Results 6,701-6,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Protocol on Northern Ireland-Ireland: Engagement with the Minister for Foreign Affairs (27 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: Yes, and one of the points President von der Leyen made in the European Parliament today was that if the TCA is ratified the EU has tools to respond if the UK breaks the deal. There are tools built into the TCA such as dispute resolution mechanisms and arbitration, or we could respond by applying tariffs on certain products, for example, if it is appropriate to do so. Having the TCA...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Protocol on Northern Ireland-Ireland: Engagement with the Minister for Foreign Affairs (27 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: -----but if the withdrawal agreement and the protocol do not function, that has a knock-on consequence for trade, which means there is a knock-on consequence for the TCA. If the protocol is not functioning and if the island of Ireland collectively is not guaranteeing the integrity of the EU Single Market, that has a knock-on consequence for Ireland's place in the Single Market, which,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs: EU Protocol on Northern Ireland-Ireland: Engagement with the Minister for Foreign Affairs (27 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I think the US would like to do a trade deal with the UK and that it would also be open to doing a trade deal with the EU. This is an administration that wants to reach out and build transatlantic trade partnerships, which is good news for Ireland and for the UK. President Biden has been very consistent and firm, as have the Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and other prominent individuals in the...

Ireland's participation in MARSUR III: Motion (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank everybody who took the time to participate in the debate. I do not agree with all the views but it is certainly appropriate that with any of these projects, we have a debate and make an informed decision on the back of that. We had the opportunity to discuss many of these matters and I thought, naively, that the conversation, including questions and answers, in committee had...

Ireland's participation in MARSUR III: Motion (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves Ireland’s participation in the European Defence Agency Project - Maritime Surveillance (MARSUR) Networking - Operational Support and Development (MARSUR III) pursuant to section 2 of the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. I appreciate the opportunity to present the motion to the House following discussion at the Select...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government states that the Government will “Honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a Two-State solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”. I have been clear that, in recognition of the lack of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory remains a matter of serious concern. The protection and promotion of human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. Our active participation at the UN Human Rights Council is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case of the journalist in question. I do not wish to comment on individual cases but it is nevertheless disappointing and worrying that responsible and respected journalists feel that they cannot continue to do their work in mainland China. I also note the statement by the EU Spokesperson on this case, from the 2nd April. Ireland actively works to promote and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: In line with the National Framework on Living with COVID-19, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19. This essential service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or meet the criteria for travel...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is vital that we continue to work closely on a North/South and East-West basis in support of the power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and successor agreements. North/South cooperation is a central part of the Good Friday Agreement and will remain a core priority for the Government. We welcome that meetings of the North...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Transport Policy (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: In line with Healthy Ireland, the national framework for improved health and wellbeing 2013-2025, the Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to promoting increased physical activity among its staff including how they travel to work. This has predominately been achieved through the promotion of the Government’s ‘Cycle to Work’ Scheme, which is a tax incentive scheme to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Public Service Pay Commission report on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces recommended the reintroduction of an Air Corps Flying Officers service commitment scheme. Accordingly, a service commitment scheme was re-introduced in 2019. Under the terms of the Scheme applicants must commit to a three, five or eight year employment term. Payments for service commitments are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: Since 2004 the Irish Coast Guard has had overall responsibility for the provision of Search and Rescue services within the Irish Search and Rescue domain. From within the Defence Organisation, both the Naval Service and the Air Corps provide support to the Irish Coast Guard in maritime Search and Rescue operations on an “as available” basis. A Service Level Agreement is in place...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Defence commissioned a report from an expert consultancy firm, Bureau Veritas (BV), to exam military aviation regulation, oversight and safety in the Irish context. The BV report recommended that a Military Aviation Authority (MAA) should be established and that it should be independent and free from influence or control of any Operating Authority. Following the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Transport Policy (22 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Cycle to Work Scheme, which was introduced in 2009, is implemented under a salary sacrifice arrangement through an employee's salary.  Under this arrangement, my Department funds the purchase of a bicycle and/or safety equipment for the employee who agrees to forego or sacrifice part of his or her salary for over an agreed period in order to cover...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (21 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 832 and 833 together. The Programme for Government states that the Government will “continue to work with other Member States to give leadership within the EU to oppose any annexation or plans to apply Israeli sovereignty over territory in the West Bank, which is part of the occupied Palestinian territory. The Government would regard any such moves...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (21 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 834, 881, 882 and 898 together. Ireland's position on settlement expansion is absolutely clear. Settlement activity in the occupied Palestinian territory is clearly illegal under international law. I am in regular contact with EU partners on the situation in the Middle East. EU Foreign Ministers met last year with the Israeli and Palestinian Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (21 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Agreement reached between Turkey and the EU in March 2016 represented a landmark effort to respond to the migration crisis and the loss of many hundreds of lives in the Aegean Sea. The goal was to restore a legal and orderly admission system, put an end to irregular migration from Turkey to the EU, prevent the loss of life, take action against migrant smuggling networks, and improve...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 836, 870, 874, 878, 884, 885, 888 and 891 together. In line with the National Framework on Living with COVID-19 the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19. This essential service is available for those who are required to travel...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (21 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. The Embassy of Ireland in Cairo, in conjunction with EU colleagues, routinely monitors arrests and detentions of human rights defenders, including in this case. Human rights issues, in particular those regarding arrests, detention and the treatment of prisoners, form part of Ireland's regular engagement with Egypt. At the Human Rights...