Results 161-180 of 2,420 for long speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Energy Infrastructure (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...new vessels are inshore patrol vessels that can be crewed with fewer people than the ships they are replacing. They are much more efficient and much more modern vessels. I hope they will arrive long before this time next year. I hope to see them in the first quarter, perhaps in January or February. They will primarily be based in the Irish Sea. They will certainly be based there in...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: We are not yet where we need to be as regards planning, but we are working on that. The Chief of Staff, the Secretary General and I had a long trilateral meeting at the PDFORRA conference yesterday during which we talked predominantly about recruitment and retention, and what needs to be done in the short and medium term to turn around numbers that have been moving in the wrong direction for...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The biggest challenge we have is in personnel. At the moment, the numbers in our Defence Forces are a long way short of where we need to be. That is the case not only in the Naval Service but also in the Army and the Air Corps. We must turn the tide to start gaining momentum and achieving a sense that we are adding people each year, as a net figure. As I said earlier, if we are to achieve...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...;176 million, which is a 25% increase in one year. This allocation represents the single biggest annual capital investment ever provided for defence. Many of the military equipment projects are complex, multi-annual and have long lead-in times. The additional funding now provided will further enable the Department and the Defence Forces to plan, prioritise and deliver on scheduled...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...čovič has called "virtually invisible" checks by co-operation, partnership and sharing of data and information on trade flows and so on. This is not easy stuff. If it was, it would have been done long ago. The chances of resolving these issues and bringing an end to the stand-offs on the protocol are enhanced by a new approach based on partnership rather than unilateral...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...Convention on the Rights of the Child and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Children must never be the target of violence or be put in harm’s way. Furthermore, Ireland is a long-standing supporter of the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, UNRWA, which provides vital services, including education, to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: .... Certainly, after that election, I hope we will be able to make real progress in a step towards a peace process that can help in achieving a two-state solution, but at the moment we seem to be a long way from there.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...momentum through political dialogue that can stabilise the relationship between Israelis and Palestinians and move us towards a two-state solution at some point in the future, which seems like a long way off today. I accept the Deputy's point. The international community needs to do more together and countries such as Ireland are looking to galvanise that support.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...his delegation also met with President Higgins and with An Taoiseach. At EU level, EU Ministers communicated clear messages of concern at the recent EU-Israel Association Council, and reaffirmed the EU’s long-standing position on the Middle East Peace Process, its commitment to a two-State solution and the urgent need for a political horizon and a path towards relaunching a peace...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...to the conflict over Western Sahara. We do not have a view on an outcome of a decision on the future of the territory – be it independence, integration, autonomy, or some other solution – so long as it is decided peacefully and in a genuine exercise of self-determination. At the UN Security Council, Ireland engaged on the issue of Western Sahara, particularly in the context...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...the strong concern expressed about the Bill at the Council of Europe. The Government is firmly committed to making progress on this issue for the families and victims that have been waiting for too long for truth and justice, and will continue to engage with the British Government to make clear our serious concerns and urge them to reconsider their approach. We also discussed the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...increased evictions and demolitions. The Association Council also provided an opportunity to engage with Israel on the political situation in the wider Middle East region and to reaffirm the EU’s long-standing position on the Middle East Peace Process, its commitment to a two-State solution and the urgent need for a political horizon and a path towards relaunching a peace process. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ..., Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, continue to stand resolutely with Ukraine and its people, and will continue to provide strong economic, military, social and financial support to Ukraine for as long as necessary. EU Member States also coordinated to summon Russian Ambassadors in capitals. On 3 October, the Russian Ambassador was summoned by my Department to inform him that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...in a dialogue process. Our Embassy will maintain communication with all sides with a view to supporting the development and implementation of this dialogue. We hope that this will result in a long-term and inclusive solution that respects the rights of all concerned. Moreover, we welcome the Colombian Government’s recent efforts to engage with all parties to promote dialogue, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s policy of military neutrality has long been an important strand of our independent foreign policy. In practical terms, as followed by successive Governments, the policy means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. However, our approach has never been one of isolationism; rather our neutrality has informed our active...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...Reform: - Extension of Military Service Allowance to all PDF personnel; - Removal of the requirement for 3* Privates to ‘Mark Time’ - Extension of the Sea-Going Commitment Scheme; - Commence further evaluation of the introduction of Long Service Increments to the pay scales of all ranks of enlisted personnel and - Commence further evaluation of the creation of a new enlisted...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...remunerative elements have been prioritised in the HLAP, including a commitment to commence further evaluation of: - Replacing the existing sea-going allowances with less complex sea-going duty measures, - Introducing Long Service Increments to the pay scales of all ranks of enlisted personnel, - On the basis that all personnel should, in the first instance, be paid the full rate of MSA...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...and Asian countries. It is considered useful for Ireland to avail of all appropriate opportunities for high-level and diplomatic engagement on issues relating to Ukraine, particularly as regards the long-term perspectives for the conflict, the potential scenarios ahead, including any eventual pathway to a negotiated solution, as well as the wider transformation of the European security...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...innocent passage (as defined by art. 19 of UNCLOS). Furthermore, naval vessels are permitted to conduct exercises outside of territorial waters in a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone so long as this does not unduly interfere with the Coastal State. Any vessels transiting Irish waters must do so in compliance with international law and may be subject to sighting and observation by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (6 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: ...of other remunerative elements have been prioritised in the HLAP, including a commitment to commence further evaluation of: - Replacing the existing sea-going allowances with less complex sea-going duty measures, - Introducing Long Service Increments to the pay scales of all ranks of enlisted personnel, - On the basis that all personnel should, in the first instance, be paid the full rate...