Results 8,401-8,420 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: 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 issue high on the international agenda. I have made four working visits to Israel and Palestine, most recently in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: From 1 January 2020 to 30 June 2020, my Department approved 128 requests for military aircraft from the United States to land at Irish airports. The table below provides the monthly breakdown of those aircraft landings. The flights had a combined total of 547 personnel on board. According to figures supplied to my Department by the relevant airport authorities, 68 of those left the airside...

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

Simon Coveney: Human rights issues are an important part of Ireland's engagement and dialogue with Iran. The human rights situation in Iran is very worrying, with routine violations of human rights including restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, arbitrary arrest, and torture of detainees. There are numerous and credible reports of torture of those detained in Iranian prisons. Ireland opposes...

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

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service commenced a phased return to full operation on 8 June 2020 and has processed over 80,000 books and cards since re-opening. The Passport Service is currently meeting the target turnaround times for Passport Online applications. This application is a paper based application through Passport Express. The Passport Service is working through paper based applications...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 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 target turnaround time is 10 working days for simple applications and 20 working days for complex applications, once the supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Representative Organisations (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: As this matter is currently the subject of legal proceedings, the Deputy will appreciate that it would be inappropriate for me to comment.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Programme for Government (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The recently agreed 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. A consultation process will be undertaken prior to finalisation of the Commission's terms of reference, which will be published following Government approval.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Advisers (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On the commencement of every Dail, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The Guidelines for the 33rd Dail 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 the terms set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I wish to assure the Deputy that the health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me, my Department and the military authorities. The Deputy will be aware that following three inspections at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel during 2016, the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) issued a Report of Inspection to the Air Corps on 21 October, 2016. This...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The average BMI for Defence Forces personnel varies from period to period and year to year. The BMI average for recorded fitness tests in 2020 is 26.07.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not awarded any contracts to the named company or its subsidiaries in the period specified. From 01 Jan 2016 to 14 Jul 2020 the Defence Forces has made payments to a subsidiary of the named company to the value of €62,890.14. These payments are made directly to the subsidiary for the provision of meals to Defence Forces students attending courses of instruction at...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: In 2013, part of the Magee Barracks site was acquired by the Department of Education and Skills for the purposes of providing new school provision for the community. Subsequently, the remaining aspect of the site was sold by pubic action in 2016. The future development of the site is now a matter between the site owners and the relevant planning authorities. My Department has no further...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: In June 2017, the Property Management Branch of my Department became aware that soil had been deposited to the rear of Donnelly's Hollow. The Department subsequently engaged environmental consultants to carry out an environmental risk assessment of the site. The material deposited has been identified as fill material comprising of clay with trace amounts of construction and demolition...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (21 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Correspondence containing allegations of inappropriate conduct in the workplace of an historical nature, has been received. In order for the matters contained therein to be attended to through the appropriate channels, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. I can assure the Deputy however, that the matter is being treated with the utmost importance.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Army Barracks (16 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can advise the Deputy that Kevin Moore (Building) Contractor Ltd were appointed, in October 2019, as the main contractor for the construction of a new gymnasium at James Stephen’s Barracks in Kilkenny. Works are progressing well on site and are expected to be completed by end year.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Services (16 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can advise the Deputy that my Department has received this request and has recently received the military authorities' observations on the proposals. The matter is currently being considered by the Department and a formal response to the requestor will issue in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions (15 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 98 together. I have expressed my deep concern on numerous occasions regarding the grave humanitarian crisis in Venezuela, where needs are very acute. The situation there is particularly critical in the context of the serious impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the country. Ireland supports the EU statement issued on 3 April that underlines the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The approach of any Irish Government in relation to Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998. The Government respects everyone’s right on this island to make the case for the constitutional future they wish to see for Northern Ireland - whether the continuation of the union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland. The Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Foreign Births Registration (FBR) team was reassigned to our consular services at the beginning of the current public health emergency to operate a COVID-19 crisis call centre, assisting our citizens abroad. Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation related to three generations and issued by several...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (14 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On 9 January 2020, the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and I published the proposed New Decade, New Approach agreement, which was the basis for the political parties in Northern Ireland to resume operating the power-sharing Executive and Assembly. The Irish and British Governments, at the same time, each announced a series of financial and other commitments in support of the...