Results 28,001-28,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is currently processing over 70,000 passport applications. These applications are going through the normal checking, processing and security stages. The target turnaround time for applications made via the online passport application service is 10 working days plus postage. The majority of online applications are currently being processed within 5 working days, well ahead...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am keenly aware of the deteriorating human rights situation in Bahrain, which I have spoken on in this House several times of late. Despite repeatedly stating its commitment to improving its human rights record, the Bahraini Government appears to be targeting those who express disagreement with or criticism of the Government. A number of worrying developments suggest an increasingly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the context of the Article 50 negotiations, progress has been made between the EU and UK negotiating teams on parts of the Withdrawal Agreement, including on the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. The UK has agreed that a legally operative version of the ‘backstop’ for the border will be included in the Withdrawal Agreement, in line with paragraph 49 of the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 105 together. I visited China from 12-17 March 2018, where I engaged in a wide-ranging St Patrick’s Day programme which incorporated meetings and events with a range of political, business, cultural and Irish community interlocutors. St. Patrick’s Day offers a unique opportunity to showcase Ireland in China. The main objectives...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland fully supports the UN Special Representative, Ghassan Salamé’s, Action Plan for Libya, including efforts to form a functioning government under the framework of the Libyan Political Agreement. Holding elections is a key element of the Action Plan, and must be a priority for resolving Libya’s political fragmentation. There have been some positive signs on voter...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Human Rights Council Resolution 31/36, adopted in March 2016, called upon the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to produce a database of all business enterprises involved in activities relating to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian Territory. The EU and its member States, including Ireland, had concerns about this resolution, both because of the burden it would place...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: There was never any real doubt that the 2007 airstrike on a target in Syria was carried out by Israel, and the recent declassification in Israel of information relating to it has only confirmed what was already known. My concerns about Syria are focused on the consequences of the appalling violence into which the country has descended in recent years. Any use of military force is something...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: A programme of events is underway, at home and abroad, to highlight this important anniversary and to mark the achievement of the Agreement, which continues to be the cornerstone of our commitment to peace and reconciliation. My Department continues to engage with other Government Departments and, both here on the island of Ireland and through our overseas Embassy network, with a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, which is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. The war is now ongoing for more than three years, and has had devastating consequences for civilians, with allegations of violations of human rights, international humanitarian law, and significant loss of life. Ireland has provided over €11 million in humanitarian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to my reply earlier today to Question No 50 in relation to this case, to which I would add the following: This case and its recent conclusion have not been specifically discussed at Ministerial level meetings in the EU. However, EU Missions in Palestine, including Ireland’s, have cooperated closely in following and reporting on the progress of the case. Irish or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government has consistently strongly opposed expansion of Israeli settlements, breaches of international law, and human rights violations, and argued for stronger international action on these matters. The specific question of applying a trade ban to exert pressure on Israel over these questions has been raised very frequently in the Oireachtas, and successive Governments and Ministers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Israel Palestine conflict did not feature on the agenda of the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 March, having been discussed at the January and February meetings. I have corresponded with the Deputy on the question of raising the specific aspect of trade with settlement goods. I have no difficulty with discussing this at European level, but it is a matter of judgement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share the Deputy’s concerns at the reports of the worsening living conditions in the West Bank and Gaza. The reports by UNHCR catalogue a number of human rights concerns that are having a particular effect on children, including settler violence, displacement and forcible transfer, home demolitions and forced evictions, and the arrest and arbitrary detention of children. Many of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of election observers to facilitate, when requested, an appropriate level of Irish participation in international observation missions for elections and constitutional referendums. Irish observers participate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service, located in my Department, is one unified service composed of 3 constituent offices located in Mount Street, Dublin; Balbriggan, County Dublin and South Mall, Cork.The distribution of work across the 3 passport offices does not impact on members of the public or in any way or limit the options available to the public in terms of passport application channels. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has responsibility for the operationalisation of a number of actions set out in the National Plan on Business and Human Rights which was launched in November 2017. One of the initial tasks is to establish a Business and Human Rights Implementation Group, to consist of representatives from Government, the business community and civil society....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Secretary General has proposed reforms in the UN’s peace and security architecture, in the UN’s management system and structures, as well as in the UN development system – all with a view to ensuring that the UN is fit for purpose in carrying out its mandate and advancing the achievement globally of the Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions regarding these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: A Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is an integral part of the draft Withdrawal Agreement currently being negotiated between the EU and the UK. It is drafted to give legal effect to the commitments and guarantees provided in the EU-UK Joint Progress report of last December on avoiding a hard border and protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, including North South...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Over the course of many months, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form an Executive. The devolved, power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are the best means for achieving accountable, representative decision-making for all the people of Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Investigations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The EU Ombudsman’s report follows the inquiry she opened last year on the level of public scrutiny of Council legislative work. Her recommendations go to the heart of Council decision making procedures and will require careful consideration, by both the Council of the European Union, to whom the recommendations are addressed, as well as by national Governments. The Ombudsman has...