Results 35,421-35,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245, 247 and 248 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant. The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service cannot process an application until the required supporting documents have been received. The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online and 8 weeks for Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I remain gravely concerned by the ongoing human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and particularly the impact on children and their education. Ireland has repeatedly emphasised that the rights of children to protection, safety, and well-being must be upheld at all times. I fully endorse the statement of 9 September 2021 by European Commissioner for Crisis Management,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: There is considerable evidence, including in the most recent report of the United Nation’s Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, that tens of thousands of people in Syria have been subject to arbitrary detention or forcible disappearance by government forces in Syria. Ireland and the EU have repeatedly condemned violations of international human rights law and...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Cathaoirleach. Before I address the legislation before us this evening, perhaps the House will allow me to say that I met with some very brave women today. I had the privilege of meeting the group that is now referred to as the "Women of Honour" and also a group of serving women of various ranks from the Army, the Air Corps and the Naval Service. The accounts of the experiences...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: We have had battle groups for years.

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank Senators for their contributions. To respond to the issues they raised, which have come to light because of public comments made by the group now called "Women of Honour" and which have been reinforced by conversations my Department and I had with serving personnel, I wish to reinforce to the House how determined I am to address this issue. I say to anyone who suffered during his or...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I take the point Senator Craughwell made and am not casting aspersions on that. I am just giving the reasoning for why we are so clear on that. Some Members have raised individual barracks and so on, such as Custume Barracks in Athlone. It is a fantastic facility and I can promise we will continue investing there. It is a very strategic part of our Defence Forces infrastructure, as...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am just dealing with the general point. When we sent ships to the Mediterranean Sea, I was the Minister who made that decision. Some people did not agree with that at the time but it turned out to be an extremely valuable mission for the Defence Forces, particularly the Naval Service, and also for some 18,000 people who were taken from the sea by our personnel. That was, in the first...

Seanad: Defence (Amendment) Bill 2020: Second Stage (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: One of the reasons for this Bill is that we have asked the Commission on the Defence Forces to do quite a lot of work on the future role of the Reserve Defence Force and the capacity issues relating to it. I wanted this legislation done by the time the commission makes its recommendations. The last thing I want is for the commission to make a recommendation for new roles for the Reserve and...

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am sharing time with the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy. It is several weeks now since the Taliban captured Kabul and the attention of the world was drawn to Afghanistan. Although the gaze of the media has shifted somewhat since the middle of August when we were all shocked by the scenes of panic and chaos at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, there is no doubt that the...

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: That is not the reason.

Afghanistan Crisis: Statements (29 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputies for contributing to the debate. It has been quite an extensive debate over three hours or so and has been very useful. I will try to respond to the questions and comments. Some of the questions apply to programmes that will be outlined and administered by other Ministers, but I will try to respond to the thrust of the questions. Perhaps I will break my response up...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 403, 405, 406, 410, 412, 415 and 422 to , inclusive,424 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant. The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific passport application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has tried to make contact with the applicant to provide an update on the status of the passport application. The Passport Service currently has a turnaround time of 8 weeks for Passport Express applications which have been completed correctly and we are currently within this turnaround...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department did not run a training programme or course and therefore a procurement process was not required. Participation in this programme was requested by a member of staff, in line with their learning and development needs. A business case for the request, setting out the benefits of participation in this course, was submitted and approved. As the total cost of participation was under...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Equality Issues (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland delivered a national statement on the 22nd September 2021 at the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Our participation in the event was an expression of our unequivocal condemnation of racism in all its forms. It also provided the opportunity to categorically...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant. The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online and 8 weeks for Passport Express...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The application to which the Deputy refers was received on 11 January 2021, and is currently waiting to be processed. All documentation submitted is being stored in a secure environment. My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (“the 1956 Act”), as amended. We take our legal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The number of passport applications received by the passport office on a monthly basis from January 2020 to August 2021, is set out in tabular form below. 2020 Applications from Overseas Mission Online Applications Paper Applications Total Monthly Applications January 5,229 59,486 25,433 90,148 ...