Results 28,521-28,540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The numbers of passports issued in each of the years requested are as follows: Year Passports issued 2014 632,156 2015 672,760 2016 733,060 2017 781,375 2018 (January 1st – May 31st) 376,746 The numbers of passport applications received from Northern Ireland and Great Britain for the period requested are as follows: Year Passport applications from Great Britain Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The turnaround timeframe for a passport application will depend, in the first instance, on the channel through which the application was submitted. The Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens wishing to apply for a passport. These include a postal application system, online passport application service, in person counter application facilities in Dublin and Cork and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Following the elections held in March, consultations led by President Mattarella led at the end of May to agreement by the Lega (League) and Movimento Cinque Stelle (the Five Star Movement) to form a coalition government. Mr Giuseppe Conte was sworn in as Prime Minister on 1 June and last week both houses of the Italian Parliament voted confidence in the new Government, giving it its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The brutal repression of dissent by the Assad regime has led to a conflict that over the past seven years has cost the lives of over 400,000 people, has left over 13 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and has caused the largest displacement of people since World War Two. The Assad regime and its allies have repeatedly targeted civilians, including through use of “starve...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Syria remains of grave concern. The conflict has cost the lives of well over 400,000 people, 13 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance, over 6 million people are displaced within Syria and an additional 5 million have fled to neighbouring countries and the wider region. There have been numerous brutal attacks on civilians by the Assad regime and others,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Between 1 January and 31 May 2018, the Passport Service received over 46,000 passport applications from applicants resident in Northern Ireland. Of these, over 19,000 were first time applicants and over 26,000 were applying to renew existing passports. Between 1 January and 31 May 2018, over 35,000 passports were issued to applicants resident in Northern Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service currently has a dedicated channel of communication for Oireachtas representatives. To ensure resources are used effectively many of my Department’s functions, including communication channels, are centralised and accordingly, my office is the dedicated point of contact for public representatives. This ensures consistency, efficiency and fairness in responses to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service offers a range of convenient channels for submission of passport applications by Irish citizens and I am satisfied that the options available meet the current needs of passport applicants without the need for the establishment of a further passport office. An online passport application service was launched in March 2017 and offers the convenience of an online application...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 (“the Act”) which sets, among other things, special requirements for the issuing of a passport to a minor. The Passport Service is bound by Irish law, and under no circumstances may it deviate from these statutory requirements. Therefore, an applicant may not apply for an adult passport until...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Programme for Government Implementation (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: A Programme for a Partnership Government sets out the key Government commitments which will enable us to articulate ourselves on the world stage, contribute to peace-building initiatives across the globe, and share our culture and values. My Department has primary responsibility for twenty-nine actions, particularly in the Ireland and the Worldchapter. These commitments, alongside our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: On Friday 18 May the UN Human Rights Council held a Special Session to consider the recent events in Gaza. The HRC adopted a resolution – which was co-sponsored by Ireland – which includes provision to establish a Commission of Inquiry into these events. The current President of the HRC will now take this forward. Israeli Ministers have responded with public statements...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government’s view of the move of the United States Embassy to Jerusalem was expressed in my statement of 6 December when the decision was announced. I stated that the decision was premature and ill-advised, and would be unhelpful to efforts to reach a resolution of the Middle East Peace Process, something which is very urgently needed. Indeed prior to this announcement, I had...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, which is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. I, and officials in my Department, have been monitoring the state of affairs in Yemen with growing anxiety, particularly in recent months as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. After three years of war, three quarters of the population are estimated to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (12 Jun 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 are at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement and are the best means for achieving accountable, representative decision-making for all the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Embassy of Ireland in Ankara is accredited on a non-residential basis to Iran. Ireland is also represented in Iran by an Honorary Consul. A range of factors are taken into account in considering our diplomatic representation overseas, including our national political, economic and trade priorities, as well as the availability of resources. The Government is conscious of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since the publication of the Indecon Economic Report on Addressing Challenges Faced by Returning Irish Emigrants, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has undertaken a number of steps, in conjunction with other Government Departments and State Agencies, to address the thirty recommendations made in the report. In the first instance my colleague the Minister of State for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is currently in its peak season for passport demand with the vast majority of applications being received between February and August each year. The Passport Service monitors the volume of applications on an ongoing basis to ensure that resources are available to meet demand. In order to respond to anticipated application increases and to seasonal demands, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Applicants who have submitted a passport renewal application through Passport Express may withdraw their original application and re-apply through the counter application service. This service is designed to accommodate applicants who have upcoming travel plans and have, in error, submitted their passport application through a channel which would not allow the application to be processed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Students (12 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not undertake such activities. The national International Education Strategy – outlined in Irish Educated, Globally Connected: An International Education Strategy for Ireland, 2016-2020 – is under the direction of the Minister for Education and Skills. Furthermore, the Department of Education and Skills has informed my officials that it does not provide...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (12 Jun 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, Co. Dublin and South Mall, Cork. The following table shows how many passport applications were processed by the Passport Service’s Dublin and Cork offices for the years requested: Year Total Passport Applications 2016 750,833 2017...