Results 35,861-35,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 358 to 361, inclusive, 364 to 366, inclusive, 368, 371 and 372 together. The Emergency Passport service remains available in cases of medical emergency or death of a family member abroad. Proof of emergency is required to avail of this service. Passport Service officers working on the emergency service are not qualified to assess the mental health of an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The data on monthly staffing levels in the Passport Service from January 2020 to November 2021 requested by Deputy Collins is outlined below in tabular form. This data covers staffing levels over the entire period of the COVID-19 Pandemic to date. Passport Service staff have been fully paid throughout this period. During this period, many Passport Service officers were redeployed to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Nov 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 Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's parent as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application. The Passport Service is currently experiencing a high demand for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The functions, privileges and immunities of Honorary Consuls are set out in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963. The legal status of Honorary Consuls in Ireland is based on the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act, 1967 which gives effect in Irish Law to the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. A full list of honorary consular representatives in Ireland is available on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I made a statement on 27 October expressing my concern at these designations. We were not informed in advance of these designations, and have not received detailed substantive evidence. Our partners in the EU are also aware of this matter, and have been in touch with Israeli authorities to seek further clarification. I raised this matter directly in my meetings in Israel during my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 376 and 385 together. My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. People may apply for Irish citizenship through Foreign Birth Registration if one of their grandparents was born in Ireland or if one of their parents was an Irish citizen at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly condemns the coup carried out by the Myanmar military and its attempts to consolidate or legitimise the military regime. The coup is a reversal of the progress made towards democracy and rule of law in Myanmar that has taken years to establish. We are gravely concerned by the violence and displacement in the country and the humanitarian and human rights situation. Ireland is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service issued a Passport Book to the applicant on 3 November and a Passport Card on 4 November. The process applied to the application in question has been reviewed and while this was a complex application a delay was incurred in verifying the submitted documents and in checking the applicant’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Haulage Industry (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 389 together. I understand that discussions are continuing between the UK, France and the European Commission on the question of the implementation of the terms of the EU-UK trade and cooperation agreement (TCA) on the licensing of vessels fishing in traditional waters in the UK. It is vital that all provisions of the Trade and Cooperation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: 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 necessarily rigorous processing that applies to citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together. The table below provides a breakdown, by Branch, of the whole time equivalent strength of the Permanent Defence Force, as at 30th September 2021, which is the latest date for which such data is available, along with those of the agreed establishment. Branch Establishment Strength Army ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that, on the 3rd November 2021, the current strength of the Air Corps stood at 748 wholetime equivalent personnel, while the establishment strength is 886. The table below shows the requested breakdown of personnel, on the same date: Personnel Stream Strength Qualified pilots 89 Cadets currently...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (9 Nov 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 primary day-to-day tasking 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 394 and 395 together. As at 30th September 2021, there were 565 Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel serving overseas, of which 19 were female. On the same date, there were 8,504 wholetime equivalent personnel in the PDF of which 605 were female. The requested breakdown of this strength, by rank, is as follows: OFFICER LT GEN ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The following table details the number of women members of the Permanent Defence Force who have left, by month, to the end of September 2021: Month Jan Feb March April May June July Aug Sept Total No. of Discharges 3 2 2 3 6 4 6 2 5...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Nov 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's parent and the requested documents have been dispatched.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (10 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: 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 necessarily rigorous processing that applies to citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (10 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department engages in advertising and public awareness campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens. Some examples of these campaigns have included the Online Passport Renewals Service, the “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” campaign, public information on travel restrictions due to COVID-19, and the Global Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I undertook a working visit to Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) and Jordan from 1-5 November 2021. This was my fifth visit to Israel and the oPt as Foreign Minister and my first visit during Ireland’s tenure on the UN Security Council. I had useful exchanges on situations of concern to Israel, Palestine and Jordan in the wider Middle East region, including in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (10 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125 to 128, inclusive, together. As the Taoiseach stated in the Dáil last week, any decision from the British government to trigger Article 16 would be irresponsible, unwise, and reckless. The European Commission has listened to the concerns of citizens and business in Northern Ireland about the Protocol and produced a comprehensive set of proposals to...