Results 35,481-35,500 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: If I could finish the point because I had a lot of questions and I am entitled to answer them, surely.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: You cannot give me two minutes to answer a dozen Members.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I will try to come back with replies to the individual questions Members have.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: That is not what I said.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Nobody is begging for anything. This is the provision of an essential service through a pandemic. I will be clear to Deputies. It is not about not being able to access extra office space. The way in which the Passport Office is set up is that it is a secure space to protect the integrity of the passport system. There was plenty of office space that we could take but you cannot simply...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Aindrias Moynihan is correct. The time it takes to get to the starting line for the issuing of a passport is the big issue.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: When there are-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: All right. When there is paperwork involved, there are complications in the middle of a pandemic. That has been the issue.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: From passports in Mayo to Nicaragua, but I am happy to take that question. I am deeply concerned by the deteriorating democratic and human rights situation in Nicaragua, in particular, the ongoing repression of opposition politicians, members of the media, human rights defenders and civil society representatives. I am also very concerned by the arrest and detention earlier this year of a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The EU is using its relatively new human rights laws to introduce targeted sanctions formally against individuals it believes are responsible for undermining democracy or compromising human rights in the context of international human rights law. The EU has already acted on that. It will remain under consideration as to whether we will extend those targeted sanctions to more individuals....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: This is something that the EU has been following and continues to follow. It is not something that has got much media coverage in Ireland. Unfortunately, it is a part of the world that does not get the spotlight often enough. However, the EU will closely monitor how these elections are run and maintain a focus on its restrictive measures or targeted sanctions to try to be as persuasive as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I know that people are frustrated because, in the absence of international travel for nearly 18 months, many are now checking and realising that their passports are out of date, but they want to plan their holidays. We understand what is contributing to the dramatic increase in demand, which will continue right the way through next year. We are taking on more people, but access to more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: An awful lot of people were accommodated at the last minute as well. I know, because we have been working night and day trying to deal with emergency passports for people throughout the summer. For some of the summer months, we issued up to 100,000 passports per month. The people who do not get resolved through the system go to Deputies' offices and, therefore, many Deputies hear about...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: For the people who have them in on time, we need to have a system that delivers on time and is predictable, and that people can track. We are working on the delivery of that system.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Defence Forces are currently excluded from the provisions of the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997 which transposed the EU working time directive into Irish law. The Government is committed to amending this Act and to bringing the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána within the scope of its provisions, where appropriate. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: As I have already indicated, significant work has been undertaken to examine the nature of the duties of the Defence Forces and how provisions of the working time directive can be applied to its members. This review determined that a high percentage of activities are already compliant with the directive. It is important to recognise that. On foot of engagement with the representative...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is a safety issue and a workplace relations issue. That is why we will be implementing the working time directive. We will provide in Irish law that the exclusion from the legislation of the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána is addressed. We are committed to doing that. I am happy to speak to RACO and-or PDFORRA in regard to that issue. I am meeting them in a few weeks...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. To this end, it is vital that the age and health profile of personnel be such to ensure operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way. For this reason, compulsory retirement ages for ranks in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I will give the Deputy the information I have, according to my notes on the actual numbers. I have heard the figure of 700 as well but I am advised by military management that as of 1 May 2021 the number of personnel enlisted post 1994, in terms of privates and corporals, in receipt of tech pay group 2 or less and who will have served 21 years or more by the end of 2022 is 195. There may be...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Defence Forces (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: That is the intention. I have spoken to some of the serving personnel in this category and have asked them to be honest with me about their concerns. I have told them I will do everything I can to provide as much certainty for them as early as I can. I have effectively set myself the date for doing this as the end of the year. We will do it earlier if we can, as I said in the Seanad. If...