Results 7,101-7,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Deployment (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Government and Dáil approval was received in June 2019 for the deployment of a contingent of up to 14 Defence Forces personnel, drawn primarily from the Army Ranger Wing, to participate in MINUSMA, the United Nations authorised operation in Mali. MINUSMA was established on 25 April 2013 by UN Security Council Resolution 2100 to stabilise the country after the Tuareg rebellion...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Funding (10 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission proposed a new regulation establishing the European Defence Fund (EDF) under the draft Multi Annual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. The Regulation has been agreed by the Council and the EU Parliament and funding of approximately €8 billion has been provided for the instrument under the MFF 2021-2027. The EDF aims to trigger co-operative programmes...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I have expressed my concern on a number of occasions about the arrest of this person who is one of a number of human rights defenders in India currently being detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi has monitored this case since the detention of the human rights defender last October. The Ambassador of Ireland to India has raised this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Under our National Implementation Plan for the Civilian CSDP compact, Ireland has committed to explore whether new arrangements can be put in place for serving public servants to deploy from Government Departments to civilian CSDP missions. I am very proud of the contribution made by all our secondees, who serve with distinction globally and would like to see the options for serving...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The EU's civilian CSDP missions are staffed by a combination of staff employed and paid by the European External Action Service and specialist staff funded directly by Member States. The latter are also appointed by the EEAS, on the basis of competitive interview of candidates put forward by Member States. If their candidate is successful, the Member State is responsible for the remuneration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland was a leading advocate for the EU's Civilian CSDP Compact, which was adopted in November 2018. Civilian CSDP is a vital element in the implementation of the EU’s Global Strategy and the Compact will make it more capable, flexible and responsive to the needs of our external partners. Through Civilian CSDP, the EU engages with partners to support them in building capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has been providing consular assistance to the family through our Embassy in New Delhi, Consulate General in Mumbai and Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, since first informed of the citizen’s tragic death in India in 2017. As the Deputy will be aware, a criminal trial is ongoing in Goa in relation to this case. Officials from our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The protections and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland works bilaterally and with the EU in many countries to promote our values. In response to the corporal punishment meted out to six people in Aceh, Indonesia, Ireland fully supports the statement by the European Union on 31 January which underlines the unlawful nature of such...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that the premises of the American Irish Historical Society at 991 Fifth Avenue, New York have been put up for sale.This is a deeply disappointing development. The American Irish Historical Society, a registered not-for-profit organisation, is a cherished symbol of the profound relationship that has grown between our two countries through the centuries. While the Society is more...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland plays a vital role in protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the peace process. It ensures that there is no hard border on the island of Ireland, and it protects the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it. It allows Northern Irish traders continued access not only to the British market but also to the Single...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: It has not been possible in the time available to prepare a substantive response to the question from  the Deputy.  A response to the question will be prepared and forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The table below contains details of the strength and pay bill of the Permanent Defence Force from 2013 to 31st December 2020, the latest date for which such information is available: Year PDF Strength (wte) PDF Pay €m 2013 9,236 413,394 2014 9,280 395,573 2015 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (4 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service has nine ships. In July 2019, the Naval Service reduced its operational flotilla to six ships, placing two ships on operational pause, while a third ship entered a mid-life re-fit programme. A fire onboard the LÉ Niamh last October has impacted on the ship’s availability for operations from Q4 last year. There are 5 operational ships that remain available at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions (3 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: St. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to promote Ireland’s economic and political interests overseas, with levels of visibility and media attention unmatched by the national day of any other country.  Every year, Ireland’s Mission network supports visits by an Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Ministers and Minsters of State, and, in recent years, an Ceann...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (3 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 328 together. 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”. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (3 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The European External Action Service (EEAS) is the European Union’s diplomatic service created to promote an EU-wide common foreign and security policy. It is staffed by officers from the EU Commission, the EU Council Secretariat and the Foreign Ministries of EU Member States, including my Department. The recruitment of diplomats from Member States to serve in the EEAS enhances the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (3 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 315 and 323 together. Ireland has been unequivocal in stating that the Presidential election that took place in Belarus on 9 August 2020, was neither free, nor fair. We reject the democratic legitimacy of the Lukashenko regime and we have condemned in the strongest possible terms the flagrant human rights abuses we have seen take place in Belarus in the run...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (3 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement. Entitlement to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (3 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317, 319, 330, 331 and 333 together. The EU and its Member States recognise and are bound to the principle of non-refoulement, as enshrined in the 1951 Refugee Convention and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights. Both Ireland and the EU regularly make that position clear and remind other States of their obligations. At the most recent meeting of the UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (3 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318 and 332 together. Syria is one of the worst humanitarian crises of the twenty first Century. Within Syria itself, more than 11 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, while over five million Syrians are refugees, mainly in neighbouring countries. At the most recent meeting of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)...