Results 30,661-30,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Expenditure (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June 2017, I have overseen and co-ordinated a sustained intensification of Brexit preparedness. As part of these efforts, the Government has organised “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” public information events around Ireland to inform and advise about Brexit preparedness and the range of support measures and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together. In response to the decision of the United States Government on 18 March to recognise the Golan heights as sovereign Israeli territory, I made the following public statement on the same day: “Ireland regards the Golan Heights as Syrian territory under Israeli occupation. The Government has no plans to alter that position. Annexation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Embassy and Consulate network around the world continues to be important to Ireland’s economic development.  The total network, of currently some 79 Embassies and Consulates and 7 Multilateral Missions, promotes Ireland’s political, economic and cultural interests and values, provides services to our citizens,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Reconciliation Fund has been in operation since 1982 and awards grants to organisations working to build better relations within and between traditions in Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. The annual budget for the Fund was €2.7 million in 2018. In May 2018, on the 20th Anniversary of the referendums on the Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department currently has passport processing facilities in Dublin, Ballbriggan and Cork.  The Department operates two public offices in Dublin and in Cork.  Work is ongoing with the Office of Public Works to expand the existing facility in Balbriggan, in addition to improvements to the office accommodation in Cork. The Department is currently working with the Office of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The staffing levels of many units in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its missions overseas have been augmented in response to Brexit.  My Department has strengthened the capacity of the Passport Service by recruiting over 80 permanent staff to respond to the general increase in passport applications.  Those staff are located in the Passport Service offices in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Registration of Births (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process. The establishment of the new Foreign Births Registration team at the beginning of this year has introduced a short delay in the processing of applications. Due to the complex nature of Foreign Births Registration, it takes on average between 6 to 12 months to process an application. With regard to the specific...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Government Information Service (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 106 together. The coordination of Government of Ireland-related social media and web content is led by the Merrionstreet team in Government Information Service (GIS) at the Department of An Taoiseach.  I confirm that my own Department works closely with all relevant Departments in relation to communications on policy and/or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not procured the services of any consultancy agencies, media or otherwise, to assist with formulating or contributing to policy messaging. Where a need arises to inform or update citizens about significant matters of policy or public services, required messaging is developed by the relevant lead Division and with support from the Policy and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Language (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently implementing its second Irish Language Scheme (2016-2019) as submitted to the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in early 2016. I am pleased to confirm that so far we have met all the targets set out under the Scheme and that it will be reviewed later this year with a view to drawing up a third Irish Language Scheme. The current Scheme aims to ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has made direct contact with the individual concerned to provide information on how to appeal this fine should she choose to do so.  Our Embassy in Berlin has also been made aware of the case and can provide advice and assistance as required. Should she wish to pursue this matter through the German courts, a list of English speaking German...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Government Information Service (3 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I confirm that my Department had no role or involvement in providing instructions, advice or funding towards the video to which the Deputy refers.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am still not quite sure whether the Deputy welcomes the new approach to orthodontic care.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is certainly a hugely positive new policy, with eight new packages of care for children up to the age of 16, and an attempt by the Government to be proactive. For what it is worth, there was extensive consultation before the new approach was launched. On the second issue raised by the Deputy, in 2015, the HSE received a review report it had commissioned following receipt of a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is important to remember that these files go back to the period from 1999 to 2002 so they relate to quite a long time ago and there are many patients are involved - 7,500. My understanding is that this audit is likely to be completed in the next couple of weeks. That is the indication I have from the Minister.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not have a direct answer to that question but I presume the patients will not be contacted until the audit has been confirmed and we understand what we are dealing with and they can be informed properly. I can confirm the position for the Deputy later. The priority is to finalise the audit to understand the number of patients involved and the detail of each of those patients so that we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will deal with the specific issues relating to Limerick in a minute, but it is important to give a broader picture nationally of what is happening with regard to trolley figures. The trolley numbers for the first quarter of this year are the best for five years, so it is important we deal with the numbers and the facts. I know there are some hospitals under severe pressure and staff under...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government is addressing this but it is taking time. Let us look at Cork University Hospital. This morning, according to the HSE count, the number of patients waiting on trolleys in Cork was 25, down 31 from yesterday and 55 from Tuesday morning.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The hospital has got on top of what was an unacceptable situation at the start of the week. Let us look at what the Government is doing in the medium term in order to increase capacity. What is required is a combination of increased capacity and improved efficiency and management systems. Increased capacity is a priority for the Government, as we have stated. An additional 241 beds were...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----to which I referred earlier involves upgrading of the Limerick facilities in order that we will have more efficiency in the not-too-distant future, when we get through the pressures we face today.