Results 7,421-7,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I will try to answer as many of the questions as I can. There is a meeting of the Seanad special select committee on Brexit tomorrow, where I will be able to go into more depth if Senators want me to in any area. I will now deal with some of the themes that arose. A number of Senators raised concerns about the need for direct ferry links to deal with congestion in ports. The concern is...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: We should not be charging them any more than it costs to do it either.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Second Stage (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I say that as somebody some of whose family has very much been in that category. I want to give a commitment that we will certainly look at that issue. As I say, if a British person living in Ireland wants to get an Irish passport and he or she has been living here for years, that person is more than welcome to become an Irish citizen and we will facilitate that in as seamless a way as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has been providing ongoing consular assistance to this citizen through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, our Embassy in Beijing and our Consulate General in Shanghai. Our Consul General has been meeting and engaging regularly with the citizen since we were first informed of this complex case last year, and continues to provide all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 318, 319 and 329 together. I am aware of the specific cases to which the Deputies refer. My officials have raised the matter with the Egyptian Ambassador in Dublin, and we have also expressed our concern directly with the Egyptian authorities through our Ambassador in Cairo, along with EU and other States. We will continue to monitor the situation closely.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (1 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 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: EU Issues (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Given the nature of the European Peace Facility and the fact that it brings together existing instruments that are both under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs (African Peace Facility) and under the Department of Defence (Athena Mechanism), both Departments have policy responsibility for the European Peace Facility and have worked closely throughout the negotiations on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department provides all possible consular advice and support to Irish citizens in distress overseas, where requested. As the Deputy will be aware, our Embassies and Consulates abroad are precluded from directly intervening in judicial processes of another jurisdiction, including on matters relating to visa and immigration processes. However, officials...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes - Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs). Overall expenditure under both Votes for consultancy firms, accountancy firms, legal firms, project management firms and IT firms which have been engaged by my Department in 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 are set out in the attached schedules. No disputes over...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Permission for foreign military aircraft to land in or overfly the State is subject to strict conditions. These routinely include stipulations that the aircraft must be unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and must not engage in intelligence gathering, and that the flights in question must not form part of military exercises or operations. Overflights by US military aircraft are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Since the letter referred to in your question was issued, I am pleased to note that following engagement with the European Commission on the matter, the Commission has now indicated that a corresponding Irish Transport Management Certificate of Professional Competency (CPC) may be issued to those UK-qualified individuals working for Irish operators, before the end of the Brexit transition...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326 to 328, inclusive, together. Under Article 2 of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, the UK has committed to ensure no diminution of the rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity in Northern Ireland, as set out in the Good Friday Agreement. This includes a commitment to no diminution in rights in the area of protection against...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: As I have previously stated, Ireland supports a constructive and engaged approach by the European Union in regard to the proposed legally binding instrument that it being developed by the open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group (OEIGWG) on Transnational Corporations and other business enterprises with respect to human rights. The sixth session of the open-ended Intergovernmental...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The draft Report to which the Deputy refers arises from the recent sixth session of the open-ended Intergovernmental Working Group on Transnational Corporations and other business enterprises, which took place from 26 to 30 October 2020. As it is currently in draft form, the report is now open for consultation, with a final version due to be completed in 2021. The draft recommendation on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 332 to 335, inclusive, together. I welcome the proposed initiative on sustainable corporate governance brought forward by the EU Justice Commissioner. As set out by the Commission on its website () where it invites submissions from interested parties, “this initiative aims to improve the EU regulatory framework on company law and corporate governance....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities advise that Air Corps Aircraft Mechanic apprenticeships are provided for new entrants to the Defence Forces and these apprenticeships entail both ‘on the job’ training and formal education. Trainee Technician schemes are also available to serving personnel and these are conducted in conjunction with SOLAS under the auspices of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Built Infrastructural Programme 2020-2025 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. Over the course of the programme it is projected that some €145m will be allocated to ensure programme delivery. A key driver of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Permanent Structured Co-operation (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a process under which groups of Member States can come together to develop capabilities in support of Common Security & Defence Policy operations. The objective of PESCO is to generate coherent defence capabilities which will be available to Member States for national and multinational (EU, NATO, UN, etc.) missions and operations. This...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Honours (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The awarding of the Military Medal for Gallantry is provided for in DFR A9, which sets out the criteria and procedures for the award of such medals. These Regulations, and associated Administrative Instructions, require that any recommendations for possible awards must be made in accordance with the relevant procedures. Such awards are made on the recommendation of a Military Board appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (1 Dec 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service currently has a strength of 887 personnel from an establishment of 1,094. I have previously acknowledged that there are recruitment and retention issues within the Naval Service and, in this context, I have announced a number of measures including an increased tax credit for sea-going Naval service Personnel and a new sea-going service commitment scheme. The Government is...