Results 8,361-8,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 385 and 386 together. On the basis of information provided by the Irish Aviation Authority, as well as records held in my Department, there have been no recorded instances in which an ARES area of Irish sovereign airspace has been used by foreign military aircraft during the period in question. Similarly, there have been no recorded instances in which...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ensuring the UK Landbridge remains an effective transit route to market for EU traders has been a key priority for the Government.  I have had numerous discussions with my counterparts in the UK and across the EU.  All understand the importance we attach to maintaining the Landbridge as an efficient route At an EU level, there have been substantial engagements at political and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland denounces the inexcusable acts of violence and terror perpetrated by Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab. Ireland supports a number of important international initiatives to undermine their influence and their impact on populations. The EU is one of the main financial contributors to the UN-mandated African Union-led peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM) which supports the Federal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: EU policy on child soldiers is set out in Guidelines on Children and Armed Conflict, first adopted in 2003 and revised in 2008.  These aim to persuade governments and organisations around the world to fully respect international humanitarian law and human rights law that protects children from armed conflict. The Guidelines commit the EU to address the impact of armed conflict on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The human rights of women and children are protected under international human rights instruments, including the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.  The compliance of countries with their obligations is kept under review by the relevant treaty monitoring bodies.    In addition, a number...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 396 together. I have given a high priority to the Middle East Peace Process since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2017, and I will continue to do so as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence. I have personally been very engaged in efforts to keep the Israeli-Palestinian conflict high on the international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland continues to be a friend and supporter of the Western Balkans, and we continue to advocate for the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans to the European Union, believing this to be the best path for the continued peace and prosperity of the region. The EU agreed to open accession negotiations with Albania and North Macedonia in March this year, and Member States are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Managing the response to Brexit continues to be a priority for my Department. The approach has been to prioritise effective policy and operational measures across the Department to manage Brexit impacts, with additional staff assigned or recruited as required. The staffing of key divisions at Headquarters with responsibility for Brexit matters, namely the European Union Division and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland's priorities for the Future of Europe are closely aligned with the delivery of the EU Strategic Agenda as agreed last year at the June 2019 European Council.  These priorities include: protecting citizens and freedoms; developing a strong and vibrant economic base; completing the Single Market fit for the digital age; building a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the recent developments related to the case of the October 2017 murder of investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia. While it is not our practice to comment on ongoing criminal investigations in other EU Member States, Ireland and our EU partners have condemned in absolute terms the murder of Ms Caruana Galizia, which represents an attack on freedom of expression; a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government makes a commitment to forge alliances with other Member States with which we share common goals and interests. This is a vital objective that is necessary in order to ensure we can advance our overall national interests within the EU and internationally. Since the Brexit vote, Ireland has engaged in an unprecedented campaign of outreach and visits across the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The ‘Ireland House’ concept brings Embassies or Consulates and State Agencies under one roof in critical overseas markets to ensure a joined-up Team Ireland approach to promoting Ireland abroad. My Department is working together with other Government Departments and State Agencies to support the development of the Ireland House model, as committed to in the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland was granted Observer Status at the International Organisation of the Francophonie (IOF) in 2018. The IOF was created in 1970 and has 88 Member States (54 Members, 7 Associate Members and 27 )bservers). The Organisation’s Charter (to which all Members and Observers must sign up) underlines the IOF’s commitment to, inter alia, the promotion of human rights, the rule of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: In recent years, the Arctic has become a region of increasing geopolitical importance.  The growing environmental and strategic importance of the Arctic has very significant impact, with melting ice having far-reaching implications for climate change and maritime access across the region. It is clear there is a rationale for enhancing Ireland’s engagement on the Arctic across...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government states that the Government will “Honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-state solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”.  In recognition of the lack of progress towards a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Honours (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that my Department has awarded a posthumous medal in this case; however, there remains a question over who should be given the medal.  The normal procedure in such cases is that the medal is given to the next of kin of the deceased person. Given the significance of the Medal in question, it is important that satisfactory evidence of a relationship to the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised me that the data requested by the Deputy is not readily accessible as they do not capture such data in this manner. I can confirm that the number of personnel who have claimed Patrol Duty Allowance for more than 90 days per year, in each of the years in question is as follows: - 91 days...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Allowances (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Subsistence Allowance is paid to Defence Forces personnel to compensate for expenses incurred in respect of necessary work absences from their normal work stations. All applicable rules and rates are determined centrally by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The estimate provided in the Defence Vote for the payment of subsistence allowances to Defence Forces personnel in 2020 is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Pensions Data (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: As of 30 June 2020 there were 12,720 pensioners (including spouses and dependants) in receipt of pensions from my Department. Of this number, 701 pensioners were in receipt of both a service pension and a disablement pension.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The attached table shows the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) as at 30th June 2020, the latest date for which such data is available, along with the percentage breakdown of male and female personnel by rank. ">Male Female percentage breakdown