Results 7,721-7,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments. The acquisition and upgrading of equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: It is the policy of the Defence organisation to increase female participation rates at all levels of the Defence Forces in order to increase capability and to better reflect the society from which the Defence Forces are drawn and serve. As of 30 September 2020, the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) stood at 8,529 Whole Time Equivalent (WTE) personnel. Of this some 594 personnel...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020 provides a comprehensive list of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister with Responsibility for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government.  Capability equipment requirements are kept under on-going review in the light of present and expected operational needs. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (17 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role.  As part of the Defence Organisation, the Air...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Protection of the Good Friday Agreement, including the avoidance of a hard border, has been a fundamental priority for the Government throughout the Brexit process, and at every phase of negotiations. The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is an integral part of the Withdrawal Agreement. It ensures no hard border on the island of Ireland, including no physical infrastructure or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused processing of routine applications as Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. The Passport Service continues to provide an essential, emergency passport service at this time for Irish citizens, including children, at home and abroad. An emergency service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department leases office space from co-working real estate companies in two locations: Cardiff, UK and Frankfurt, Germany. The current lease agreement with Regus for the temporary Consulate General in Cardiff is on a monthly rolling basis since April 2019 and has costed €87,1000 till end October 2020. The current lease agreement with WeWork for the temporary Consulate General in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s diplomatic and consular Missions are currently located in a total of 80 leased and 12 State-owned office premises. The terms and conditions of the 80 leases vary considerably in nature and detail depending on location and local law. In most instances, rents are paid monthly or quarterly although in some cases they are paid annually in advance. Many of our Mission premises...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: At the online Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe in Athens, during which we celebrated the 70th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, I highlighted the importance of reinforcing the Convention, particularly at this time of international crisis. Exceptional measures must remain just that, exceptional. I can assure the Deputy that the restrictions we have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Budgets (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland firmly supports the rule of law as a core value of the European Union. The rule of law is and should remain a fundamental principle that all EU Member States respect, protect and promote. Agreement was reached with the European Parliament on 5 November on a Regulation for a general regime of conditionality for the protection of the EU’s budget. This follows the July...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Correspondence (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am very concerned at developments relating to LGBTI+ people in Poland. The principles of equality and non-discrimination are enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. It is important that these principles are protected and promoted throughout the Union. The Government has expressed its concerns regarding this issue publicly. My colleague, the Minister of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: We are currently implementing our first National Plan on Business and Human Rights and seeking to play a constructive role at both the EU and the UN on this important issue. The second revised draft of the proposed legally binding instrument to regulate, in international human rights law, the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises was circulated by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: None of the brands of hand sanitiser or other PPE products purchased directly by my Department or supplied to it by contract cleaning companies have been recalled by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Immigration Policy (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The issue of Irish immigration to the US, particularly the status of the undocumented Irish, has been a high priority for successive Governments and continues to be one of my key priorities. Immigration issues have been raised on an ongoing basis in our engagement with the US Administration and political leaders. I have raised immigration issues in recent contacts with Special Envoy Mick...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Under the Defence Acts, 1954-2015, the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations are prohibited from being associated with or affiliated with any trade unions or any other body without the consent of the Minister. In 2017, the European Committee of Social Rights, in a non- binding ruling, found that Ireland was in violation of the European Social Charter in respect of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that my Department has no lease arrangements with co-working real estate companies.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that my Department does not lease additional office space outside of Departmental buildings or the estates section of the OPW.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the Department, including the Defence Forces have encountered no expenditure in respect of hand sanitisation products or other PPE products that were subsequently subject to a recall by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine in 2020. A review of all related items procured by both the Department and the Defence Forces was conducted against the recall list...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (12 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The information sought by the Deputy could not be collated within the timeframe. I have requested the Military Authorities to provide this data as soon as possible and I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is made available to me.