Results 1,861-1,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: It is a consortium. I presume we tender for it. I am not sure where they come from. I think the chip system is American but I am not sure. It is a consortium. There are a limited number of-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: -----specialist providers for passport books, particularly ones that fit our system. I do not know what country they come from. We need proper quality control to get what we need and get value for money. That is my understanding of what the process delivers. However, I am not sure which country they come from. I will check for the Deputy.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: What kind of support programmes is the Deputy referring to?

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Support for returning emigrants remains a priority for the Government and Department. It falls within the remit of the interdepartmental committee on the Irish abroad, which is chaired by the Minister of State with responsibility for the diaspora, Deputy Brophy. The increased fund can partly be used for that. The bulk of the extra €1.5 million will be spent abroad, dealing with the...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: -----getting insurance, setting up a business, housing issues and a whole load of others. We have been trying to respond to those issues one after the other.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I was putting a context around the ambition to open an embassy in Iran. There are many things happening in Iran at the moment that raise serious question marks about our bilateral relationship. There are questions around how woman, girls and protesters are treated. The reality is that Iran is providing drones to Russia which are being used to target civilians in Ukraine. These are matters...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Brady asked about generators in Ukraine. The committee probably knows most of what I am going to say about medical assistance but I will put some of it on the record because it is important information. Ireland responded immediately to the crisis in Ukraine. With regard to humanitarian assistance, we were among the first to respond with a significant Irish Aid package on the first...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am actually glad the Deputy asked this question because I found the matter frustrating. Many members of the Defence Forces made an extraordinary contribution during the Covid period in a series of different areas. The recognition payment was essentially a small gesture by the State to people who put themselves at risk and contributed to try to keep people alive at a time when we were...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: It will not be headline news, but she is a smart, competent person. I assure the committee that we will have direct conversations and we will keep the veterans’ bodies very much up to speed on what we are trying to do. The easy thing for us to do here would have just been to say that we cannot pay the pension top-ups until the end of January or early February. However, we tried...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Yes. As I said, this is something we are looking at. It will certainly be part of what the new head of transformation in the Defence Forces will look at as well. We are bringing about some pretty fundamental change over the next six months or so in terms of how people are managed in the Defence Forces. We will be bring in a lot of outside expertise as part of those efforts. However, we...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I will come back with short answers, which I am sure would also be helpful.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 35 - Army Pensions (Revised)
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I will have to check what is already on the website. Normally, many of these organisations have good networks within their cities and communities already. They put out information if there is a new fund or more support available. I will take a look at the Deputy's suggestion.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Russia’s appalling military aggression against Ukraine has highlighted more than ever the importance of solidarity and cooperation amongst like-minded partners in upholding the rules based international order. While we are militarily neutral, the Government has been clear that Ireland is not politically neutral in terms of our response to Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has been consistently forthright in expressing concern regarding the unequal treatment of Palestinians and the application of different standards in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. In particular, Ireland has been proactive in highlighting many of the issues raised, including demolitions and settler violence, at the UN Security Council during our current term. At...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant's parent in relation to the application. All supporting documents have been returned. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have regular meetings and telephone contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Chris Heaton Harris.  Our last conversation was yesterday, 9 November, in advance of the Secretary of State's statement to the House of Commons announcing his intention to extend the period for Executive formation. We will remain in close contact in the period ahead. My discussions with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is unable to provide the number of Irish passports held by individuals referenced by the Deputy as the profession of applicants is not captured as part of the application process. The Passport Service does not compile statistics according to the elected status of an applicant. The number of passport applications from applicants residing in Great Britain in the years 2016...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Visits (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Visits to Ireland by foreign Heads of State provide an important opportunity to promote Ireland’s interests and values internationally. They contribute to the development of strong economic, political and cultural links between Ireland and other States. Depending on the timing and nature of such foreign Head of State visits, these can include elements such as an official welcome...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces are not currently involved in training members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM Ukraine) will provide specialised training to the Ukrainian Armed Forces and coordinate existing Member State training activities. The mission has been developed within the framework of the EU’s Common Security and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Properties (10 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will appreciate that in the first instance, the provision of social housing is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and it would not be appropriate for me to comment on same.  However, I can advise that my Department has offered Nenagh Barracks to Tipperary County Council. This  offer remains open should the Council wish to...