Results 33,101-33,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Capital Expenditure Programme (3 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The table below outlines the Defence Capital Expenditure Projects in excess of €20 million that have been completed since 1 January 2016. Name of Project Commenced Completed Actual Cost (VAT incl.) Naval Service Vessel Replacement Programme & Armament Project 2010 2019 €288 million ...

Written Answers — Department of Housing, Planning, and Local Government: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is implementing the new EU ‘traffic lights’ approach to travel to countries in the EU / EEA and the UK. Our current advice for travellers to these countries is to ‘exercise a high degree of caution’. Anyone considering travel to Great Britain should also check the latest information from the local authorities there regarding requirements for international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. The EU is firmly opposed to refoulement. All EU Member States are parties to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol, which sets out the core principle of non-refoulement. In addition, the principle of non-refoulement is enshrined in EU law, under the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights. As such, all EU countries are bound...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of this dispute between seventeen Irish teachers and the privately-owned and operated International School of the Martyrs (ISM) in Tripoli, which I know is of great concern to the individuals involved and their families. Officials in my Department have engaged with officials in the Department of Education on this issue. From the perspective of the Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: In response to the move to Level 5 on the National Framework for living with COVID-19, the Passport Service is operating an essential, emergency service at this time. This has allowed us to make our staff available for temporary reassignment to critical areas including contact tracing for the HSE and to the Department Social Protection. The Passport Service continues to process passports...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Correspondence (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: In response to the move to Level 5 on the Government's National Framework for living with COVID-19, the Passport Service is operating an essential, emergency service at this time. Applicants can apply using Passport Online and processing will resume at Level 4. In cases where an applicant's most recent passport has expired by more than five years, i.e. their last passport application was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and a return to the negotiating table, and we welcome and support the statements of the European Council and the OSCE Minsk Co-Chairs calling for this. This issue was discussed at the European Council of 1 October, where the Taoiseach along with other EU leaders called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and urged parties to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Implementation Bodies (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The concept of an independent consultative forum was first established under Strand 2 of the Good Friday Agreement. Under the St Andrews Agreement, support by the Northern Ireland Executive for “the establishment of an independent North/South consultative forum appointed by the two Administrations and representative of civil society” was confirmed. At its June 2002 Plenary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries met the necessary conditions for membership. In March 2020, Member States agreed an enhanced accession methodology, which seeks to make the accession process more credible and dynamic, by clustering together negotiating Chapters and phasing in participation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is aware of this case concerning the arrest of a human rights defender in India who is currently detained in India under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The promotion of human rights, including the protection of human rights defenders, is a priority of Ireland’s foreign policy. Our Embassy in New Delhi has been engaged on the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: Future relationship talks between the EU and the UK, have been ongoing in Brussels and London to try to close the gaps between the two sides, including on the key outstanding issues of the level playing field, governance and on fisheries. Regardless of the outcome of the talks, the full, effective and timely implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol, remains vital....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: European Health Insurance Card (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for giving me the opportunity to put the commitment on the record here. At this stage, we are 50 something days away from the end of the transition period so things need to start coming together in many areas, not just this area. There is an awful lot of work going on in regard to that so I will just outline how it will work. As Senator Ó Donnghaile...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: European Health Insurance Card (5 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: We are putting in place a contingency plan in case the UK does not agree a resolution to this issue in a future relationship agreement with the EU. The hope and expectation is that we will be able to get a future relationship agreement that will involve the British Government signing off and agreeing on its citizens being able to access the equivalent of an EHIC-type scheme providing for...

Confidence in Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Motion (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I want to take this opportunity to speak to express confidence in the Tánaiste. Leo Varadkar has been a colleague of mine for many years and he is a person I have grown to know well and trust. We are here today because of a Sinn Féin attempt to continue to sow division within Government and capitalise on a mistake made by the Tánaiste. As became clear last week, Leo's...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: It has consistently been the position of the Government that only through a collective approach can we hope to deal fairly and comprehensively with the legacy of the Troubles, in a way that responds to the needs of victims and survivors, and society as a whole. The Stormont House Agreement framework is the way forward on these issues. Agreement was reached by both Governments and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to the full implementation of the Stormont House Agreement, which was collectively agreed by the two Governments and the political parties in Northern Ireland after extensive talks. The framework of the Stormont House Agreement provided for a set of institutions to deal comprehensively and fairly with the legacy of the Troubles, and this framework included an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”), which provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices which are applied by the Passport Service in the issue of passports. Section 9 of the Act makes provision for the Minister to issue passports for different periods, for different categories of applicants and for the issue...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department follows developments in Spain closely and I am aware of the United Nations Working Group to which the question refers. As I have previously stated, the constitutional and political arrangements in Spain are matters to be determined by their own citizens, through their own democratic processes and institutions, in keeping with the rule of law. We respect the constitutional and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the development raised by the Deputy and I commented on the matter in a statement on 16 October 2020. I include the statement below for reference: “I condemn the latest announcement of significant further settlement expansion of close to 5000 new housing units in the West Bank and in and around Jerusalem. The construction of settlements in the Har Homa and Givat Hamatos...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Nov 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused processing of routine applications as Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. The Passport Service continues to provide an essential, emergency passport service at this time for Irish citizens at home and abroad. A same day emergency service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious...