Results 8,161-8,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 62 together. An Taoiseach, my Cabinet colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage, as appropriate, with counterparts in Britain and in Northern Ireland, to discuss matters arising from the UK's withdrawal from the EU, including the EU-UK future partnership negotiations, implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reports (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces. The Commission is to be established before the end of this year, with a mandate to report within twelve months. Planning for the Commission is in the early stages and no final decisions have yet been taken to date on its terms of reference and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are currently two full-time clinical psychologists employed by the Defence Forces. This number was increased following the review of mental health services for the Defence Forces in 2017, which recommended the appointment of a civilian psychologist in addition to the existing Defence Forces psychologist. There are no plans currently in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Public Service pay policy is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform having regard to Public Sector Pay Agreements. Similar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was reduced as one of the measures to assist in stabilising national finances during the financial crisis. Pay is being restored to members of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (16 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Defence Forces medical capability encompasses a broad range of disciplines including doctors (medical officers), dentists, physiotherapists and pharmacists. Vacancies in these disciplines are advertised as they arise and are filled in a number of different ways. The Defence Forces have also trained enlisted Defence Forces personnel at Emergency Medical Technician, Paramedic and...

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Sometimes Irish.

Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (Resumed) (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: We have the acting force commander in the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, at the moment, Maureen O'Brien.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The full implementation and effective operation of the Good Friday Agreement and all subsequent agreements is an utmost priority for this Government. The New Decade, New Approach agreement reached in January was a very significant shared achievement in restoring the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement to operation after three years of their absence. As we have set out...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 361 and 371 together. The Withdrawal Agreement, of which the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland is an integral part, is an international agreement, as agreed between the EU and the UK in October 2019. Its implementation is an obligation under international law. Any unilateral attempt to undermine the Withdrawal Agreement, or a unilateral departure from its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Working Holiday Visas (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the individual in question submitted an application for a Working Holiday Authorisation under the Ireland–Canada Working Holiday Programme, and that this was received by the Embassy of Ireland in Ottawa in early August. Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations with Canada and a number of other...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Foreign Births Registration Section has now resumed the processing of applications. Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex proces, often involving official documentation related to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. At present, it takes between 12 to 18 months to process an application to completion. The Foreign Births...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of reports that Poland’s Minister of Justice has filed a formal request to the Polish Family Ministry to launch the procedure to facilitate Poland’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. Should this become the official policy of the Polish Government, I would be concerned by such a policy. It is my understanding that the Polish Prime Minister has decided to submit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 Sep 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. It is important for the EU to have the necessary tools to monitor the rule of law across Member States and effectively respond to challenges where they arise. We welcome the priority given...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 Sep 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. The conclusions of the special meeting of the European Council in July this year state that a regime of conditionality, based on the general principles and values enshrined in the EU Treaties,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of assessments of democracy in Hungary by the organisation mentioned by the Deputy. 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. Our concerns about issues relating to the rule of law in Hungary are well known, specifically...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am shocked and saddened by the unrest and violence witnessed at some of the protests in the United States in recent months. The circumstances around the recent shootings in Wisconsin and Portland are alarming and highlight the harm that can arise from division in a society. We are witnessing sustained months of protests in the US decrying racism and issues of racial inequality. Wherever...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has condemned the human rights violations we have seen in Belarus, including indiscriminate detentions of peaceful protesters, ill treatment of detainees and curtailments on freedoms of expression, assembly, and the media. Ireland, and the EU, have made it repeatedly clear that the violence must stop and that those unjustly detained, including political prisoners, must be released and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Cork and Dublin Passport Offices were closed to the public on 27 March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Passport Service commenced a phased return to full operation on 8 June and has since processed over 140,000 passport applications. The re-opening of the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork to the public is kept under regular review, with due consideration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply saddened by the fire at the Moria camp on Lesbos and the impact this has had on the refugees and migrants based at the camp. It is a relief that there are no reported deaths or injuries, but the very sudden displacement of thousands of people has caused great suffering and created a major humanitarian emergency as well as posing a huge logistical challenge for the Greek...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Projects (15 Sep 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are no Exchequer funded projects over €1 billion currently overseen by the Department of Foreign Affairs.