Results 26,461-26,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the person in question, and of reports of both her most recent interrogation and previous interrogations, and of the travel ban imposed on her last year that prevented her from attending the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The deterioration of the human rights situation in Bahrain has been the subject of several Questions in this House recently, and continues to be of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not made any payments to the company concerned.There are no bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: White Paper on the Future of Europe (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: On 1 March the European Commission published a White Paper on the Future of Europe. As well as setting out the main achievements of the EU over the past six decades, the White Paper addresses the challenges that Europe is facing and presents five scenarios for how the Union could evolve by 2025, depending on how it chooses to respond. The Commission is now in the process of publishing a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Eircodes are used by my Department in the passport application process. The Passport Service has upgraded its processes to allow for the capture and use of Eircodes. Since 2015, modified passport application forms have been introduced which include an Eircode field in the address section. Backend systems have accordingly been redesigned. Online applications also support Eircode. In addition...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The developing situation between Qatar and its neighbours is a matter of concern. First and foremost, it is an internal GCC matter, although it also involves other countries in the region and has wider international implications. Ireland, like all EU Member States, has interests in the crisis in so far as it has the potential to impact on citizens, commerce and regional stability. My...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The result of the UK general election does not change the Government’s commitment to ensuring the best possible outcome for Ireland in the upcoming Brexit negotiations. On 2 May, the Government published a comprehensive document, setting out in detail its approach to the forthcoming negotiations on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Israel is not the primary actor in this dispute over electricity supplies to Gaza, which is primarily one between the Palestinian Authority and the de facto Hamas authorities in Gaza, who still control the Strip. For some years Hamas has charged customers in Gaza for electricity supplied from Israel, but refused to pass these revenues to the Palestinian Authority, which pays Israel to supply...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) is administered by Irish Abroad Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in partnership with Ireland’s embassies and consulates abroad. It has a budget in 2017 of €11.595 million. The Emigrant Support Programme is a tangible expression of the Government’s support of, commitment to, and interest in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies Code of Conduct (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are no State bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Refugee Resettlement Programme (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 700 together. The EU’s response to the 2030 Agenda with its new and broader vision of development encompassing also peace and migration, has seen a number of new directions for EU development cooperation. The EU has been responding to the migration crisis and to the long term challenge of demography and job creation in Africa. In June last...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: A series of anti-corruption protests were held in several cities across Russia on 12 June. Hundreds of peaceful protestors were detained by the authorities and subjected to violence in Moscow, Saint Petersburg and other cities. The opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, who had called for the protests was arrested and detained before he could make his way to the Moscow rally. The response of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department facilitates a range of formal and informal mobility options for staff including head-to-head arrangements and the Senior Public Service Mobility Scheme (including Principal Officer mobility), while staff can also take part in the Civil Service Wide Mobility Scheme. The Department does not incur any cost when a staff member transfers to another Government Department. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not engaged outside public relations companies for the purposes of public relations advice. My Department has from time to time commissioned companies with a public relations and communications background but this has been for the provision of other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management, particularly in relation to Irish Aid public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Negotiations (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: My appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, with special responsibility for Brexit, has coincided with an important milestone in the Brexit process, coming shortly before the formal launch of the Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK. The immediate focus of my discussions with the responsible officials in my Department was on preparing my attendance at the General...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (22 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the need to ensure that humanitarian assistance and support is provided as quickly as possible to the many thousands of people suffering as a result of the damage caused by severe flooding and landslides in Sri Lanka. Ireland has not directly provided any emergency funding to Sri Lanka at this time. However, 228,000 Swiss francs ( €210,000 approx) was allocated from the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (22 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The checking and adjudication of applications for citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration is a complex process, and it is important that the Department and our Embassies take all due care in relation to the verification of identity, eligibility and supporting documentation in each and every case. Consequently, we advise applicants that the process is likely to take around 20 weeks. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts Data (22 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are no bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (22 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I was representing the Government at the talks in Belfast on Monday 19 June so Ireland was represented at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) by our Permanent Representative to the EU Mr. Declan Kelleher. Agenda items at the FAC included the EU Global Strategy, EU-NATO cooperation, counter-terrorism, the external aspects of migration and Iraq. Over a working lunch Ministers discussed recent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (22 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The ongoing migration crisis is one of the greatest challenges facing the EU, and the Union has put in place a broad range of measures to address it. These have included the relocation of migrants from Italy and Greece across the EU; generous humanitarian assistance to countries hosting large numbers of migrants; and Operation Sophia, the naval operation to address the evil trade of people-...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (27 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: There were 1,483 full time equivalent staff employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the end of 2016. 836 full time equivalents were based in Ireland, 314 were assigned to one of Ireland’s missions overseas and the remainder, 333, were recruited locally to staff missions overseas.