Results 27,661-27,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (20 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 127 to 129, inclusive, together. The decision of the European Council (Article 50) on 15 December that sufficient progress had been made in phase 1 of the EU-UK negotiations, and that they could now move to phase 2, was very welcome. The decision by the European Council that sufficient progress had been achieved was taken on the basis of a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (21 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: As Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, I have responsibility for coordinating the whole-of-Government response to Brexit, which is being advanced through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by my Department which bring together the results of the detailed work which is being undertaken by individual Departments....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (21 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens wishing to apply for a passport, including a postal application system, online service, and through the network of Irish Missions worldwide. The Passport Service has received over 129,000 applications between 1 January and 16 February 2018, which represents an increase of 16% on the same period last year. In order to respond...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (21 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Card was launched in October 2015 and offers Irish citizens the convenience of travel to 31 countries including the EU/EEA and Switzerland, with a credit card sized travel document. Applications for passport cards are processed exclusively through the Passport Online Service, accessible via my Department’s website at www.dfa.ie/passport. The target turnaround time for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Fees (21 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The cost of the standard ten year (adult) Irish passport compares favourably with many other jurisdictions. At a cost of €80, which breaks down to €8 per year, the Irish passport fee compares with approximately €8.20 per year for a British passport, €8.50 per year for a French passport, €8.90 per year for renewal of an American passport and €18.10...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (21 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 77 together. Ireland published its National Plan on Business and Human Rights in November 2017 on foot of a Government commitment to implement the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). The National Plan aims to give effect to the Guiding Principles through the promotion of responsible business practice at home and overseas, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 (“the Act”). In the case of children and among other requirements, section 14 of the Act requires the Minister to be satisfied on reasonable grounds that appropriate consent for issue of a passport has been provided. In general, consent is required as follows: -Where the child has 2 guardians,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: One adviser and one official travelled from my Department to the launch of the National Development Plan 2018 – 2027 and National Planning Framework in County Sligo. To date no related travel costs have been incurred by my Department. In line with relevant circulars issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, officers are entitled to claim travel and subsistence expenses...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Successive US Administrations have provided immensely valuable support to the peace process over the last three decades, and this support continues to be provided by the current US Administration, as well as by our many friends in Congress. The Government strongly appreciates the sustained engagement by the current US Administration, including by the US State Department, in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government, working with the British Government, has spared no effort in supporting and facilitating talks on the formation of a new Executive, over many months. Fully functioning, devolved, power-sharing Institutions are the only way forward for Northern Ireland, and are urgently required. Last week’s developments in Stormont are of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 136, 145 to 147, inclusive, and 149 together. I am extremely concerned by the recent increase in violence in Syria, and in particular the vicious siege of Eastern Ghouta, which has cost the lives of hundreds of civilians in recent days. The barbarity of the attacks by the Syrian regime on its own people, the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Data (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Office of the Information Commissioner keeps the operation of the Freedom of Information Act under review and publishes relevant statistics in its Annual Reports. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, to date, for the 1,096 freedom of information requests received by my Department in the period 2010 to 2017 inclusive the Office of the Information Commissioner did not vary or annul any...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland does not have a resident Embassy in Uzbekistan and there is no Uzbek Embassy in Dublin, so contacts at political and official level with the Uzbek authorities are limited. In the absence of such direct links, our main channels of engagement with Uzbekistan and other countries in the Central Asia region are through the EU, and multilateral fora such as the UN and the OSCE. Trade flows...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 140 together. The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade primary responsibility for the regulation of activity, both landing in the State and overflying the State, by foreign military aircraft. During 2017, my Department received 515 requests for landings by military aircraft at airports in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Joint Report of EU and UK negotiators, published in December, states that in the event that it is not possible to resolve the border issue through the wider future relationship agreement between the EU and the UK, which has always been the preference of the Irish Government as well as that of the UK, or through specific solutions, the UK has committed to maintaining full regulatory...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the Joint Report of EU and UK negotiators, published last December, the UK made a number of commitments and guarantees, including ensuring there would be no border infrastructure of any kind or associated checks and controls on the island of Ireland. In addition to commitments on Irish-specific issues, the UK made commitments across the other two exit issues; citizens’ rights, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Capital Expenditure Programme (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a total capital allocation of €13 million in 2018, under the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018, across its two Votes (Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 – Foreign Affairs and Trade). Under the recently published National Development Plan 2018 - 2027, the Department will have capital allocations in the period...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Documents (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for the issuance of passports to Irish citizens and for the maintenance of the security and integrity of the Irish passport. Immigration or administrative requirements for entry into other States, including what documentation is acceptable for those purposes, are not matters within the competence of my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 (“the Act”). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this legal requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship in his/her passport application. Entitlement to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (27 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The overall human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the treatment of children in detention, remains a matter of concern. In particular, there are serious concerns about the Israeli military court system which is used in relation to Palestinians in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including children. The same system does not apply to Israeli...