Results 32,021-32,040 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions Participation (28 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen T.D., visited Bahrain on 21 November, leading a trade delegation. He was accompanied by an official from the Embassy of Ireland in Riyadh, which is accredited to Bahrain.   The Embassy of Ireland in Riyadh and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade worked with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (28 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department participated in the National Ploughing Championships in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 in order to increase public understanding of the public services provided by the Department and how the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Ireland’s diplomatic missions abroad engage with Ireland’s international partners and wider audiences to advance the interests of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69 and 72 together. The Government, as a matter of practice, does not comment on leaked documents. However, we remain deeply concerned over the credible reports of the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang region. We, along with our EU partners, take these reports very seriously and have raised our concerns at official and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We are committed to promoting freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as well as the rights of persons belonging to religious minorities. This commitment to promoting freedom of religion or belief is reaffirmed in the Global Island:...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (28 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The question of Ireland’s ratification of the Antarctic Treaty and related agreements comprising the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) has been examined in some detail by the Government and Offices concerned. Accession by Ireland to the ATS would require enactment of complex legislation and impose a substantial administrative burden on the Government Departments concerned for relatively...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (28 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide the precise reason for these requests. This is due to the requirement that suitable and specific measures are taken to safeguard the fundamental rights and freedoms of data subjects, my Department is not privy as to why the information is being sought by the public authority. These requests are normally made under Section 41 (b) Data Protection Act 2018. An...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (28 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Prior to the introduction of the Data Protection Act 2018, the Passport Service complied with the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018. Under the Data Protection Acts 1988 to 2018, the Passport Service shared data as requested by An Garda Síochána and other authorities under Section 8 of the Data Protection Act 1988 as amended by the Data Protection Act 2003.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (3 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 ("The 2008 Act"). The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. In order to meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (3 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government is aware of the recent reports in the media, but as a matter of practice, does not comment on leaked documents. However, our position on the situation in Xinjiang is clear, and we remain deeply concerned over the credible reports of the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang region. We, along with our EU partners, take these reports very seriously...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reports (3 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). The Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (3 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have given a high priority to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict over the last two years, and have worked consistently to maintain an international focus on the issue, and support for the two state solution. I regularly discuss this situation with my counterparts in the EU and the region, and I have remained engaged with the small group of participants who gathered in Dublin in February...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (3 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: Three items of legislation sponsored by my Department have been enacted since November 2013. These items are set out in the following table. Name of Act Year Enacted Diplomatic Relations (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2017 Protection of Cultural Property in the event of Armed Conflict (Hague Convention) Act 2017 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Colombian Peace Process (3 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: Worrying levels of violence and intimidation exist in Colombia, and in the wider Latin America region, against indigenous and other human rights defenders. I am aware of the recent events in Cauca Province to which the Deputy refers, which unfortunately act as a reminder of the challenges that Colombia is facing as it implements the peace agreement. Officials at my Department in Dublin and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Consultation Process (4 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with “Reaching Out - Guidelines on Consultation for Public Sector Bodies”, and its 2016 successor, “Consultation Principles and Guidance”, my Department aims to undertake consultation, where appropriate, with citizens in a meaningful and timely manner. The ultimate objective is to ensure better understanding and effective outcomes in relation to a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Process (4 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: There are currently no Government Bills awaiting Committee Stage from my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (4 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: In relation to photography costs for the period March 2011 to December 2017, I refer the Deputy to previous PQ replies No. 349 of 13 December 2016 and No. 108 of 13 February 2018. The cost of photography for 2018 and 2019 to date is listed in Table 1 below. In the time available, it has not proved possible to compile a breakdown of photography costs associated with events organized by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Data (4 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in tabular format below. Where freedom of information requests were fully refused, a broad range of exemptions, prescribed in the FOI Act 2014, were applied. The total number of requests refused includes cases where the records requested did not exist. In the interest of transparency and openness, all non-personal FOI requests are made...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (4 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 91 together. The continuing absence of the power-sharing Executive and Assembly in Northern Ireland and the North South Ministerial Council is of grave concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. I have engaged extensively with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland throughout the talks process, to encourage the parties...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (5 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: A case in a French court, challenging the implementation of EU rules on the labelling of foodstuffs originating from settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory, was referred to the Court of Justice of the European Union in June 2018. The West Bank, including East Jerusalem, as well as Gaza and the Golan Heights, are all territories which have been occupied by Israel since 1967....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government is aware of the recent reports in the media regarding the mass detention of Uighur and other ethic minorities in Xinjiang, but as a matter of practice, does not comment on leaked documents. Nevertheless, our position on the situation in Xinjiang is clear, and we remain deeply concerned over the credible reports of the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in the...