Results 6,041-6,060 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 303, 307, 310, 312 and 313 together. The military authorities have advised that, as at 31st May 2021, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force, was 8,570 personnel comprised of: - Army6,954 - Air Corps732 - Naval Service884 The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining the agreed strength of the Permanent Defence Force at 9,500...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020, completed through extensive joint...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020 provides a comprehensive list of planned...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non security related tasks. The Defence Forces continue to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including security operations, critical supports to An Garda Síochána and ATCA supports to other Government Departments and Principal...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence, approved by Government in July 2015, resulted from a comprehensive examination of Defence requirements. It provides the defence policy framework for the period up to 2025. This policy framework is designed to be flexible and responsive given the dynamic nature of the security environment and enables the Defence Organisation to be adaptive to changing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware Public Service pay policy is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform having regard to Public Sector Pay Agreements. The Department of Defence does not have discretion to award separate pay increases. Whilst pay has been highlighted as an issue, there has been significant progress in recent years. The Defence Forces have received pay increases...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is too early to make that assessment because we only made the decision at the start of this week. It will take time for those decisions to take effect. The debate within the EU around sanctions is always a delicate one because if sanctions are applied in the wrong way they can be counterproductive. In the case of Belarus, the EU is very united on the need to target its sanctions at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: We have already debated these issues but this is also a very useful question to respond to. Israel’s new coalition Government took office on 13 June. I have written to the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yair Lapid, and I look forward to having a chance to speak with him in due course on a range of issues. The EU High Representative has spoken to Mr. Lapid. I participated in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: To respond to the accusation that as we talk people are dying on the streets of Gaza, that is not fully accurate. I am glad to say we have a ceasefire. Obviously, there was real concern about air strikes in recent days in Gaza. Thank goodness, nobody was fatally injured in those air strikes. There is no country in the EU more vocal on this issue than Ireland and no foreign minister more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I agree with virtually everything the Deputy has just said. We need a relationship with Israel but we have also got to call out breaches of international law. I can be accused of some things in this House, but I am not sure it is fair to accuse me of not speaking directly and in a strident manner about the Israel-Palestinian conflict. I have been very direct in calling out breaches of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: If there is a role for the embassy and diplomatic channels to be used, we will use them. I have a very good relationship with my Egyptian counterpart. Normally, we speak about Israel and Palestine and trying to take action on ceasefires, in which Egypt has significant involvement, particularly where they relate to Gaza. The Deputy has raised this issue in the Chamber and sought a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I do not want to speculate on the legal case or on whether decoupling is possible. There is a large amount of money involved and this is a high-profile legal case on the back of major disruptions that happened as a consequence of a ship going aground and blocking the Suez Canal for a sustained period. There is an offer to work with the Deputy on this issue as appropriate, but I do not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 142 together. I attended the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, which took place in Luxembourg on Monday, 21 June. The Council held a discussion on the situation in Belarus and we met the opposition leader, Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. As I said in response to an earlier question on Belarus, we decided to impose restrictive measures on 78...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is being enforced and all EU states are, as far as I am aware, complying with it fully. There is a challenge, though, which I raised, as did a number of others. While it is the appropriate action and the EU and EU leaders needed to respond robustly to an outrageous act of aviation piracy, which is how it has been described, cutting off Belarusian airlines and not allowing them into EU...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: We have a shared view on this issue. It is strong. Over the past decade, in particular, Ireland has in many ways opened up a debate and discussion that has been inclusive, generous and progressive. We have an obligation to try to ensure that kind of inclusive discussion also happens in other parts of the world and, if necessary, other parts of the European Union so that people's concerns,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I have a written reply but it is not much good to the Deputy, so I will talk off the cuff if that is okay. We have not had any representation on this issue, apart from Deputy Crowe. I am happy to be helpful on this issue, if we can, through our embassy in Cairo. It is a good and active embassy. However, no company, stakeholder or interested party has reached out to us with a concern. A...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am really pleased to hear a united front in the Parliament on this issue but this is not about left and right. It is not about conservative views versus liberal views. It is about human rights. That is what this is about. This is why I agree with Deputy Griffin that UEFA showed cowardice on this issue. It has done great work in terms of trying to stamp out racism in football, as indeed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: If the Deputy allows me to give the regulations around this, then I will answer the direct question. The Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973 prohibits the carriage of munitions of war through Irish airspace or through Irish airports on civilian aircraft unless an exemption has been granted by the Minister for Transport. Statistics on such...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is important that we deal with facts here rather than what people believe. In order for a civilian aircraft that is carrying US military personnel to travel through Shannon Airport, if any of them are carrying arms on their person there needs to be an exemption for that. There is no exemption to carry large munitions or arms for military operations or war. There is not. The only...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has asked two very different questions. I have answered the first question: there are no large-scale stocks of weapons travelling through Shannon Airport. There are not. The US sometimes uses Shannon Airport for refuelling to bring personnel from one part of the world to another, and not with their weapons. When the US seeks exemptions, we are talking about light weapons that...