who might be engaged in such voluntary military service in support of the PDF going forward. Engagement at official level with DETE has continued since then to consider the matter and identify...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Northern Ireland (23 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: It is important to call out what is happening in an open and blunt way. The approach towards political stability and maintaining that in Northern Ireland post the Good Friday agreement, for nearly 25 years now, has been based on partnership and trust between the British and Irish Governments, when it was needed, to provide a platform and a foundation to help the parties agree to compromise...

Recent Developments in Northern Ireland: Statements (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Last Sunday, 22 May, marked the 24th anniversary of the simultaneous referenda on both sides of the Border on the Good Friday Agreement. The agreement was endorsed by 94% of people here and 71% of people in Northern Ireland. It was endorsed by 85% of those voting across the island as a whole. It was a transformative moment for the island. I remember the day vividly, as I expect most in...

Journalists in Conflicts across the World: Statements (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...upholding all human rights.  Having free, independent and pluralistic media, both online and offline, is crucial to any democratic society. It allows citizens and communities to make informed decisions and to hold governments accountable. Being able to work in safety allows journalists to fulfil their essential role in providing objective and unbiased information. Journalists...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...from my Department continue to work with the representative associations in a positive and collaborative process within the conciliation and arbitration scheme to resolve issues. There is also ongoing engagement on a regular basis between the official side and the representative side on a range of items which are processed through conciliation and arbitration.  Since my...

Seanad: Northern Ireland: Motion (11 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Sinn Féin Senators for tabling a motion on the British Government's new Nationality and Borders Act. The Act's provisions for an ETA scheme raise a number of serious concerns and merit further political consideration in the Seanad. The Government will not oppose this motion as it raises concerns that we share, but it does not reflect a number of important developments since...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (12 Apr 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...were no objections on Second Stage of this Bill but we have six technical amendments, some of which are clubbed together. They are all recommendations coming from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel and I will go through each of them in turn. Amendment No. 1 is a drafting technical amendment which has been brought forward following a review of the current wording of this section of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Defence Forces (Evidence) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (12 Apr 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...the back end of the year. I do not want to put a specific timeline on it, but there are some issues there, as the Deputy highlighted. In respect of the Commission on the Defence Forces, a lot of work is going on. I have said I wanted to bring a paper to the Government responding to the commission report in June, and that is what we are going to try to do. There are about 130...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Implementation Bodies (7 Apr 2022)

Simon Coveney: It has been the consistent position of the Government that the Stormont House Agreement provides a balanced and comprehensive framework to address the legacy of the Troubles. It was agreed by both Governments and the political parties after intensive negotiations, and it should be implemented – for the families and victims who have waited for too long. We have taken every...

Government Response to Situation in Ukraine: Statements (30 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: I assure the House that the Government is doing everything it can to try to make appropriate diplomatic interventions. There are far more Members on the other side of the House talking about neutrality than there are on this side. Every day, my Department and I look at how we can use international organisations and multilateralism to try to make interventions for peace. I will not have the...

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: Defence Forces (10 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 11, 39, 41, 53 and 59 together. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the programme for Government and a Government decision in December 2020, which also agreed its terms of reference and membership. The report was published on 9 February last. The commission undertook a significant body of work encompassing...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (10 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...'s relationship with ICTU in the context of pay talks and that is my position. I have also said it is very difficult for me to talk to PDFORRA about the detail of that while a court case is ongoing. That is self-evident. There is no stand-off here and no manoeuvring is going on. I want to have an open discussion with the representative bodies on this issue so that we can resolve it to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...to liaise with the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE) on the issue of employment protection for RDF members who might be engaged in voluntary military service in support of the PDF going forward. I wish to advise the Deputy that engagement at official level with DETE on this matter has been initiated with a view to identifying the most appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (10 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main day-to-day tasking 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. These patrols are carried out on a regular and frequent basis and are directed to all areas of Irish waters as...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...to Northern Ireland, North-South co-operation and British-Irish relations, which are a particular emphasis of my Department. We remain focused on strengthening our relationship with the UK in the post-Brexit context, which has not been straightforward, as members will be aware. The focus of work under programme B, our place in Europe, which is allocated €39 million, will be to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...will happily try to jump around those questions and answer them all. I will deal with the embassies first. I think I am right in saying that since the Global Ireland strategy began a few years ago, we have opened about 15 new embassies and consulates. That is quite significant. I refer to places such as Santiago in Chile, Bogotá in Colombia and Vancouver. We have opened an...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (9 Mar 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy might let me answer the question. It has not withdrawn its case as of yet anyway. I have spoken to it directly about that. I have a very good relationship with PDFORRA. If we are going to progress this issue, however, I am not going to do it under threat of legal action. I think that is well understood. There needs to be some good faith here. I can understand the reason the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Review of Workplace Arrangements: Department of Foreign Affairs (8 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...two-year global campaign by Ministers and Irish officials, showcasing Ireland's values of empathy, partnership and independence, and convincing members of the UN that Ireland would be a voice for good on international peace and security issues, representing the perspectives of small countries. On 17 June, as planned and approved in advance, a team of officials were carrying out essential...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...be accommodated. What I would say as Minister for Defence is that no decision has been made to move out of Cathal Brugha Barracks or to relocate that barracks. We are not at that stage. We are going through a tendering process to put a feasibility study in place that will take some time so that we can weigh up all the pros and cons. We will work with the Defence Forces and...