Results 36,061-36,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as of Monday, 15th November, the processing of Foreign Birth Registration resumed on a phased basis. My Department is fully committed to allocating additional resources over the coming weeks and months to assist with processing of the high volume of applications anticipated and the current level of applications on hand. There are currently 32,000 Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 26, 30, 39, 50, 67, 68 and 69 together. Passport Service operations were severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as were many Government Services. Notwithstanding that disruption and despite the fact that the processing of passports requires physical distance on site to deliver this service during Level 5 restrictions, the Passport Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 51 together. Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian crisis, driven by seven years of conflict, economic collapse and the breakdown of public institutions and services which has left over 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Ireland along with all EU member states fully supports the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: It has been the consistent position of the Government that the Stormont House Agreement provides a balanced and comprehensive framework to address to the legacy of the Troubles. It was agreed by both Governments and the political parties after intensive negotiations, and it should be fully implemented – for the families and victims who have waited for too long. The framework of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Every family bereaved in the conflict, including the family members of the victims of those shot dead in Springhill Westrock in Belfast on 9 July 1972, must have access to an effective investigation and to a process of justice regardless of the perpetrator. All victims’ families deserve support in securing all the information possible about what happened to their loved ones. Last...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is very concerned by recent reforms to Poland’s justice system. We have consistently underlined the importance of upholding core EU values including the rule of law. An independent judiciary that can exercise its function without interference is a core tenet of the rule of law. Ireland has expressed this position through active participation in the Article 7 hearings at the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has strongly condemned the coup carried out by the Myanmar military and violence against civilians. The coup is a reversal of the progress made towards democracy and rule of law in Myanmar that has taken years to establish, and does nothing to tackle the public health, security or economic issues faced by the people of Myanmar. I have made three statements and called upon the Myanmar...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The data requested by Deputy Carthy is outlined in tabular form below. The figures cover the number of passport applications received from May to October 2021 that are currently with the Passport Service. The table also sets out for comparative purposes the numbers of passports issued in the same months. Over half a million passports have been issued in 2021 to date. The Passport Service is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Afghanistan faces multiple human rights, security and economic situation challenges, and a worsening humanitarian crisis. The UN is playing a vital role in all these areas. The absence of many non-governmental organisations, civil society networks, and diplomatic missions from Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover of Kabul has made the role of the UN in monitoring developments inside...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Projects (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: A total of 107 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted in evacuating Afghanistan since the crisis broke in mid-August. There are 12 citizens and dependents currently seeking support in exiting Afghanistan. A small number of citizens wish to remain in the country. My Department, including through our Embassy in Abu Dhabi, continues to work with EU Member States and partners...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Common Travel Area (CTA) is made up of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Under the Common Travel Area arrangements Irish and British citizens can move, live, work and study freely within the Common Travel Area. Border controls at British entry points are a matter for the British authorities. The British government advises that Irish citizens do not need...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach, Minister Byrne and I have had no recent bilateral contacts with the Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Makei. It is important to engage at different levels to stop the weaponisation of migration, and Ireland’s engagement on this issue has been multilateral, through both the UN and EU. Through our membership of the UN Security Council, we co-sponsored a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly condemns the coup carried out by the Myanmar military and its attempts to 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. Ireland is actively engaging in our role as an elected member of the Security Council to call on all sides to refrain from violence, and to fully...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements and will continue to do so. Settlement expansion, demolitions and evictions threaten the viability of a two-state solution. Ireland has expressed serious concern in relation to the recent announcements by Israeli authorities of plans for the construction of more than 3,000 settlement units in the West Bank. On 28 October, Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Strategies (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I launched the “Global Ireland: A Strategy for the Nordic Region to 2025” in June 2021. This Strategy is a whole of Government approach to our engagement with the Nordic region, which encompasses Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Nordic region is one with which Ireland has long-standing ties and shares similar values in the areas of peace, security and in our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has condemned the unjust detention of political prisoners in Belarus. We are committed to keeping the situation in the country high on the international agenda. It is unacceptable that the current regime detains individuals without due cause or process. Freedom of expression is a core element of civil society space which is a leading foreign policy priority for Ireland. I know...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I have had extensive engagements with my European Union counterparts and with the relevant EU institutions regarding the situation of migrants at the Belarusian border over recent weeks. On Monday, myself and other EU Foreign Affairs Ministers agreed at the Foreign Affairs Council to broaden the listings criteria for a fifth package of sanctions. The EU will now be able to target...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government states that the Government will “Honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a Two-State solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”. As I have stated previously, in the absence of progress...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that we in Government engage regularly with the British Government, the NI Executive and other key stakeholders to discuss a wide range of issues relating to Northern Ireland, including security matters. In addition to these engagements, officials on the ground in Northern Ireland and in Dublin work with community leaders on issues such as community confidence in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory remains a matter of serious concern. The protection and promotion of human rights is an integral part of Ireland's foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. It is also an integral part of the EU’s external actions and...