Results 29,741-29,760 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (18 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the context of the Government’s ongoing efforts to secure a comprehensive immigration solution for Irish citizens in the US, involving both future pathways for legal immigration and relief for the undocumented Irish, a number of potential Irish reciprocal immigration and visa measures have been considered, including a possible scheme for US citizens to retire in Ireland, and a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (18 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The turnaround time for a passport application will depend on the channel through which the application was submitted. The table below summarises the turnaround times for the Passport Service’s main application channels. Turnaround times for individual missions outside Ireland and the UK are omitted as these will vary for each individual mission and are dependent on local postal...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: There is no secrecy.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (19 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Bilateral relations with South Africa are managed by our Embassy in Pretoria. Ireland enjoys a strong and positive relationship with South Africa. With the launch of ‘Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025’, the Government is committed to doubling the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint in the period ahead, while also continuously reviewing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (19 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department engages in advertising and public awareness campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens. Some examples of these campaigns have included the Online Passport Renewals Service and a ‘Citizens Dialogue on the Future of Europe’ initiative. A public information campaign to promote awareness of Government-wide...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (19 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am aware of this difficult and long-running consular case and have been in written contact with the citizen’s family here in Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been providing ongoing consular assistance to the family of this citizen since first being made aware of the case. Officials from my Department have met regularly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (19 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The amount spent by my Department on social media advertising in 2016, 2017 and to date 2018 is laid out in the table below. This expenditure is incurred to promote information around particular public awareness campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens. The projected social media spend for the Department in 2019 is still being...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (19 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department engages in advertising and public awareness campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens. Some examples of these campaigns have included the Online Passport Renewals Service, a “Citizens Dialogue on the Future of Europe” initiative, the UN Security Council Campaign, the “Getting Ireland Brexit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (19 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The General Affairs Council is not attended by members of the SNP or the Welsh Assembly, with the UK being represented by UK Government Ministers. As such, I have not spoken with either SNP or Welsh Assembly representatives at, or in relation to, these EU meetings. However, as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I continue to engage on a regular basis with the First Ministers of both...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Catalan Pro-Independence Prisoners (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The issues referred to by the Deputy are the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings in Spain. As such it would not be appropriate for me to make an intervention or statement on the matter. There are no plans for Irish officials to make such visits. I am kept informed of developments in Catalonia by our Embassy in Madrid on a regular basis.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 170 together. The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Maritime Jurisdiction (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: In international law the outer limits of a coastal state’s maritime zones - such as the 12 mile territorial sea, the 200 mile exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf - are measured from the baseline. The normal baseline is the low water mark along the coast. In 1958, however, following an earlier decision of the International Court of Justice, it was agreed at the UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department comprises two separate votes, Vote 28 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 International Co-operation. Vote 28 incorporates the majority of Ireland’s 83 diplomatic and consular Missions abroad while Vote 27 encompasses a small number of development-focused Missions, mostly in Africa. Total taxi hire costs for both Votes for 2018, including domestic and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am aware of this long-running Consular case. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy of Ireland in Turkey have been providing consular assistance to this citizen and his family since his arrest in 2017. At the latest hearing on 2 January the matter was adjourned and his bail was extended. I understand that the court in Turkey has made...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am aware of this case, which relates to a civil legal matter in another European country. Embassy officials have provided this citizen with details of local English-speaking lawyers who are best placed to advise on legal proceedings. My Department has replied directly to this citizen on several occasions, and to the representations made on her behalf.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department engages in advertising and public awareness campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens. Some examples of these campaigns have included the Online Passport Renewals Service, a “Citizens Dialogue on the Future of Europe” initiative, the “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” campaign and the Global...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has a dedicated Communications Unit that employs twenty one civil servants covering, inter alia, press relations, website and digital media and public outreach. The role of the Unit is to promote and facilitate external communication in support of Ireland's objectives internationally. This includes communicating to the public about the work underway by Government to prepare...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D., represented Ireland at the General Affairs Council on 11 December 2018 which prepared the draft Conclusions for the European Council meeting on 13-14 December. These welcomed progress made in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, including reform of EU Civilian CSDP, a longstanding ambition of Ireland. It...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The issue of fisheries, in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, was addressed by Member States during the GAC Article 50 meeting on 19 November 2018. Fisheries and fish products are not addressed in the Withdrawal Agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement sets the terms of the UK’s departure from the EU. However, arrangements on fisheries will be an important aspect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am familiar with the cases of the persons in question, and remain concerned both about the grounds for their detention and with regard to their treatment by the Bahraini authorities over the past number of years. Ireland attaches a high priority to safeguarding human rights defenders, and continually advocates for freedom for civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling...