Results 7,981-8,000 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Training (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the primary day to day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Training (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The primary function of training in the Defence Forces is to develop and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down by Government. The Defence Forces conduct training under four broad categories, namely; Leadership, Skills, Career, and Collective. Leadership Training is the medium through which the Defence Forces ensure that personnel are prepared for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (8 Oct 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 updating of equipment for the Defence Forces remains a clear focus for me. Future...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: All promotions in the Permanent Defence Force are approved without delay providing that a vacancy exists for a suitably qualified individual. The military authorities have advised me that there are currently no promotions in the Permanent Defence Force awaiting approval.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: As at 31st August 2020, the latest date for which such data is available, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 584. The table below shows the number of women in the Permanent Defence Force in each of the last ten years.I wish to advise the Deputy that the strength figures for the period 2010-2012 include personnel who were on secondment to other organisations or...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The United Nations reimburses some personnel and Contingent Owed Equipment costs in respect of contributions to UN led operations. Rates of reimbursement, fixed in accordance with UN categories of equipment and personnel, are agreed in a Memorandum of Understanding between Ireland and the UN for each mission. The timing of the receipt of reimbursements is dependent on the financial...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (8 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The resources available to the Defence Forces to carry out their operational commitments are kept under constant review and future equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diaspora Issues (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 to 101, inclusive, together. I will shortly hold a meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee on the Irish Abroad. This meeting will focus on a range of issues, including the support provided through the Government's Covid-19 Relief Fund; assistance to returning emigrants and those repatriated during the Covid crisis; and the implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: We are at an important point for work across all Brexit work-streams. The ninth round of EU-UK negotiations concluded on 2 October. While a degree of progress was made, much work remains to resolve key issues including a Level Playing Field for open and fair competition, fisheries, and governance. There was a brief update discussion on Brexit at the European Council on 2 October. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Refugee Resettlement Programme (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: This Department does not have responsibility for the process of hosting and fostering unaccompanied minors and cannot therefore provide this information. I suggest the Deputy redirect this question to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to my replies on this topic yesterday and previously. Ireland, along with our EU partners, remains deeply concerned about the credible reports regarding the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, including reports on restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance, forced labour, and forced sterilisations...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Equipment (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces Explosive Ordnance...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (7 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I have been informed by the Military Authorities that, in the past 10 years, two members of the Defence Forces were court-martialed for sexual offences. In both cases, the charges were proven. Both individuals were discharged from the Defence Forces. Section 3 (2) of the Sex Offenders Act, 2001 provides that an offence referred to in paragraph 2 of the schedule to the Act (sexual assault...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Consular Services (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: That is a more general issue, not just linked to Covid-19, although it may obviously have been a particular issue during the Covid crisis when people felt they wanted to come home for family reasons and so on. Deputy Cannon, the previous Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, did some good work relating to people coming home from the US to live in Ireland, including the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: US Presidential Election (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: To respond more generally, as this House knows, Ireland and the United States share strong ties of kinship and enjoy close diplomatic and political relations, as well as enduring economic, cultural and social connections. These deep connections span right across the political spectrum in the US. With each successive Administration in the White House and with successive Irish Governments,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: US Presidential Election (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: That is why the election is getting the kind of profile and media attention it is, even through extraordinary times in the United States. If people are not telling the truth, I expect that to be exposed in a democratic contest such as this. As I said, we need to be careful not to interfere in this election. Having spoken to many people in Washington, regardless of what candidates say, the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: UN Security Council (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is dead right on this issue. Many Irish people have no idea of the contribution this little country has made in the UN in this area. We have real credibility in this space. I have seen that in New York when Ireland has been a country that is in many ways like a magnet for others in terms of consulting with on non-proliferation and disarmament issues. I would welcome an...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: UN Security Council (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I agree with that and let us see if we can facilitate that debate because it would be an interesting discussion for many people. One of the reasons that I referred to both Iran and North Korea in my response is that they are very much active and divisive files. North Korea is less divisive on the Security Council but Iran is divisive because the European Union and the US have taken very...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Consular Services (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I advise the Deputy that my Department advised or assisted more than 8,000 people to return safely to Ireland as part of our consular response to the Covid-19 crisis. The priority was to help those normally resident in Ireland to return home safely on commercial flights where possible and, where not possible, on flights chartered by the EU and other partners. The challenges to these...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Consular Services (6 Oct 2020)

Simon Coveney: I think we are mixing two issues here. The repatriation efforts were primarily for people who reside in Ireland and were away. They might have been students, people working away temporarily or people on holidays. There were a number of people who had been away for quite some time and felt the need to come home for health reasons. I can give the Deputy all the figures and data about where...