Results 7,841-7,860 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I welcome this opportunity to consider the 2020 Revised Estimates for the defence sector, comprising Vote 35, which concerns Army pensions, and Vote 36, which is the broader defence Vote. As this is the first meeting of this committee, I have prepared a short opening statement that will set out the overall position and update the members on some of the main developments within the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The difference between the two is that budget day figures are for next year and the others are for this year.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Ó Snodaigh is right that the pension Vote is obviously less contentious because it is essentially money that has been committed to and is being paid. Historically, the defence Vote has been split into two. It goes back decades. My understanding is that the public service pension is also in a separate Vote so there is other precedent there but the Deputy is right. They are not...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: We are happy to move ahead with investment in Sarsfield Barracks in Limerick. It is one of a number of priorities we want to move ahead with. There has been a delay this year in some of those physical construction works we were hoping to move ahead with because of Covid and so we are now trying to catch up. I assure the Deputy there is no pulling back from that in terms of financial...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised)
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 36 - Defence (Revised) (22 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I will answer Deputy Stanton's questions first. I know he is familiar with the Naval Service and the pressures it is under. I hope that the scheme we launched last week is an indication to people working in the Naval Service that the Government is taking this issue seriously. It took a number of months to get this scheme agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (21 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The EU adopted a new coordinated approach to travel measures at the meeting of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 13 October 2020. As already set out in the Living with COVID-19 Framework, the Government supports this effort to improve coordination within the Union and has made clear our intention to align with the new Recommendation. The new system categorises regions across...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (21 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The demolition of Palestinian homes, and demolition or seizure of related structures such as water tanks, wells, solar panels, schools and animal housing, are cruel and unjust actions. These practices also cause suffering to ordinary Palestinians, and impinge on the right of children to an education. We are concerned by an acceleration in demolitions in 2020. Demolitions and seizures of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (21 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in Bahrain remains a matter of concern. Although progress has been made in certain areas, there continue to be instances of human rights violations. I am aware of the cases raised by the Deputy, and the decision of the Court of Cassation in Bahrain to confirm the death penalty ruling in their cases. A moratorium on the death penalty had been in place in Bahrain...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland will take up its seat as an elected member of the UN Security Council for the 2021-2022 term on 1 January 2021. We intend to make a constructive contribution across the agenda of the Council, which has nearly tripled since Ireland last held a seat 20 years ago. In recognition of the areas of focus by the Security Council, both geographically and sectorally, additional posts...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (21 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Officials at our Embassy in London and Consulate General in Cardiff are in ongoing contact with the UK Government and with other stakeholders in relation to the operation of UK ports, including Holyhead, Fishguard and Pembroke, after the end of the transition period. This includes contact with the Border Protocol and Delivery Group at the Cabinet Office, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (21 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, has been active in raising our concerns regarding the treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the region of Xinjiang. We remain deeply concerned regarding the reports of arbitrary detention, forced labour, forced sterilisations, and restrictions on freedom of religion and belief.  Most recently, on 6 October, Ireland was one of 39...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (21 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Upholding European values as set out in the EU Treaties is at the core of the work of the EU. The rule of law is a fundamental principle for all EU Member States. Under Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union, there have been a number of hearings at the General Affairs Council over the past three years involving Poland, the Commission, and other Member States. Ireland has actively...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (21 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: Upholding European values as set out in the EU Treaties is at the core of the work of the EU. The rule of law is a fundamental principle for all EU Member States. Our concerns about issues relating to the rule of law in Hungary are well known, particularly around: judicial independence; civil society space; media freedom; academic freedom; and fundamental rights. Under Article 7 of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (21 Oct 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 10 of the Act broadly provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate or...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Veterans (21 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The siege of Jadotville was a prominent event that occurred during Ireland's peacekeeping mission in the Congo in September 1961. "A" Company, 35th Infantry Battalion took responsibility for the UN post at Jadotville on 3rd September 1961. On the 9th September, a large force of Katangese Gendarmerie surrounded them and early on the morning of the 13th September "A" Company came under...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291 and 298 together. Ireland remains concerned at the adoption of national security legislation in Hong Kong. The law, which was adopted without any meaningful consultation of Hong Kong's Legislative Council or civil society, risks undermining the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong under the One Country, Two Systems principle. I made a statement on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Trade Sector (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The EU adopted a new coordinated approach to travel measures at the meeting of the General Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 13 October 2020. As already set out in the Living with COVID-19 framework, the Government supports this effort to improve co-ordination within the Union and has made clear our intention to align with the new Recommendation. The new system categorises regions across...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I travelled to the United States on 28th September for a series of engagements in Washington D.C. This included meetings with representatives from the Administration, as well as with members of Congress - Democrats and Republicans alike - from both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Over the course of my visit, I met with Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, Representatives Richard...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (20 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is currently meeting the target turnaround times for Passport Online applications. This is 5 working days for simple applications and 10 working days for complex applications, once the supporting documentation has been received and 20 days for first time applicants. Paper based Passport Express applications are being processed in the target turnaround time of 6-8 weeks....