Results 7,781-7,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The ‘Defence Forces 5 year Infrastructure Programme 2020 – 2025’,published earlier this year will facilitate the implementation of the policy approach contained in the White Paper on Defence and will enhance Defence Forces physical infrastructure and accommodation as an important component of defence capability. This Programme reflects the complex environment in which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (10 Nov 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 allocation to ensure programme delivery. The upgrade of Block H in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (10 Nov 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. As part of this programme, I can...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The tables below provide details of the number of staff at Principal, Assistant Principal, Higher Executive Officer, Executive Officer and Clerical Officer grades, for the period from 2016 to 31 October 2020, in my Department. The tables also provide the payroll expenditure for those staff. My Department recruits staff for full-time positions. However, a range of reduced attendance schemes,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: European Health Insurance Card (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for giving me the opportunity to put the commitment on the record here. At this stage, we are 50 something days away from the end of the transition period so things need to start coming together in many areas, not just this area. There is an awful lot of work going on in regard to that so I will just outline how it will work. As Senator Ó Donnghaile...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: European Health Insurance Card (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: We are putting in place a contingency plan in case the UK does not agree a resolution to this issue in a future relationship agreement with the EU. The hope and expectation is that we will be able to get a future relationship agreement that will involve the British Government signing off and agreeing on its citizens being able to access the equivalent of an EHIC-type scheme providing for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. The EU is firmly opposed to refoulement. All EU Member States are parties to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, which sets out the core principle of non-refoulement. In addition, the principle of non-refoulement is enshrined in EU law, under the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. As such, all EU countries are bound...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of this dispute between seventeen Irish teachers and the privately-owned and operated International School of the Martyrs (ISM) in Tripoli, which I know is of great concern to the individuals involved and their families. Officials in my Department have engaged with officials in the Department of Education on this issue. From the perspective of the Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: In response to the move to Level 5 on the National Framework for living with COVID-19, the Passport Service is operating an essential, emergency service at this time. This has allowed us to make our staff available for temporary reassignment to critical areas including contact tracing for the HSE and to the Department Social Protection. The Passport Service continues to process passports...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Correspondence (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: In response to the move to Level 5 on the Government's National Framework for living with COVID-19, the Passport Service is operating an essential, emergency service at this time. Applicants can apply using Passport Online and processing will resume at Level 4. In cases where an applicant's most recent passport has expired by more than five years, i.e. their last passport application was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to the negotiating table, and we welcome and support the statements of the European Council and the OSCE Minsk Co-Chairs calling for this. This issue was discussed at the European Council of 1 October, where the Taoiseach along with other EU leaders called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged parties to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Implementation Bodies (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The concept of an independent consultative forum was first established under Strand 2 of the Good Friday Agreement. Under the St Andrews Agreement, support by the Northern Ireland Executive for “the establishment of an independent North/South consultative forum appointed by the two Administrations and representative of civil society” was confirmed. At its June 2002 Plenary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries met the necessary conditions for membership. In March 2020, Member States agreed an enhanced accession methodology, which seeks to make the accession process more credible and dynamic, by clustering together negotiating Chapters and phasing in participation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of this case concerning the arrest of a human rights defender in India who is currently detained in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The promotion of human rights, including the protection of human rights defenders, is a priority of Ireland’s foreign policy. Our Embassy in New Delhi has been engaged on the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Future relationship talks between the EU and the UK, have been ongoing in Brussels and London to try to close the gaps between the two sides, including on the key outstanding issues of the level playing field, governance and on fisheries. Regardless of the outcome of the talks, the full, effective and timely implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol, remains vital....

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is implementing the new EU ‘traffic lights’ approach to travel to countries in the EU / EEA and the UK. Our current advice for travellers to these countries is to ‘exercise a high degree of caution’. Anyone considering travel to Great Britain should also check the latest information from the local authorities there regarding requirements for international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations with Canada and a number of other non-European countries and regions with which we have reciprocal agreements, encouraging people-to-people contacts. Due to the pandemic, we have temporarily ceased processing new applications under the Ireland-Canada WHA programme. Canada has likewise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs publishes Travel Advice for over 200 countries to provide an objective assessment of the risks individuals could face if travelling overseas, with a view to helping them to make informed decisions for themselves. It is based on consultation with our Embassies and Consulates on the ground, the relevant local authorities in each country and our international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Intensive talks are ongoing between the EU and UK negotiating teams in an effort to close the gaps between the two sides on a Future Partnership Agreement, including on the key outstanding issues of the level playing field, governance and fisheries. An Agreement in this framework is the best way to provide for a comprehensive future partnership between the EU and the UK. At the European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Inquiries (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s firm view remains that a satisfactory outcome to the Finucane case can only be achieved through a public inquiry, as was provided for under the Weston Park Agreement reached by the UK and Irish Governments in 2001. I reaffirmed that position directly to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland once again at our last meeting on 8 October in Hillsborough. The Secretary of...