Results 7,381-7,400 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has taken a firm stance in relation to the deteriorating situation in Belarus. The repression of the Belarusian people and the denial of their democratic rights is unacceptable. We have seen mass and indiscriminate detentions of adults and minors, curtailments of fundamental freedoms, media freedoms and internet shutdowns, and credible reports of torture, ill-treatment and sexual...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of this case  and has liaised with our Embassy in Ankara, which is accredited to Pakistan.  No request for assistance or application for asylum has been made to date. The case raises serious issues and I would like to reiterate Ireland's commitment to the protection of the rights of children both at home and abroad.  The Government attaches great...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: In addition to congratulating President-elect Biden, the Government has offered the warmest congratulations to Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. We recognise the significance of her election as the first woman and first person of colour to hold that office. Although I have not spoken directly with the new Vice-President elect, the Taoiseach and President-elect Biden spoke by telephone last...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Necessary renovations were carried out or completed this year at Ireland’s Embassies in Paris, London and Athens as well as at the Consulate-General in New York and at the Irish Liaison Office to Partnership for Peace in Brussels.   For next year, large and medium-sized renovation projects are currently under consideration for a number of our Embassies including, London,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 305, 306 and 308 together. In line with the Government's Plan for Living with COVID-19 and the move to Level 3, the Passport Service began a phased return to full operations on 1 December. The Passport Service had paused processing of routine passport and Foreign Birth applications when Ireland entered Level 5 of the National Framework for Living...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government has consistently supported the establishment of a public inquiry into the murder of Pat Finucane, as provided for under the Weston Park Agreement reached by the UK and Irish Governments in 2001. I spoke with the Secretary of State on Monday 30 November and conveyed the Irish Government’s disappointment with his decision not to hold a public inquiry into the Finucane...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that I have engaged with my counterpart in China on this matter on a number of occasions, including recently via a phone call to discuss the case. I can further advise that the case has been raised regularly at senior political and diplomatic level with the relevant authorities in China, and with the Embassy of China in Dublin. These engagements have highlighted the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: As of 31 December 2018, the Department of Foreign Affairs reported 3.6% of its employees having disclosed a disability status within the definition as outlined in the Disability Act 2005. In 2019 the percentage rate rose to 4.6%. It is planned that the Department of Foreign Affairs will carry out a full Staff Census for the 2020 statutory returns and this figure will be available...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: As part of our ongoing efforts to ensure our workplaces are safe and comply with all current public health guidelines, my Department is considering very carefully the latest information provided in the Work Safely Protocol of 20 November 2020.  This builds on the extensive work already undertaken within my Department to implement the Government’s Return to Work Safely...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Search and Rescue Service Provision (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: There is currently a project ongoing under the remit of the Department of Transport, to consider, develop and bring to fruition a new Marine Search and Rescue aviation contract for future service provision. The Defence Organisation is supportive of the Department of Transport’s programme to put in place the Next Generation SAR Aviation Contract. A strategic assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The term "whistle-blower" is often used to describe a person who discloses relevant information in relation to relevant wrongdoings, as set out in the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. A person whose information satisfies the criteria set out in the Act also has the benefit of the protections set out in the Act such as protection of identity and protection against penalisation....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Protected Disclosures (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 governs the retention of certain communications data and access to such data by the Defence Forces and certain other statutory bodies.  Under the provision of Section 6(2) of the Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011 an officer of the Permanent Defence Force not below the rank of Colonel may make a disclosure request to a service...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Permanent Defence Force (PDF) Recruitment plans for 2021 have not yet been finalised.  PDF recruitment plans will be informed by a review of the 2020 campaign and taking the COVID situation into account.  

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme was published in January 2020. This Programme, which is a 5 year plan, provides a blueprint for investment in the Defence Forces built infrastructure over a multi annual timeframe.  The programme recognises the development of a new Control Tower as being of strategic importance to the Defence Forces.  The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Meetings (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: On the 8 July 2020, I had an introductory telephone conversation with the UK Defence Secretary of State, Mr. Ben Wallace, MP. The topics we discussed included our common interest in further developing defence cooperation particularly in the Maritime domain through the UK/IRL Memorandum of Understanding which was signed in 2015. We both recognised the value of the work...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department has allocated in excess of €9m to the Defence Forces for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of its building stock. This is a devolved budget assigned to the Defence Forces by my Department. The prioritisation of specific projects to be carried out under the devolved budget, is solely a matter for the Defence Forces in keeping with the delegated nature of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (8 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: In compliance with the Disability Act 2005, statistics on the number of staff working with a disability within my Department are compiled and submitted to the National Disability Authority annually. The figures are compiled retrospectively during the first quarter of each year in respect of the previous year and therefore, the return for 2020 has not yet been made. The following table...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (3 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not been subject to investigation by the Data Protection Commission (DPC) as provided for under Section 137 of the Data Protection Act 2018 for the purposes of an inquiry under Section 110(1) of the Act. As regards the investigation of any individual complaints, my Department engages with the DPC under Section 109 of the Data Protection Act 2018 and previously under Section...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (3 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: In relation to the case raised by the Deputy, I am aware of reports about it. I condemn in the strongest terms any attempts or threats to commit violence or acts of terrorism. However, as the situation is subject to an ongoing criminal investigation in another jurisdiction, it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Rights of People with Disabilities (3 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is fully committed to addressing the needs and rights of people living with disabilities. This commitment is reflected in actions across our development cooperation programme, as well as in our broader engagement with the EU, UN and other international bodies. Ireland formally ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in...