Results 33,861-33,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Vaccination Programme (18 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The COVID-19 vaccine Allocation Strategy was developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and the Department of Health, endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), and approved by Government on 8 December 2020. It sets out a provisional list of groups for vaccination. The Defence Forces has established vaccine prioritisation which is in line with...

New Decade, New Approach Agreement: Statements (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: A little over a year ago, I stood together in the cold with the then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Julian Smith, and we announced we believed we had found the basis for an agreement on which all parties could come together and restore the Executive, the assembly and the North-South Ministerial Council. In an act of political courage and imagination, and in a spirit of compromise,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Offices (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is compliant with section 9 of the Maternity Protection (Amendment) Act 2004 which entitles breastfeeding mothers to take time off work each day in order to breastfeed. While this legislation does not oblige employers to provide facilities in the workplace to facilitate breastfeeding, comfort rooms are currently available in our buildings at Headquarters that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Immunity (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are currently 63 resident Diplomatic Missions in Ireland with approximately 1,250 diplomatic agents, including their spouses and families. The operation of these Missions is regulated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961 as transposed into Irish law by the Diplomatic and Immunities Act 1967. Privileges and immunities of accredited diplomatic agents in Ireland are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that our Embassies and Consulates overseas continue to provide consular assistance and consular services. This includes in-person appointments if required and where possible, taking account of local public health restrictions. Further resumption of in-person appointments will take place on a case-by-case basis, in line with the advice of public health authorities...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (24 Feb 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: Ministerial Advisers (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: In 2020, I appointed three Special Advisers as set out in the table below. My Office will follow up with the Deputy directly to provide him with their contact details. Name Title Mr Chris Donoghue Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs Ms Laura McGonigle Special Adviser to the Minister of Foreign Affairs ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The total number of permanent full-time equivalent staff in civil service grades in my Department as of 31 January 2021; the grades of these officers and the proportion of female and male staff in each grade is in tabular form below. My Department is committed to the principles of equality, impartiality and fairness, to valuing the contributions of all staff and to championing gender equality...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reviews (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The following table sets out twelve live studies, reviews, research which are currently being undertaken or are currently commissioned by my Department. Name of Report, Study, Review Expected date of completion Citizenship, Emigration and Voting Rights after Brexit. Q2 2021 (March) Research into the experiences of minority ethnic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: All Diplomatic Missions accredited to Ireland, including the US Embassy, were formally notified by my officials on 14 January 2021 that, effective from 16 January 2021, all passengers arriving into Ireland (except those arriving from Northern Ireland) would be required to have a negative/‘not detected’ result from a pre-departure COVID-19 PCR test carried out no more than 72...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Requests for diplomatic clearance for the landing of foreign military aircraft must be accompanied by certain information. Details of the location of the aircraft in the days prior to the proposed flight to Ireland are not requested. Health requirements relating to persons who have been in a category 2 State in the period of fourteen days prior to their arrival in Ireland are the same...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Vaccination Programme (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department is exploring options for Covid 19 vaccination of staff in Ireland’s diplomatic Missions abroad. The situation varies considerably from country to country. Every effort will be made to arrange vaccinations of Irish staff serving abroad through the national vaccination programme in the host country. Whilst some staff have received COVID19 vaccination in the country in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Immunity (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Between 1 January and 17 February 2021, diplomatic clearance has been provided for landings of forty four foreign military aircraft in Ireland.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Third Level Admissions (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 to 360, inclusive, together. Up until this year, Irish students benefited from a “free fee” policy for Scottish students and EU students from outside the UK when studying at Scottish higher education institutions, while students from England, Wales and Northern Ireland were charged fees. In the new legal context established by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The issue of Irish immigration to the US has been a high priority for successive Governments and continues to be one of my key priorities. Immigration issues have been raised on an ongoing basis in our engagement with US Administrations and political leaders. This will continue as we maintain close relations with Members of Congress and contacts from across the political spectrum, and as we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs writes to all Embassies accredited to Ireland to inform them of changes to public health requirements impacting on their work, including landings of foreign military aircraft. In addition, I and my officials have had extensive discussions with the US authorities, who are responsible for the majority of these landings. I and my officials have emphasised to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: In addition to the occurrence on 25 January 2021, which I outlined in my response to PQs 6423/21 and 6424/21, two other landings in respect of which breaches of public health guidelines have occurred have been brought to my attention by An Garda Síochána. The first was on 11 January, when 59 US military personnel alighted at Shannon airport. On that date Statutory Instrument...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The US authorities have recommitted to full compliance in respect of future landings. They have given assurances, orally and in writing, that they are coordinating across their system to ensure that they follow all health regulations and that an incident of this nature does not happen again.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: As I outlined in my response to PQs 6423/21 and 6424/21, any non-compliance with public health regulations is a serious matter. In my conversation with the Chargé d'Affaires of the US Embassy in Dublin on 4 February, I emphasised that all landings must fully abide by the conditions put in place by the Irish authorities, including public health conditions. The US authorities have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (24 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: In our extensive discussions with the US authorities on this subject, I and my officials have emphasised that crew and passengers of military flights are bound to observe public health regulations in exactly the same way as those on civilian flights. The US authorities have given me assurances that they understand this and are fully committed to compliance. The PCR checks applicable at...