Results 8,241-8,260 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s network of diplomatic and consular Missions around the world is critical to the achievement of our foreign policy objectives. The network also ensures efficient delivery of passport and consular services to our citizens, support to emigrant organisations and outreach to the diaspora and other networks of influence. The work of my Department in promoting a more just,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: An initial approach was made to my Department in December 2019 by a Hong Kong-based consortium exploring the feasibility of a potential large-scale urban development in Ireland. Officials in my Department have had limited contact with the promoters, who were encouraged to carry out more research on how their ideas might fit an Irish context.   The potential development is at a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Maritime Jurisdiction (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 574 together. The Government is aware of the report made by an Irish fishing vessel to the Sea Fisheries Protection Agency concerning a UK naval ship conducting an exercise off the North West coast of Donegal. The location where the UK naval ship was conducting training exercises was not within Ireland’s territorial sea and did not therefore...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Transport (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I was reappointed on 27 June as Minister for Foreign Affairs and also appointed as Minister for Defence. My security arrangements are handled by An Garda Síochána. I understand it is the decision of the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána that it is appropriate for the current driving arrangements to remain in place. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On 21 July, the Government agreed a list of 15 locations for which the advice against non-essential travel no longer applies. The travel advice for those locations now is to "take normal precautions", which is represented by a green bar under the system of country security ratings used by the Department of Foreign Affairs.  The 15 locations are: Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Gibraltar,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of reports that the Deputy has mentioned. It is my understanding 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, we would be concerned. Ireland has ratified the Council of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that we are providing consular assistance to this citizen, through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, and through our Embassy in Beijing and our Consulate General in Shanghai.  Our focus has been on supporting the citizen’s consular needs, particularly his health and welfare, while he and his legal team seek to resolve any outstanding legal matters...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management Act (PMSA) 1997. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PMSA Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs has made no payments for services or goods to a company (details supplied) since 2015. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The issue of Irish immigration to the United States, and in particular the status of the  undocumented Irish, has been a high priority for successive Governments and it will continue to be prioritised by the new Government. Immigration issues have been continuously raised in interactions with the US Administration and political leaders, including by the then Taoiseach during his St....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade engages in public awareness advertising campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of the public.  In that regard, two significant campaigns took place in 2019 and will be ongoing in 2020; the new “Passport Online” campaign and the “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready”...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Communications (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: No private email has been used by the Minister for Defence or his advisers for any form of official Government use since the formation of the Government.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Meetings (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that I have attended individual external meetings with the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers (RACO) and the Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association (PDFORRA) on Friday, 17 July.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Advisers (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Since being appointed as Minister for Defence I have not appointed any advisers or special advisers in that role.  Also, no Minister of State has been appointed to the Department of Defence. 

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: In relation to non-security related emergencies, whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency 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 ATCA role.  In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces personnel...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Advisers (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Since being appointed as Minister for Defence I have not appointed any advisers or special advisers in that role.  As the Deputy will be aware I have been appointed as both Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Minister for Defence. My ministerial salary is paid by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and encompasses both roles. As such no direct salary is payable to me by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Reports (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 589 and 618 together. The recently agreed Programme for Government provides for the establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces. In due course, I plan to bring proposals to Government regarding the establishment of the Commission and its membership. In this regard, the Programme for Government provides for the establishment of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Defence employs 446 civilian staff at various military installations to support the upkeep and maintenance of military infrastructure and equipment. The grades employed are engaged across a wide spectrum of services and include craftworkers, general operatives, administrators, healthcare professionals and other specialist grades. Currently there are 132...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The capacity of the Defence Forces toinduct and train recruits was severely impacted by the COVID-19 situation but those aspects of the induction process that could be conducted remotely continued throughout the year and inductions/training have been resumed taking public health guidelines into account.  In that context General Service and Direct Entry Specialist recruitment for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (30 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 592 and 593 together. The whole time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), as at 30th June 2020, is 8,423 personnel. The Government remains committed to returning to, and maintaining, the agreed strength of the PDF at 9,500 personnel.  However, the capacity of the Defence Forces to induct and train recruits was severely impacted...