Results 34,081-34,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 511 and 512 together. All passport applications are processed by the Passport Service in Ireland. The number of passports issued to applicants resident in Great Britain are provided below in two tables. The first table is paper based applications from 2015 to 2020. The second table is for the Passport Online Service from 2017-2020. The Passport Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 513 and 517 together. I strongly condemn the coup carried out by the Myanmar military, and the escalating and systematic use of force on peaceful protesters by the Myanmar military, resulting in the deaths and critical injury of peaceful protesters. I was deeply shocked and saddened by the abhorrent and indefensible killing of unarmed civilians, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused the processing of Foreign Births Registration (FBR) applications as 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. My Department operates a clear and transparent general policy of processing FBR applications in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515, 520, 523, 535 and 541 together. In line with Government guidance that at Level 5 of the National Framework on Living with COVID-19 only essential work should take place, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can advise the Deputy that my Department has been providing consular assistance to the mother of these three young citizens since first notified of the case in 2015. Through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin and our Embassy in Berne, which is accredited to Algeria, our consular officials have provided advice and support to the mother, as she seeks to arrange their return to Ireland. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to the 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: Departmental Legal Cases (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs operates in a number of locations in Ireland and approximately 90 locations worldwide and comprises of two Votes; Vote 27 International Cooperation and Vote 28 Foreign Affairs. The Department ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in procurement and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Thailand is an important partner in delivering Ireland's Asia Pacific Strategy. My Department is working to build long-term, strategic partnerships throughout the region, develop stronger two way economic partnerships and increase the visibility of Ireland. The strategy, published in January 2020, sets out in detail my Department's plans for strengthening our relations in Thailand and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Communications (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 22 March with Swedish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ann Linde and other EU colleagues. Our agenda included the Southern Neighbourhood, Turkey, and an exchange of views with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet. I remain in regular contact with Minister Linde and look forward to meeting her again soon.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The total number of Foreign Birth Registration applications submitted on behalf of minors that are waiting to be processed by the Passport Service is 7,176. A breakdown of this figure is set out in the table below. Applicant Details Numbers Grandparent born in Ireland 4980 Naturalised parent 634 Parent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department processes Foreign Births Registration (FBR) applications within the Passport Service in Ireland, rather than at individual Missions as was previous practice. The transfer of this work was completed in December 2020. There are currently 49 applications under process with addresses in Nigeria that have been submitted on behalf of minors. My Department operates a clear and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has a comprehensive plan in place to resume all services, in line with the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. When operations resume at Level 4, all applications received via Passport Online will be processed. The Passport Service is confident, taking into account measures to ensure a safe workplace, that any Passport Online backlog can be cleared in six to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Sanctions (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 to 529, inclusive, together. On 7 December 2020, the European Council adopted the new EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EUGHRSR), which allows the EU to target serious human rights violations and abuses by state and non-state actors worldwide. It enables the EU to stand up quickly and in a more tangible and direct way for human rights, one of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Garda Vetting (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department's Authentication and Apostille service has remained open throughout COVID-19 in order to process important documents. The office is currently experiencing a high level of demand, with turnaround times approximately 15 working days. In order to provide an update on the status of any application, and to expedite it if considered urgent, the office...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: My thoughts, and the thoughts of the Government, are with the family and friends of Noah Donohoe at this extremely distressing time, and as they contend with such a profound personal loss. The case of Noah’s death is a matter for the Police Service of Northern Ireland and an investigation is underway. I understand that a Coroner's investigation is also ongoing. As such, it would...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Sign Language (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs recognizes the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language in accordance with the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. The Department has provided and will continue to provide Irish Sign Language Interpreters to assist employees who are deaf when required. The Passport Service, as a public office, has a dedicated member...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Commencement of Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Specific provisions of Acts under my Department that have not yet been commenced include Sections 14(8) and 14(9) of the Passports Act 2008. These Sections of the Passports Act, if commenced, would provide that guardians’ consent to the issuing of a passport would be considered to be enduring for the child up to the age of 18. These provisions will be considered as part of the Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: In line with Government guidance that, at Level 5 of the National Framework on Living with COVID-19 only essential work should take place, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19. This essential service is available for those who are required to travel due to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: In line with Government guidance that at Level 5 of the National Framework on Living with COVID-19 only essential work should take place, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19. This essential service is available for those who are required to travel due to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (31 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 537 and 538 together. The former Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary General, Horst Köhler, stepped down in 2019 for health reasons and the role has been vacant since. Ireland believes appointing a new Personal Envoy will be essential to the efforts to re-engage both parties in UN-facilitated talks and to assist the conflict parties to achieve a just,...