Results 31,141-31,160 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Properties (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not purchase or lease any land in Ireland. Any properties or land occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the State are leased and discharged by the Office of Public Works. My Department manages property outside of the State. These properties are Embassies, Consulates-General and official accommodation which provide a platform to promote...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Properties (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not purchase or lease any buildings in Ireland. Any properties or land occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the State are leased and discharged by the Office of Public Works. My Department manages property outside of the State. These properties are Embassies, Consulates-General and official accommodation which provide a platform to promote...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Rockall Island Ownership (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The exclusive economic zone, or EEZ, is the body of water that stretches from 12 nautical miles offshore out to a distance of 200 miles. The seabed beneath the EEZ is the continental shelf. Largely due to efforts made by Ireland throughout the 1970s, international law is now clear that uninhabitable rocks such as Rockall have no entitlement to a continental shelf or an EEZ and so...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The 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 requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement. Entitlement to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Staff (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Missions overseas are active in our response to Brexit, and staffing levels have been augmented in response. As Brexit looms closer, 'Global Ireland 2025' will support efforts to grow and diversify export markets, inward investment and tourism. It will ensure that Ireland is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Extensive Brexit preparedness and contingency planning has been undertaken across Government. In particular, since December 2018, planning for a no deal Brexit has been prioritised. Addressing the challenges of a no deal Brexit would require responses at an EU level, by Government, and by businesses and affected sectors. Throughout the Brexit process, Ireland and the EU have been at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: At the informal summit in Sibiu, Heads of State and Government discussed priorities for the next five years, with a view to adopting a new Strategic Agenda at the European Council on 20-21 June to guide the work of the Institutions. In late 2017 the Minister of State for European Affairs and I joined the Taoiseach in launching a citizens' dialogue on the future of Europe. There was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Embassies and Consulates play a central role in advancing Ireland’s international trade as part of Team Ireland overseas. Embassies and Consulates around the world provide vital support for Ireland’s state enterprise agencies, including by supporting their strategic objectives and activities in overseas markets. The role of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Western Balkans Issues (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is a strong supporter of the enlargement of the European Union and the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans. Based on our own experience of EU membership, we believe it to be a transformative driver for stability, peace, and prosperity. The European Commission published its Annual Enlargement Package on 29 May, which included progress reports on the six Western Balkans...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (18 Jun 2019)

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. Renewal applications received through the Online Passport Renewal Service are being processed within the target turnaround time of ten working days plus postage time. A large proportion of applications submitted through this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Protected Disclosures Data (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Protected Disclosures Act was introduced in 2014. The making of a Protected Disclosure refers to a situation where a worker discloses information in relation to wrongdoing. This is sometimes referred to as 'whistleblowing'. No protected disclosures were received by my Department from 2014 to date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: In recent weeks, demonstrations have been taking place in Hong Kong to protest against plans to amend local legislation to allow for extradition to the Chinese Mainland, Macau and Taiwan. On 15 June, the Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam announced the indefinite suspension of the Extradition Bill. While the demonstrations have continued following that announcement, they have been largely...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and its partners in the EU are closely monitoring developments in the Republic of Moldova. I issued a statement on 11 June to express Ireland’s support for efforts to resolve the constitutional crisis by peaceful means and to call for calm and restraint. I take note of the decisions taken by the democratically elected Parliament of Moldova, and welcome the formation of a new...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (19 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: In March 2016, the UN Human Rights Council adopted Resolution 31/36, calling upon the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to produce a database of all business enterprises involved in activities relating to Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian Territory. The EU and its Member States, including Ireland, are wholly opposed to Israeli settlements in Palestine, which are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this issue. I am aware of reports about a number of violent and public order incidents that have occurred in Longford recently. I am not in a position to discuss specific details about Garda operations in the area but I can assure the House that gardaí will not permit a small number of individuals - in this case families who are feuding - to put...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Calleary has accused the Government of many things but I do not believe it is credible to accuse the Government of not being open to new thinking, better policing and new ways of doing things from a policing perspective. There is a constant programme of reform, reassessment and independent assessment of policing in Ireland - for obvious reasons - over the last years. This continues....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I appreciate the spirit in which he has raised it, which represents an effort to get us to respond collectively. Government and Opposition have done really good work collectively on some big issues, climate action, housing and other social changes that I am glad to say this country has managed to deliver in recent years. This is another one but...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not want to speak directly for the Minister. He is interested in results and in getting the right Bill enacted as soon as possible. He is not interested in trying to get something done quickly only to find out a few months later that we have missed something. I will certainly ask the Minister to meet Deputy Ó Laoghaire, who is interested in this area and has done a lot of work on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy raised a broad range of issues. Regardless of whether it is the centenary of the First Dáil, we should be looking after our children. The requirement to do that is a big priority in the Constitution. If a country cannot look after its most vulnerable and its children, it has to ask itself some straight questions. We have areas where we have made huge progress. Even during...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: These are important areas and the Government is committed to all of them. Nutrition and a hot meal every day is the first matter. On access to healthcare, we know there are some challenges but we are investing heavily in overcoming those obstacles. Huge progress continues to be made in education and the arts. On the difficult issue of housing, we had a five-year housing plan, which was...