Results 34,681-34,700 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2021)

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: Trade Agreements (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department, including the Embassy of Ireland in Bogotá, closely monitors the human rights situation in Colombia and has been active, in co-ordination with our EU partners, in responding to human rights concerns that have arisen in the context of the ongoing national strike. It is our hope that progress can be made in the period ahead on negotiations on a national dialogue. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The EU Digital Covid Certificate is designed to facilitate the safe free movement of citizens within the EU during the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be valid in all EU Member States, including Ireland, and will be provided by the Member State within which the vaccination or Covid-19 test took place. Individual Member States will determine how the EU Digital Covid Certificate will be used as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Passport applications for children have specific witnessing requirements in respect of establishing the child applicant’s identity and establishing that consent for the issuance of a passport from all the child’s guardians has been granted. Applications are only valid for six months primarily due to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Regulations on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government has been clear in expressing its support for the EU Digital Covid Certificate which is expected to be implemented in Ireland from 19 July 2021 subject to the prevailing health conditions. The EU Digital Covid Certificate will provide a standardised recognition of the holder's status related to vaccination, recovery from Covid or test result. Each country participating in the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The human rights abuses and breaches of International Humanitarian Law committed by the Syrian regime are extremely well documented. Ireland has consistently called for full accountability for crimes committed, including through our statements on the UN Security Council, and statements at the UN Human Rights Council. The EU has also instituted a series of sanctions against the Syrian regime...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that there are no employees in my Department in receipt of a higher duty acting allowance for over two years. There are no bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Matters related to expert working groups on restarting travel formed by the US Administration are the responsibility of US authorities. However, ease of travel is vital to our economic relationships and for building connections across the Atlantic. We continue to engage with the US State Department, primarily via our Embassy in Washington D.C., on travel, and the associated restrictions,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “Covid-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Following the coercive forced landing of a Ryanair aircraft in Belarus and the subsequent arbitrary detention of Roman Protasevich and Sofia Sapega, the Taoiseach conveyed Ireland's view that a strong EU response was needed during the Special European Council meeting on 24 May. EU leaders agreed to a set of concrete measures in reaction to the flagrant disregard for international law shown by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that Fort Shannon is a property in my ownership as the Minister for Defence. There are no current plans for the use of this property from a Defence Forces point of view. While my Department has no active plans for its immediate disposal, it would be prepared to work with the relevant State bodies should there be interest in developing these lands.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible. This is primarily to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Advertising for recruitment campaigns is placed across all major social media platforms and radio stations as the most effective method of targeting potential recruits. The Defence Forces have recently conducted two large campaigns in this fashion along with a Naval Service Cadetship campaign in May. There are no national television advertising campaigns planned for 2021. Print...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by the military authorities that it was not possible to collate the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the figures to the Deputy when I am in a position to reply.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The main day-to-day role of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. The Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the shoreline to the outer limits of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government has fully acknowledged the recruitment and retention issues which have impacted operational capacity of the Defence Forces over recent years. In response, a range of actions have been progressed to address these issues. The report of the Public Service Pay Commission (PSPC) on retention and recruitment in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) contained a wide range of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cross-Border Co-operation (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The PDFORRA Medical Assistance Scheme (PMAS) is provided by PDFORRA to its members and does not involve my Department. It should be noted that a comprehensive range of primary and secondary medical care is provided, at no charge, to all members of the Permanent Defence Forces. In addition, the Programme for Government 2020 includes a commitment to "ensure that all enlisted members of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Expenditure incurred by my Department on ministerial and civil service travel and subsistence in 2020 was €374,602.55, and to 9 June 2021 was €83,592.96.