Results 8,381-8,400 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that the expected retirements by virtue of age in each of the years 2020 to 2022 are as follows: Year 2020 2021 2022 Expected retirements 91 90 119

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

Simon Coveney: The attached table provides the details requested by the Deputy. The military authorities have advised that these Defence Forces schemes for enlisted personnel are categorised into 1. Those that are strictly defined as Apprenticeships 2. Trainee technician schemes conducted in conjunction with SOLAS under the auspices of the National 'Generation Apprenticeship' Scheme 3. Other technician...

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

Simon Coveney: I understand that the Dundalk Branch of Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel (ONE)) has been in contact with my Department regarding this matter and that a reply is being prepared. My Department does not directly fund specific projects undertaken by O.N.E. branches. However, as the Deputy will be...

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

Simon Coveney: The service life of an Irish Naval Service ship is determined by the level of operational activity, but usually is around 30 years.  It is, however, normal practice in a ship’s life to carry out a mid-life refurbishment/extension programme so as to extend the useful life of a ship to thirty (or more) years. The P50 class of vessels in the Naval Service ship...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department has worked closely with the Office of Government Procurement in relation to the acquisition of PPE and continues to do so. I can confirm that a range of PPE is held on reserve by both the Defence Forces and Civil Defence, in the event that they are required to respond to Aid to the Civil Authority requests, including health emergency events in the future.  The stock in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Antarctic Treaty (23 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland holds the view that the management and use of Antarctica should be conducted in accordance with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations in the interest of maintaining international peace and security and promoting international cooperation for the benefit of mankind as a whole. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is committed to collective climate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government closely follows reports of human rights violations in China, including allegations of live organ harvesting, and we regularly raise human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities during both bilateral and multilateral meetings. New laws on organ donation came into force in China at the beginning of 2015 with a view to ending the practice of forced organ transplants,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and Bahrain enjoy good bilateral relations, and there are significant links between the two countries, particularly in the medical field. I met with the former Foreign Minister of Bahrain at the UN General Assembly in New York in September 2019. In May 2020, I spoke on the phone with the current Foreign Minister of Bahrain. Our discussions on both occasions covered a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (23 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Defence Force Regulations contain the provisions by which the discharge of a member of the Permanent Defence Force can be effected. Within those provisions, there are a number of factors which may determine that a member be discharged, including the individuals' own circumstances. Where the request for discharge is not initiated by the individual, the process set out in Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (22 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service commenced a phased return to full operations on 8 June 2020. Between 1 July and 16 July 2020, the Passport Service issued approximately 34,000 passport books and cards. Between 1 July and 16 July 2019, the Passport Service issued approximately 38,000 passport books and cards. On 16 July 2020, the Passport Online system had approximately 8,000 applications under process...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (22 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service commenced a phased return to full operation on 8 June 2020. The Passport Service has processed over 80,000 books and cards since re-opening and is currently meeting the target turnaround times for Passport Online applications. The numbers of passport applications received from applicants for the year 2019 and until June 2020 are detailed in the following table. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Marine Accidents (22 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The details provided relate to an event which occurred in a location which is not part of Irish territorial waters and involved vessels neither of which were sailing under an Irish flag. The matter was investigated by the UK's Marine Accident Investigation Branch who were the appropriate investigators. Their report on the matter can be found here: . I have no plans to commission a report...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Overseas Missions (22 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: As of 8 July 2020, Ireland is contributing 541 personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 321 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 134 personnel. Ireland has always been a strong...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (22 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Lt Col Raymond Martin of the Air Corps is the Irish military member of Eurocontrol's Network Management Board which deals with air traffic management network functions and which is made up of both civilian and military members.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (22 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Information about the airspace used by the Defence Forces is published in the Irish Aviation Authority's Aeronautical Information Publication. In addition, ad hoc airspace structures (temporary restricted areas) may be filed with the Irish Aviation Authority for specific operations and/or training events and are known as NOTAM (Notices to Airmen). Each activation, deactivation and change...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cabinet Committees (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Matters relating to Israel and Palestine are dealt with by the Cabinet as a whole. I discuss this issue with my Cabinet colleagues as and when needed.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil are currently awaiting Government approval. It should be noted that the appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to formal...

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

Simon Coveney: The Government closely follows reports of persecutions against Falun Gong practitioners, and officials in my Department have met with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and human rights lawyers on a number of occasions. Ireland frequently raises human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities in both bilateral meetings and in appropriate multilateral fora, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service of my Department is one unified service composed of three constituent offices located in Lower Mount Street and Balbriggan in Dublin and South Mall in Cork. It operates three passport printing machines, two of which are located in the main production facility in Balbriggan and the third in the Passport Office in Lower Mount Street, Dublin. Passport applications from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: No contracts or tenders have been awarded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to the company referred to by the Deputy.