Results 26,561-26,580 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Dealing with long-outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland are of the utmost importance to me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and for the Government. The Programme for a Partnership Government highlights this priority, with specific reference to implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin Monaghan bombings. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Remuneration (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have asked Payroll Shared Services Centre to run the necessary report to estimate the cost to the Department of introducing a minimum wage of €15 an hour for all employees under the aegis of the Department. The estimated cost is approximately €1.48 million per annum. This figure does not include the cost of temporary staff that may be employed by this Department from time to time.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Remuneration (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have asked the Payroll Shared Services Centre to run the necessary report regarding the cost to the Department of introducing a minimum weekly gross wage of €600 for all full time employees under the aegis of this Department. The estimated cost is approximately €0.9 million per annum. This does not include the cost for temporary officers that may be employed by the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: This case remains the top consular priority of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and very significant resources continue to be deployed to support this citizen and his family. The trial in which he is a defendant was back in court twice in the past ten days – on 4 July and again on 9 July - for further hearings. Our Embassy team was in the court to observe the proceedings, as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons leading to their total elimination, which was adopted by 122 States at the United Nations on 7 July 2017, represents the successful outcome of many years of work by committed States and Civil Society partners who have been concerned at the slow pace of multilateral nuclear disarmament efforts, including the lack of progress on commitments undertaken in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The number of passports issued in each of the years requested is as follows: Year Number issued. 2014 632,156 2015 672,760 2016 733,060 2017 (1 January to 13 July) 503,343

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has played a key role in developing consultation, cooperation, and action on the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest and within the competence of the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. My Department works closely with the Department of the Taoiseach in regard to NSMC matters and the Taoiseach co-chairs the NSMC Plenary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Full and timely implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and successor agreements, including the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement, is a key priority for the Government, as reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government. Since the Fresh Start Agreement was signed in November 2015, there has been sustained progress with implementation, with each administration actively pursuing the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: No arrangements have been put in place regarding an invitation to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to visit the State.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 388 and 405 together. I deeply regret the decision by the Palestinian Authority and Israel to reduce the supply of electricity to Gaza, as a result of the dispute between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas over payment for the electricity supplied. While no government can be expected to tolerate indefinitely the situation arising as a result of Hamas'...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Availability (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: At present, Ireland does not have diplomatic relations with the Cayman Islands. Irish citizens living in the Cayman Islands should contact the Irish Embassy in Washington D.C. if they require consular assistance. My Department can advise and support Irish citizens in the case of a family bereavement, serious illness, detention, or other emergencies, and where required can contact family...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The deputy will be aware, from the contacts that he has had on this tragic case with my predecessor and with officials in the Consular Assistance Unit of my Department, that the Department of Foreign Affairs, our Consul General in San Francisco and our Honorary Consul in Seattle have provided significant consular assistance to this man’s family, both at the time of his death in 2013...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts Data (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Office of Government Procurement is responsible for sourcing all goods and services on behalf of the public service. All contract security and cleaning staff are drawn down from a central contract framework procured by the Office of Government Procurement. The terms and conditions of contracts ensure that agreements between my Department and all contractors adhere to the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, supports the achievement of a two state solution to the Middle East conflict. This support includes political efforts to encourage a resumption of direct negotiations, which are ultimately the only way to achieve peace, but also action on the ground on human rights and justice issues affecting Palestinians under occupation, including settlement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: In processing a passport application the Passport Service verifies that the applicant is an Irish citizen by examining supporting documentation. The Passport Service does not verify or keep records of any other citizenship an applicant may hold. Records are maintained of the volumes of passport applications submitted through Embassies and Consulates General abroad, as well as the country...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The target turnaround time for the Online Passport Renewal Service is ten working days plus postage, which varies depending on the destination to which the passport is dispatched. Over 90% of online applications are being processed within five working days, well ahead of the target. The online service is fast, secure, convenient and available to adult citizens renewing their passports from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme has never received an application for financial support from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust. Therefore, no financial support is currently being provided to this organization via the Programme. The Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme, administered by Irish Abroad Unit, is usually open for applications for a five week...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, I lead on coordinating the whole-of-Government approach to the EU-UK negotiations and to our preparations for Brexit, with a view to mitigating the impacts to the maximum extent possible and securing the best possible outcome for Ireland. In this role, I intend to build further on the excellent work carried...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department comprises two separate votes, Vote 28 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 International Co-operation. Taxi and car hire costs for 2016 amounted to €507,201 and for the period January 2017 to date amount to €341,709. My Department is fully compliant with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on official travel and also operates...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (26 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am very concerned by the difficulties faced by migrant workers in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and I strongly deplore any abuses of workers’ rights. In the context of the Universal Periodic Review of Qatar by the Human Rights Council in 2014, Ireland expressed concerns about widespread reports of violations of the rights of migrant workers, especially in the context of...