Results 6,981-7,000 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to mainstreaming sustainability across its 12 headquarters buildings and 90 diplomatic Missions, with a view to achieving the status nationally and internationally as a Foreign Ministry with strong green credentials. In July 2019 I launched the Department’s Green Foreign Ministry initiative, following which a Green Committee was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am seriously concerned at the developments in Turkey relating to the student protests at Bogaziçi University. Our Embassy in Ankara has been closely monitoring the situation and is collaborating closely with other EU and like-minded Embassies, including in monitoring the ongoing trial of other LGTBQ+ students arrested for seeking to organise a pride parade in 2019. The branding of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) and the General Affairs Council (GAC) fall under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Under the Foreign Affairs Council configuration, there have been 6 physical FAC meetings – 13 July 2020, 21 September 2020, 12 October 2020, 7 December 2020, 25 January 2021 and 22 February 2021. All took place in Brussels, with the exception of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in Bahrain remains a matter of serious concern. Although Bahrain has repeatedly stated its commitment to improving its human rights record and safeguarding human rights as enshrined in the Bahraini Constitution, we are concerned by ongoing instances of violations of fundamental freedoms, including violations of freedom of opinion and expression, as well as the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. In 2020 and 2021 to date, the Department of Foreign Affairs agreed one contract for Covid-19 related spending via negotiated procedure without prior publication. The total value of the contract was €842,160. Details are supplied in the table below. Invoice Date Payee Value Reason ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Military Service (1916-1923) Pensions Collection (MSPC) project is a joint Department of Defence and Defence Forces contribution to the Decade of Centenaries. The MSPC owes its origins to the decision of the Oireachtas of Saorstát Éireann in June 1923 to recognise and compensate wounded members, and the widows, children and dependents of deceased members of Óglaigh na...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reserve (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: For reasons of operational security, it is not possible to release Reserve Defence Force (RDF) strength figures by barracks. The RDF is comprised of the Army Reserve (AR), the Naval Service Reserve (NSR) and the First Line Reserve (FLR). The effective strength of the Army Reserve (AR) and Naval Service Reserve (NSR) as at 31 January 2021 is 1,583, comprising 1,458 Army Reserve members and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Investigations (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: This question is non specific to the work of my Department. In so far as it relates to my policy brief or my functions, any person having any knowledge of possible criminal activity should report it to an Garda Síochána who are the proper authority to investigate such matters.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Expenditure (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The table below sets out Vote 36 (Defence) Gross expenditure, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) at current market prices as published by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), along with Defence expenditure expressed as a percentage of GDP for the period 1999 to 2019. Details of GDP figures for 2020 are not yet available. Defence Expenditure (Vote 36) 1999-2019 as a % of GDP Year ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The long-standing policy of my Department has been to withdraw from the provision of married quarters. This policy approach was and remains reflective of the State’s move away from the provision of tied housing for State employees. Single-Living-In accommodation is provided for operational and transient use. As such, military personnel can use accommodation for overnight stays during...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Review (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government committed to an independent Commission to undertake a comprehensive review of the Defence Forces and include the following matters; - Arrangements for the effective defence of the country at land, air and sea. - Structures for governance, joint command, and control structures. - The brigade structure. - Pay and allowances and composition of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: European Council Meetings (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: During each European Union Presidency, both formal and informal meetings of Defence Ministers are held within the Council of the European Union. There is no separate Defence Ministers' Council within the Council of the European Union. Twice a year - once during each Presidency - Defence Ministers attend the formal Foreign Affairs Council in Defence Ministers' configuration. In the period...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that it was not possible to collate the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 and 153 together. The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. At the request of my Department the military authorities are conducting the search, retrieval and collation of same. I will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

New Decade, New Approach Agreement: Statements (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: A little over a year ago, I stood together in the cold with the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Julian Smith, and we announced we believed we had found the basis for an agreement on which all parties could come together and restore the Executive, the assembly and the North-South Ministerial Council. In an act of political courage and imagination, and in a spirit of compromise,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Offices (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is compliant with section 9 of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 which entitles breastfeeding mothers to take time off work each day in order to breastfeed. While this legislation does not oblige employers to provide facilities in the workplace to facilitate breastfeeding, comfort rooms are currently available in our buildings at Headquarters that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Immunity (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are currently 63 resident Diplomatic Missions in Ireland with approximately 1,250 diplomatic agents, including their spouses and families. The operation of these Missions is regulated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 as transposed into Irish law by the Diplomatic and Immunities Act 1967. Privileges and immunities of accredited diplomatic agents in Ireland are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that our Embassies and Consulates overseas continue to provide consular assistance and consular services. This includes in-person appointments if required and where possible, taking account of local public health restrictions. Further resumption of in-person appointments will take place on a case-by-case basis, in line with the advice of public health authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused processing of routine applications while Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Passport Service staff have been temporarily reassigned to provide consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas. The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency passport service for Irish citizens at home and abroad. The service is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Advisers (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: In 2020, I appointed three Special Advisers as set out in the table below. My Office will follow up with the Deputy directly to provide him with their contact details. Name Title Mr Chris Donoghue Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Laura McGonigle Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs ...