Results 1,801-1,820 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in Iran on 16 September, was a tragedy. The fact that she was arrested simply due to the way she was dressed understandably provoked a strong response from the Iranian people and the international community. The subsequent response by the Iranian authorities to peaceful protestors in Iran has been extremely concerning. I raised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346, 347 and 352 together. Ireland has always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. We recognise the value of enlargement as a transformative driver for stability and peace in candidate countries. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Strong growth in North South trade over the past two decades is one of the key achievements of the peace process. We now have a closely integrated all-island economy, which both supports and is supported by the peace process. Increased economic and social cooperation benefits communities across the island and strengthens prosperity, North and South. Today, the all-island economy is important...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is a strong supporter of multilateralism and the UN system and we engage across the three pillars established in the UN Charter: peace and security, human rights, and development. Ireland has been a consistent supporter of reforms that aim to strengthen UN bodies and to enhance the UN’s influence throughout the globe. We support a more coordinated multilateral approach by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs’ mission network plays an important role in promoting Irish trade throughout the world. This network of embassies and consulates is central to the Team Ireland approach, which sees Government Departments and State Agencies working closely with other Irish stakeholders to strengthen Ireland's international reputation and drive the development of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Telecommunications Infrastructure (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service, as the State's principal sea-going agency, is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main daily tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with our obligations as a member of the EU, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks in tandem with maritime surveillance. The Air Corps Maritime...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Travel (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I did not travel to the Sharm el-Sheikh Climate Change Conference in my role as Minister for Defence, but did so as Minister for Foreign Affairs. In addition, no officials from the Department of Defence or from bodies under its aegis travelled to the conference.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: As part of the whole of Government response to provide assistance to those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, I can confirm that my Department has identified the former Mullingar Barracks as a site which could be used to accommodate such persons. It is primarily a matter for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to satisfy itself that the premises are adequate...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Telecommunications Infrastructure (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service, as the State's principal sea-going agency, is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. While the main daily tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with our obligations as a member of the EU, it also carries out a number of other non-fishery related tasks in tandem with maritime surveillance. The Air Corps...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have provided the following requested information: Training Number of Personnel Expected to Complete Training ATC 1 Q4 2024 ATC 1 Q1 2023 Radar training 1 Q1 2023 The military authorities also advised that a maximum of 3 further personnel are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The provision of medical services within the Defence Forces is a combination of primary care and an occupational medical service. Medical oversight is necessary in order to maintain a Defence Force that is operationally ready for the tasks assigned by Government, thereby facilitating operations at home and overseas, as well as safeguarding the health and safety of Defence Forces personnel. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 364 and 365 together. The attached Table 1 outlines the variance between current strength and the establishment strength, by rank, within Permanent Defence Force as at 31 October 2022, the latest date for which such information is available. Table 2, attached, details the number of Permanent Defence Force personnel, by rank, that were discharged (as at 31...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on Recruitment and Retention in the Defence Forces was published on the 4th of July 2019. The Report was accepted in full by the Government at that time and an extensive High Level Plan (HLIP) titled "Strengthening our Defence Forces” was also agreed and published on the same date. All projects undertaken to facilitate the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The High Level Action Plan (HLAP) for the Commission on the Defence Forces Report set out 38 early actions to be completed. The HLAP set out initial implementation and oversight structures. A civil/military Implementation Management Office (IMO) has been established to support the implementation of the overall transformation programme required to implement the recommendations from the report...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cybersecurity Policy (17 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: There are international and domestic procedures for authorising the arrival of military personnel from another State to operate in or be based in Ireland. For instance, in line with Article 7 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, prior approval by the Irish State is required for the appointment of military, naval or air attachés to a diplomatic mission resident in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (17 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities, including the detention of political prisoners and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (17 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable them to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. Two Inshore Patrol Vessels have been purchased from the New Zealand Government to replace the decommissioned LÉ Orla and LÉ Ciara. The two vessels are undergoing an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for bringing this matter to my attention. I assure him that my Department takes this information very seriously. Given the private and sensitive nature of the issues raised, I will not refer to the specifics of this case here. Following security normalisation in Northern Ireland, the Secretary of State has not appointed an Independent Assessor of Military Complaints...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. Officials from my Department have raised concerns over the human rights situation in Bahrain directly with the Bahraini authorities, including the detention of political prisoners and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (16 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The promotion and protection of universal human rights is a cornerstone of Irish foreign policy. Ireland has consistently engaged with Pakistan on human rights issues both bilaterally and multilaterally. In the context of our bilateral relationship, Ireland’s Ambassador to Pakistan visited Pakistan last week and discussed human rights issues with a number of Pakistani governmental...