Results 33,681-33,700 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The age limits for personnel wishing to enter the Defence Forces are as set out in Regulations made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended. The Defence Forces have a derogation on age grounds under the Employment Equality Acts. The military authorities have advised that the status of the application outlined in the details supplied to the question is that the applicant did not meet...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As you will have observed in my statement of 18 January, I join the EU, US, UK and others in condemning the detention of Alexei Navalny on his return to Moscow on 17 January and I call for his immediate release. Having survived an attempted poisoning on Russian soil, Mr Navalny chose to return home of his own free will. His detention, immediately upon arrival, raises serious questions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 379, 409, 412 and 414 together. The Passport Service has paused processing of routine applications while Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Passport Service staff have been temporarily reassigned to provide consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas. The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Controls (27 Jan 2021)

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 Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As you will have seen in my statement of 18 January, I join the EU, US, UK and others in condemning the detention of Alexei Navalny on his return to Moscow on 17 January and I call for his immediate release. Having survived an attempted poisoning on Russian soil, Mr Navalny chose to return home of his own free will. His detention, immediately upon arrival, raises serious questions around...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused processing of routine applications while Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Passport Service staff have been temporarily reassigned to provide consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas. The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency passport service for Irish citizens at home and abroad. The service is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Firstly I wish to repeat the apology of the Government and the State to the Irish mothers and their children who ended up in a mother and baby home or a county home. As the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes clearly states, "they should not have been there." Minister O'Gorman has publicly stated that all parties who were involved in the management or delivery of these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland provides funding to Pakistan for humanitarian and development assistance through multilateral and bilateral channels. This funding amounted to more than €3.4 million between 2015 and 2019. Meanwhile between 2009 and 2019, the EU provided over €565 million to Pakistan to support families affected by conflict, malnutrition and food insecurity. Ireland has consistently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Passports are internationally recognised travel documents that attest to the identity and nationality of the bearer. The Irish passport is a highly valued identity document and its integrity is paramount to the maintenance of the level of visa-free access that Irish citizens enjoy to 93 countries worldwide today. Any changes to the format of the Irish passport must be fully compliant with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused the processing of Foreign Births Registration applications as Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Normal service will resume once Level 3 restrictions are in place. Any developments in this regard will be notified on the Department’s website. The delivery of the FBR service has been delayed by up to eighteen...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

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 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 was issued more than 15...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service does not provide a reduced fee to any category of adult applicant for a passport, whether for the renewal of a passport or for a first time application. A reduced fee is applied on applications for passports for minors in recognition of the fact that a minor’s passport is valid for only five years. Most adult passports will be issued for a period of ten years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Strengthening bilateral relations with the US is a priority for Ireland as set out in our Programme for Government,as wellin our Strategy for the US and Canada 2019-2025. We continue to maintain close relations with Members of Congress and contacts from across the political spectrum, and will continue to seek opportunities to deepen and strengthen our bilateral relations with the new...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Local Authority Funding (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and administers a number of funding schemes under both votes. This includes, under Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs), funding for Diaspora projects, funding for certain projects under the communications budget and the Department’s Reconciliation Fund. Details of funding allocated to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: A passport is valid up until the expiry date stipulated on the passport. An applicant may choose to update their passport in advance of this expiry date for reasons such as changing their name through marriage. There is no requirement for a person to update their name on a passport to that of their spouse after marriage, it is a choice which the Passport Service accommodates. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The appointment of Ambassadors by the United States is solely a matter for the U.S. authorities. Pending the nomination of a new U.S. Ambassador to Ireland by President Biden and the subsequent confirmation of the appointment by the US Senate, we continue to engage closely with the U.S. Embassy in Dublin on the whole range of issues pertaining to the Ireland-US relationship. We have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government looks forward to working closely with President Biden and the new US Administration on our bilateral agenda, including in relation to Northern Ireland and the Good Friday Agreement. A longstanding commitment to peace on the island of Ireland continues to be felt strongly in the US. The Good Friday Agreement and the peace process in Northern Ireland are not simply an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Programmes (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The purpose of the EU Capacity Building Programme is to assist Irish civil society organisations, including NGOs, community groups, and local authorities, to better access European Union funds. This will be done by publicising EU funding opportunities through social media and website channels, and by providing a direct support service through targeted training and information events. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland assumed its seat on the UN Security Council on 1 January 2021. We are committed to actively supporting human rights across the full Council agenda, which includes some 20 thematic files and 30 country and regional file. Three core principles will frame our approach: building peace, strengthening conflict prevention and ensuring accountability. In our approach to ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Mission Network, Embassies and Consulates General, play an important role in advancing Ireland’s international trade as a key component of Team Ireland overseas. They provide support for Ireland’s State Agencies, including through supporting their strategic objectives and activities in overseas markets. The role of the Mission Network...