Results 35,781-35,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490, 492, 498, 510 and 513 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has already issued passports to the applicants. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 491, 496, 497, 507, 518 and 519 together. My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.  Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 493 and 494 together. With regard to the specific Passport Express applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has attempted to make contact with the applicants to provide an update on the status of the passport applications.  The current turnaround time for processing Passport Express applications which have been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 517 together. My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended.  Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Engagements (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: Prime Minister Kishida was designated by the Diet in Japan on 4 October. The House of Representatives was dissolved on 14 October, and a general election is scheduled to take place on 31 October.I have not as yet had any direct engagement with the Prime Minister in his new role. However, I recall that Prime Minister Kishida visited Ireland in 2017, in his capacity as Minister for Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 501, 505, 506, 511, 512, 516 and 524 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Engagements (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department maintains regular contact with all Heads of Mission serving at our Embassies and offices overseas. This includes Ireland's Embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The Ambassador provides regular updates to the Department on key political, economic and consular issues relating to our engagement with Malaysia and the Asia Pacific region more generally.  I would encourage the Deputy to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, an official from the Passport Service has written to the applicant's parents.  This official is available to respond to any queries the parents may have in this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has repeatedly condemned the coup carried out by the Myanmar military and the attempts by the military to consolidate or legitimise its regime. We continue to call for a cessation of violence, the immediate and unconditional release of all those detained, including the President and State Counsellor, and the restoration of legitimate, civilian government. Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department fully recognises that Passport Express, and Northern Ireland Passport Express, continue to be a vitally important channel for applicants who do not wish to use the online system or who have limited digital skills. The current turnaround times for Passport Online is 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals and 40 working days for First...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Offices (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: Global Ireland 2018-2025 is the Government’s strategy to double Ireland’s global footprint and influence. In delivering those goals, my Department has so far increased Ireland’s footprint internationally by opening thirteen new diplomatic missions in the following locations: Wellington, Bogotá, Amman, Monrovia, Santiago de Chile, Kiev, Rabat, Cardiff, Frankfurt, Los...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Offices (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: The twelve office premises in the State that are occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs are provided by the Office of Public Works, which is responsible for payment of rent in relevant cases.  The Department also occupies 12 State-owned and 83 rented diplomatic and consular office premises overseas and in Northern Ireland.  All of the Department's office premises are occupied...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, once all applications are fully complete, the Passport Service will endeavour to assist the applicants and their families. 

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities advise that, as of 4th October 2021 there were 135 qualified aircraft maintenance technicians and 34 qualified avionics technicians currently serving in the Air Corps. In addition, there are 69 apprentices, 25 of whom are undergoing basic military training along with 3 Direct Entry Aircraft Technicians.  The remaining 44 apprentices are undergoing their...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (19 Oct 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 and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles 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 in the context of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: Civilian employees are employed by the Department of Defence to support the operational capabilities of the Defence Forces. My Department recently undertook an open competition in July 2021 to recruit twelve electricians across eleven different locations. A previous recruitment campaign to recruit carpenters & plumbers took place in 2019. The recruitment of civilian...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence is clear that there is a continued requirement to retain and develop the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and confirms that its primary role is to augment the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in crisis situations. The White Paper acknowledges that there may be professional skills that on occasion may not be readily available in the PDF and outlines an intention to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 530 together. The Air Corps provides a broad range of services in accordance with its primary defence and security role. It also undertakes a diverse range of non-security-related tasks including the provision of air ambulance services to the Health Service Executive (HSE). As recently outlined to the Deputy, the 2015 Government Decision, which...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: A review of contracts of service of personnel who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force after 1 January 1994 has been conducted by civil and military staff and a draft report has been prepared outlining various options and a number of recommendations. These recommendations require Department of Public Expenditure and Reform consideration from a costs and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Oct 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that my Department has received a request for the use of this building and that my officials have sought additional information from the applicant in order to allow for the appropriate consent to be granted.