Results 7,461-7,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 362 and 365 together. Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a process under which groups of Member States can come together to develop capabilities in support of Common CSDP Operations. On a voluntary basis, 25 EU Member States have joined PESCO and subscribed to more binding commitments to invest, plan, develop and operate defence capabilities...

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

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s relations with NATO are set within the framework of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and Partnership for Peace. This is a voluntary flexible instrument for co-operation between NATO and its partner countries. The primary aim of Ireland's Partnership for Peace participation is to enhance the Defence Forces’ interoperability with other professional military forces...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364, 367, 369 and 370 together. With regard to the EU’s level of ambition in military terms, the EU’s Global Strategy published in 2016 elaborated and expanded on the EU’s level of ambi­tion on security and defence. Taking stock of a rapidly deteriorating security envi­ronment for Europe, the strategy broadened the...

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

Simon Coveney: The Air Corps is not tasked or equipped to monitor aircraft overflying the entirety of Irish airspace. However, on a routine basis, the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, where air traffic control is provided by the Defence Forces. As set out in the White Paper...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 24 and 27 together. I thank the Deputies for raising this issue. Protecting and promoting human rights is a cornerstone of Ireland’s foreign policy, as I have said in my answers to most questions. Ireland has consistently supported women human rights defenders and continually advocates for the freedom of all civil society actors to operate in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I appreciate the concerns of colleagues about this case and others that have been mentioned. As I said earlier, officials from my Department spoke to the Saudi ambassador to Ireland on 9 November to set out our concerns about the ongoing detention of Ms al-Hathloul and the conditions under which she is being held, including the restrictions on visits from her family and other concerns, some...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I have heard what people have said. I am familiar with the letter and our response to it. I will certainly take on board the Deputies' concerns. I will talk to my team and try to do something as impactful as possible to ensure we impact on the decisions taken regarding the case in Saudi Arabia that has been raised today.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Council Meetings (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 53 together. This is somewhat linked to one of the questions I answered earlier. I will happily focus on the UN element of it. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for the European Council to consider this matter at such an early stage in the process. The appropriate Council working group is engaged on the matter. Ireland...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Council Meetings (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: As I stated previously, the EU made a statement on behalf of its member states at the sixth session of the working group, and raised a number of specific concerns on the draft text. While individual national statements can be important, in this context an EU statement on behalf of the 27 member states carries much more influence. Ireland, alongside fellow member states, helped to shape a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: European Council Meetings (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are two issues here. One is that we have to get our house in order domestically in respect of business and human rights. I answered questions earlier on what we are doing on that score. We have committed in the programme for Government to review what we had been doing for the past number of years so we can be a credible international contributor to the debate on this issue. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Issues (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7, 9, 47 and 54 together. I thank the Deputy and I share his concerns. I outlined in my earlier reply the state of play on efforts to reach agreement on the MFF and the next generation EU recovery package. I am confident that the German Presidency will ensure that clear rule-of-law conditionality is retained. A prolonged delay in releasing funds to vital...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Issues (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I could not agree more with the Deputy. We just spoke about the potential disruption of Brexit in the context of a deal or no deal, particularly in areas such as fishing and agriculture. We have a €5 billion Brexit adjustment reserve waiting to be allocated and Ireland is certainly going to be first in line for that funding because of the levels of disruption with which we may have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Issues (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The European Union is much more than a Single Market and an economic opportunity for its member states. It is a political union, where there is agreed pooled sovereignty in certain areas, a value system and a vein running through all member states ensuring certain standards are maintained and protected that are core to democracy. It is a value system which allows the European Union to be a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Negotiations (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I will address Deputy Ó Cuív's questions first. I will then respond on fishing, although I imagine Deputy Ó Cuív is interested in fishing too in the context of Ros an Mhíl and other ports. First, we want a deal. That is absolutely the case. We have been working towards that end for four and a half years now. Since the UK made the decision to leave the European...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Negotiations (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am interested in fish, first and foremost, and in keeping the fishing industry intact, as opposed to relying on compensation.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Negotiations (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The fishing question is about access, quota share and fleet displacement. We are trying to ensure our fishing interests are protected in all these areas. The danger is that the conversation moves to compensation as opposed to protection of fishing interests and access to quota share. I have tried to resist that throughout this process. First and foremost, the Government and I are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I agree with the Deputy on many things in respect of Ireland's role in the world and being a voice advocating for human rights, peace and peacekeeping. We do advocate for all of those things. These are some of the reasons we fought so hard for a place on the UN Security Council, beginning 1 January. The priorities we have set for our term on the Security Council are built around peace,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Shannon Airport Facilities (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: With respect, the way for Ireland to maximise its influence to promote peace is to build relationships with countries all over the world that are involved in conflict so that we can try to influence the decisions they make. That is how the world works when it comes to international politics, as opposed to countries taking stands that may sound good domestically but which get nothing done...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Negotiations (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 and 40 together. Negotiations on the EU-UK future relationship have entered an even more intensive phase since 21 October, with negotiating teams working daily to close the gaps between the two sides. Due to a member of one of the negotiating teams falling ill with Covid-19, talks at chief negotiator level were temporarily suspended late last week. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Data (26 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Yes. We would like to see more co-ordination at an EU level although there has already been quite a lot, in terms of the traffic light system which is now providing a lot more certainty. The truth is that very few people are travelling anyway. The Government guidelines are very clear that any international travel should be limited to essential travel under level 5 restrictions but we are...