Results 28,861-28,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service monitors the volume of applications on an ongoing basis to ensure that staff resources are available to meet demand. In order to respond to anticipated application increases and to seasonal demands, the Passport Service has recruited 214 Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) so far this year. These TCOs have been appointed to the Passport Offices in Dublin and Cork and are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since my appointment as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June 2017, the total cost of travel for myself and those that travel with me was €129,317. As the Deputy will appreciate, by nature of my Department’s responsibilities, I am obliged to undertake a significant amount of official travel overseas. My Department complies with the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Project Ireland 2040 (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department has a modest capital allocation under Project Ireland 2040/National Development Plan 2018-2027. A total allocation of €70 million has been included under the National Development Plan 2018-2027, across the Department’s two Votes: Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade, for the years 2018-2022 as follows: 2018 - €13...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Requests (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: A breakdown of the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received by my Department since January 2018 is set out in the following table. To date 192 requests have been received, twenty-one requests have been refused, six requests for internal reviews of decisions have been sought and one appeal for a review of a FOI decision of my Department is under consideration by the Office of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vacancies on State Boards (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are no state boards under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Palestinian Bedouin communities settled around Jerusalem have been at risk of forcible transfer for a number of years, particularly as illegal Israeli settlements in the area continue to expand. The area is inhabited by members of the Jahalin tribe, which was expelled from its home in the Negev to the West Bank in the 1950s. One village in particular, that of Khan Al Ahmar, home to some...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 157 to 159, inclusive, and 161 together. The Syria conflict, which is now in its eighth year, has cost the lives of well over 400,000 people. Over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including 1.5 million people trapped in hard-to-reach and besieged areas. Over 6 million people are displaced internally, and a further...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 to 152, inclusive, together. 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. Conditions are likely to deteriorate over the coming months as the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 to 156, inclusive, together. Ireland is seeking election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council for the 2021-2022 term. Our candidature was first announced in 2005 and the campaign has been building since then under successive Governments. The official launch of Ireland’s candidature took place at UN headquarters in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply concerned about the recent upsurge in violence in south-western Syria, which has led to the displacement of over 300,000 people. This is a further deterioration of the terrible situation inside Syria, where over 13 million people require humanitarian assistance. An additional 5.6 million Syrians have fled to neighbouring countries and the wider region. Ireland recognises that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (10 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: Officers join the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through standard recruitment practices i.e., through competitions run under licence directly by this Department or by the Public Appointments Service, or through transfer/redeployment from another government Department under standard transfer/redeployment arrangements. The Department follows centrally agreed sequencing arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: The implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings is a priority for the Government, as highlighted in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The All-Party motion on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombings that was adopted by the Dáil on 25 May 2016 has, like those adopted in 2008 and 2011, been conveyed to the British Government. These...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Advisers Data (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department has a dedicated Communications Unit that employs 19 Civil Servants covering, inter alia, press relations and public outreach. In addition there are currently two Special Advisors employed by my Department who, along with other duties, advise on media matters. Mr. Chris Donoghue is my Special Advisor and Communications Director. Mr. Donoghue is employed at Principal Officer...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Development Plan Funding (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. Under the National Development Plan 2018 - 2027, it is proposed that my Department will have a capital allocation of €17 million in 2019, across its two Votes: Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade. This would represent an increase of €4m on the 2018 capital allocation. I can confirm to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a capital allocation in the 2018 Revised Estimates of €13 million across its two Votes (Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade). The June 2018 Fiscal Monitor, to which the Deputy refers, compares expenditure to end-June 2018 with the profiles of expenditure provided by the Department to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (11 Jul 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: Departmental Projects (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: Work has begun on the initial phase of the expansion of Ireland’s diplomatic network following the launch of “Global Ireland” on 11 June. The locations for new missions agreed by Government were identified on the basis of maximising impact in promoting Ireland’s economic and political interests; expanding our influence in terms of values and in delivering clear...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Supports (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: There is already a very strong awareness and understanding at EU level of the significant and unique impacts of Brexit on Ireland and an openness to exploring ways in which the EU can play a helpful and supportive role. This was a particular focus of my meeting with EU Commissioner, Gunther Oettinger, during his visit to Dublin in March, and in subsequent follow on contacts. Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Staff (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: In general terms, all of our diplomatic Missions across the EU and further afield are working on the issue of the UK’s decision to exit from the EU. Additional posts have been filled for our Embassies in London, Berlin, and Paris and the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union in Brussels. As part of Global Ireland 2025, we will set up new consulates in Frankfurt...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (11 Jul 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the context of the UK withdrawal from the EU, the Government is determined to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts is fully protected, including the provisions relating to citizenship. The Government appreciates the solidarity and support which has been shown by all of our EU partners in respect of Ireland’s unique issues and concerns, including the protection of...