Results 7,761-7,780 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Properties (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department currently rents office space in one location from the company in question. The premises operates as a temporary location for the Consulate General of Ireland in Frankfurt. Four staff members currently work out of this premises. The Mission in Frankfurt was opened in 2019 as part of the Government's commitment outlined in the strategy Global Ireland 2025, a strategy which aims to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Funding (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The total allocation provided to the Defence Sector in Budget 2021 is €1,072.3 million, comprising of €809.7 million for Vote 36 (Defence) and €262.6 million for Vote 35 (Army Pensions). The Defence allocation of €809.7 million ensures that the Defence Forces have the resources necessary to deliver on all their assigned roles as set out in the White Paper on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (11 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 117 together. I can confirm that the Department and bodies under the aegis of my Department do not rent office space from the named company.

Confidence in Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Motion (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I want to take this opportunity to speak to express confidence in the Tánaiste. Leo Varadkar has been a colleague of mine for many years and he is a person I have grown to know well and trust. We are here today because of a Sinn Féin attempt to continue to sow division within Government and capitalise on a mistake made by the Tánaiste. As became clear last week, Leo's...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: It has consistently been the position of the Government that only through a collective approach can we hope to deal fairly and comprehensively with the legacy of the Troubles, in a way that responds to the needs of victims and survivors, and society as a whole. The Stormont House Agreement framework is the way forward on these issues. Agreement was reached by both Governments and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement, which was collectively agreed by the two Governments and the political parties in Northern Ireland after extensive talks. The framework of the Stormont House Agreement provided for a set of institutions to deal comprehensively and fairly with the legacy of the Troubles, and this framework included an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”), which provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices which are applied by the Passport Service in the issue of passports. Section 9 of the Act makes provision for the Minister to issue passports for different periods, for different categories of applicants and for the issue...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department follows developments in Spain closely and I am aware of the United Nations Working Group to which the question refers. As I have previously stated, the constitutional and political arrangements in Spain are matters to be determined by their own citizens, through their own democratic processes and institutions, in keeping with the rule of law. We respect the constitutional and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the development raised by the Deputy and I commented on the matter in a statement on 16 October 2020. I include the statement below for reference: “I condemn the latest announcement of significant further settlement expansion of close to 5000 new housing units in the West Bank and in and around Jerusalem. The construction of settlements in the Har Homa and Givat Hamatos...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 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 at home and abroad. A same day emergency service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Permission for foreign military aircraft to 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 permitted...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in Iran is very worrying, and has long formed an important part of Ireland's engagement and dialogue with Iran. At the 45th session of the Human Rights Council in October, Ireland co-signed a Joint Statement expressing deep concern at the continuing human rights violations in Iran, making particular reference to Iran’s ill-treatment of detainees and use of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I have not met with Ambassador Burgess in the past three months but I greatly appreciate his work in promoting our bilateral relations with New Zealand since the establishment of a resident New Zealand Embassy here two years ago, in parallel with the opening of our Embassy in Wellington. Ambassador Burgess is in regular, close contact with my Department on many issues and, most recently,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Communications (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and the United States enjoy close political, economic and people-to-people relations. This Government engages regularly with the US Administration and with US elected representatives from across Congress. This engagement extends to our contacts from across the political spectrum at federal, state, city and local levels. In September, as the House will be aware, I travelled to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department has filled staff posts through open competitions, inter-departmental competitions and internal competitions. This was targeted at filling vacancies; supporting Brexit-related negotiations and preparations; modernising the passport service through the move to online applications and fraud prevention; the expansion of Ireland’s diplomatic and consular mission network as...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The following table details the current strength (Whole Time Equivalent) figures of the Permanent Defence Force, as of the 30th September 2020, and those of the agreed establishment. Branch Establishment Strength Army 7,520 6,878 Air Corps 886 752 Naval Service 1,094 899 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Operations (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Organisation provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary security role while it also undertakes a diverse range of non security related tasks. The Defence Forces continue to carry out the roles assigned by Government, including security operations, critical supports to An Garda Síochána and ATCA supports to other Government Departments and Agencies....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 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. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: As of 4 November 2020, Ireland is contributing 569 Defence Forces personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world and also to a range of international organisations and National representations. The conditions under which the Defence Forces may participate on overseas peace support operations are set out in the Defence Acts. Where the Defence Forces contingent comprises part of an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The 97% referenced by the Deputy relates to the advised position as at 30 September 2020. The following table sets out the number of patrol days completed up to 30 September 2020 against the number of scheduled patrol days cancelled. As at 30 September: No. % Number of Patrol Days (fisheries and non-fisheries) carried out 793 95% ...