Results 28,701-28,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The Government closely follows developments in relation to the treatment of members of the LGBTI community in Russia and, in particular, the widespread reports of the persecution of gay men in Chechnya. Senior officials of my Department met the Russian Ambassador last year to convey the grave concerns of the Government, and of the Irish public, at these reports. During the meeting, officials...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by my Department. Contingency planning for a no-deal or worst-case outcome, bringing together the detailed work being undertaken by individual Ministers and their Departments on issues within their policy remit, is now well advanced. Its focus is on...

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

Simon Coveney: Since the most recent escalation of violence in Rakhine State, Myanmar, in August 2017, approximately 700,000 members of the Rohingya community have fled across the border to Bangladesh where they now reside in precarious conditions in refugee camps. The exodus of refugees has been accompanied by credible claims of serious human rights violations by the Myanmar Security Forces. These...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 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. So far this year, the Passport Service has received over 500,000 applications. Applications received in the first 5 months of this year have increased by over 8% compared with the same time period last year. The Passport Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: In 2017 the Passport Service issued over 780,000 passports. This represents an increase of over 6% compared to 2016 when over 730,000 passports were issued. Over 500,000 passport applications have been received by the Passport Service so far this year. Applications received in the first 5 months of this year have increased by over 8% compared with the same time period last year. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The European Union (Withdrawal) Bill 2017-2019 has been under consideration from the British Houses of Parliament since July 2017. It is a significant element of the UK’s legislative preparation in advance of its withdrawal from the European Union. While this is first and foremost a domestic matter for the UK, it is very much in Ireland’s interests that the necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government is closely following the political developments in Hong Kong, and I had an opportunity to discuss these issues directly with Chief Executive Carrie Lam during my visit to Hong Kong on 12 March. Ireland fully supports the 'One Country, Two Systems’ principle, which provides the basis for the high degree of autonomy which Hong Kong enjoys. The Basic Law provides the basis...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Dealing with outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the Troubles is of the utmost importance to the Government. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to building on the progress made to establish the comprehensive institutional framework for dealing with the past that is provided for under the 2014 Stormont House Agreement.Victims and survivors have had to wait for far too...

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

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the difficult situation which human rights defenders continue to face in Honduras. The loss of life and violence which has occurred since elections took place in Honduras in November 2017 is particularly worrying. Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are the cornerstones of any functioning democracy and those rights must be guaranteed. While Ireland does not have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by my Department. Contingency planning for a no-deal or worst-case outcome, bringing together the detailed work being undertaken by individual Ministers and their Departments on issues within their policy remit, is now well advanced. Its focus is on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Correspondence (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: I was appalled by the images which recently emerged of immigrant children being separated from their parents at the southern US border and held in detention by the US authorities. I made my, and the Government’s, view of this policy very clear when I spoke on June 20 last week in the course of the Dáil debate on this issue. I stated in the course of that debate that the policy of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is seeking election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2021-2022 term. We are one of three candidates for the two available seats in the Western Europe and Others Group regional group. The other two candidates are Canada and Norway which, like Ireland, have strong records of engagement at the UN. In order to be elected to the Security Council,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Visits (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: I look forward to welcoming the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to Ireland on 10th and 11th July this year, for what will be their first official trip overseas. Although the finer details of the trip remain to be finalised, the Royal couple’s programme will encompass visits to Croke Park, Trinity College, DogPatch Labs, the Famine Memorial, and EPIC - the Irish Emigration Museum, all of...

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

Simon Coveney: The EU’s objective remains that the full legal text of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, as well as a detailed political declaration on the framework for the future relationship, be agreed by the October meeting of the European Council. With a view to achieving this goal, negotiations have been continuing between the EU and the UK to close the remaining gaps on the draft Withdrawal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi is accredited on a non-residential basis to Kuwait. Ireland has a strong and positive relationship with Kuwait. The Ambassador of Ireland in Abu Dhabi travels regularly to Kuwait in support of our broad policy objectives, including the development of political relations, trade relations and supporting the needs of Irish businesses operating or hoping to...

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

Simon Coveney: The bilateral relationship between Ireland and Cuba has been a historically warm one and the hugely successful visit of President Higgins to Cuba in February 2017 marked a new high point in the relationship. A Memorandum of Cooperation between Ireland and Cuba was signed in the sidelines of that visit and it provides a solid foundation upon which to expand our relations with Cuba. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Death Penalty (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The EU opposes the death penalty in all circumstances and considers that the death penalty constitutes a serious violation of human rights and human dignity. Abolition of the death penalty is a prerequisite to membership of the EU which has long committed to campaign against its use worldwide with a view to its universal abolition, as reaffirmed in the EU Human Rights and Democracy Action...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Spain is a hugely popular destination for Irish holiday-makers and it is a priority focus in terms of the consular work of my Department. In addition to the Embassy of Ireland in Madrid, and operating under the supervision of the Ambassador there, we currently have a network of ten Honorary Consulates across Spain providing services and support to Irish citizens. These are located in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: First of all, I have to say that I am not aware of any particular incidences of Irish citizens being exploited due to their undocumented status but I would ask the Deputy to furnish me with the details of any such incidences for follow-up.As regards the broader question of relief for the undocumented Irish living in the US, the Government has consistently pursued two key objectives with...

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

Simon Coveney: The number of passports issued per month for the period requested are as follows: 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Jan 32652 Jan 32,083 Jan 33,275 Jan 34,931 Jan 51172 Feb 47754 Feb 55,904 Feb 62,884 Feb 67,724 Feb 59235 Mar 59956 Mar 71,402 Mar 64,015 Mar 84,589 Mar 79248 Apr 69357 Apr 72,130 Apr 79,991 Apr 87,447 Apr 88261 May 82802 May 78,303 May 91,767 May 103,410 May 98841 Jun...