Results 28,961-28,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have previously expressed my concerns about the passing of the Nation State Law in Israel. Much of the Law is declaratory in nature, and it remains to be seen how much direct impact it will have in practice. However, even on a symbolic level, it risks marginalising Israeli citizens who are not Jewish, in particular the 20% of Israeli citizens who identify as Arab or Palestinian. It sends...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts Data (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: Details of costs associated with secure printing for my Department are outlined in the following table. These costs refer to spending associated with the printing of travel documents, including passports and emergency travel documents. Such documents, by their nature, require advanced security features which are only available from a specialist printing provider. Similarly, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Documents (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides travel advice for around 200 countries on its website at . This information is also provided through our free-to-download SmartPhone App TravelWise and via our social media presence. The information provided is continuously reviewed and updated to ensure that it is as accurate and relevant as possible. Travel Advice is developed based on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Refusals (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”). This 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 application. The applicant to whom you refer...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 61 together. Yemen is currently the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with over twenty million people in need of assistance due to drought and the disruptions of war. Three years of war have had devastating consequences for civilians, with allegations of violations of human rights, international humanitarian law, and significant loss of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department takes its obligations in relation to the processing of applications for citizenship by descent very seriously. The Foreign Births Registration Unit of my Department is actively examining the application referred to in the Deputy’s question and, in this context, my officials are currently consulting with other Departments regarding certain...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: In an increasingly competitive world for investment and tourism, our culture is a unique selling point for Ireland. It helps to raise our visibility internationally, promotes a positive image for the country and represents a powerful means to forge connections with other countries. It is a key driver for our tourist industry. Culture is also an important economic sector in its own right,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The development of a practical toolkit on business and human rights for public and private entities is one of the initial priorities for the Business and Human Rights Implementation Group, to be established under the National Plan on Business and Human Rights. As provided for under the Plan, work is currently underway on a comprehensive baseline assessment of the legislative and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The goal of the National Plan on Business and Human Rights 2017 -2020, published in November 2017, is to promote responsible business practices at home and overseas by all Irish business enterprises. A key commitment of the Plan is the establishment of a Business and Human Rights Implementation Group, to comprise representatives from Government, the business community and civil society,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (IIFFM) on Myanmar makes for harrowing reading. Ireland has strongly supported the mandate of the IIFFM since it was established in March 2017 and I offer my thanks to them for their work and for this report. The findings of the IIFFM corroborate many of the eyewitness accounts which have emerged from Myanmar in recent times....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the difficult situation that currently exists for environmental activists and other civil society actors in Guatemala, and across Latin America, and my Department is monitoring developments closely. I unreservedly condemn the violence being perpetrated against these groups, and would like to extend my sympathies to all those affected. The rights of freedom of expression and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not operate lo-call numbers.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case raised by the Deputy. I am concerned by reports that the death penalty is being considered by the prosecutor in this case, as well as the reports of the conduct of the pretrial proceedings. Ireland is unequivocal in its stance on the death penalty and we oppose its use in all circumstances. The abolition of the death penalty is one of Ireland’s international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 63 together. I am aware of the case referred to by Deputy Collins, and of the reports that the individual in question has been denied adequate healthcare in prison. Ireland attaches great importance to safeguarding the human rights of all prisoners with due regard for the international standards enshrined in the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I visited Germany on 28 August at the invitation of the German Minister for Foreign Affairs, Heiko Maas, who invited me to speak at the “Economic Day” at Germany’s annual Ambassadors’ conference. The event was attended by over 200 German Heads of Mission and some 700 German business people from all sectors of the economy. Later, I had a constructive bilateral...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 83 together. We are in a critical phase of the Article 50 negotiations, which resumed on 16 August and have been continuous since then. Both sets of negotiators have committed to bringing new energy to the talks, including on the Irish specific issues, and I welcome these commitments. It is important to recall that there are in effect two...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: An online platform for the renewal of adult passports was launched in March 2017 and, to date, over 250,000 applications have been received. The online service has demonstrated efficiencies for both the citizen and the Passport Service with an average processing time of less than 10 working days. Work is ongoing to significantly expand this service to children renewing their Passport as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: From January 1stto August 31stthis year the Passport Service issued just under 620,000 passports.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Remit (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department is not in a position to provide financial assistance for Irish citizens involved in legal proceedings overseas and has no budget provision for assistance in this area. My Department provides consular assistance to the families of victims in such cases. It cannot provide legal advice or become a party to legal processes in another jurisdiction. Were the Department to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (7 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I deeply regret the US decision to cease funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and I made my views clear in my public statement on 1 September. I believe that this move is dangerous and will only have a negative effect on the Middle East region, and I have explicitly expressed my concern in contacts with the US administration....