Results 36,661-36,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: Under the Defence Forces occupational pension scheme applicable to Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Privates enlisting in the Defence Forces before April 2004, 21 years is the minimum service required for an immediate retirement pension and gratuity, regardless of age. Under this ‘fast accrual’ pension scheme, maximum retirement benefits accrue after 31 years and the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As I said in the Seanad last night, the Irish Government's position on this is very clear. The British Government has signed an international agreement, which includes the protocol on Northern Ireland, as part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement. That is now international law and the British Government has an obligation to act in a way that is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am very anxious to get this work out into the public so I hope we can have a very comprehensive debate on the back of more than 12 months of work from a commission on the future of the Defence Forces that has an extraordinary amount of experience and knowledge to contribute to the debate. I hope to be in a position to publish the report and recommendations on the Commission on the Defence...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this matter. I am mindful of the significant media attention this matter has attracted over the past week and the impact such coverage has had on the personnel and their families who serve in Cathal Brugha Barracks. In that context, I want to make it very clear that no decision has been taken by the Government on the relocation of Defence Forces...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Defence Forces (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: Regarding comments about the Minister, Deputy Ryan, I do not believe this was disingenuous. I believe that when he made the statement on social media, it was on the basis of a case he has been making for many years, namely, that this is a very strategic site that could be used for housing. I do not believe anything was meant by that. He also recognised the Defence Forces need to be...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputies for raising this important issue which offers the opportunity to discuss important developments in Northern Ireland. The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is an integral part of an international agreement, the EU-UK withdrawal agreement, which was negotiated, agreed and ratified by the British Government and the EU. The protocol was jointly designed by the UK...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Northern Ireland (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: The message I have from the British Government today is that it is taking legal advice about the options available. I understand that the senior officials who are maintaining checks at ports in Northern Ireland today are also getting legal advice about their obligations. Ireland's position on the implementation of the protocol has been consistent. We will continue to work with Vice...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine, drawing on reports from our recently opened Embassy in Kyiv and our co-ordination with EU and other like-minded partners. The Department of Foreign Affairs advises against all non-essential travel to Ukraine at this time. We continue to keep this advice under constant review so that citizens can make informed decisions on travel....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Asylum Seekers (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of the reports referenced by the Deputy. Ireland is deeply concerned by the human rights abuses against civilians in Libya, including migrants and refugees. An important area of EU support to Libya remains migration management, including support to Libyan communities that host a particularly high number of migrants as well as to refugees and migrants themselves, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Inquiries (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is aware of the issue raised by the Deputy. Most recently, officials in the new Embassy of Ireland in Rabat have been in contact with a number of the affected Irish citizens. My officials will engage directly with the individuals concerned. While I share the Deputy’s concern about this long-running matter and regret that a number of Irish citizens have found...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: There is an ongoing process of reform within the Passport Service. This process has already delivered a number of transformational improvements for citizens at home and abroad, in particular, the rollout of the Passport Online service. Passport Online can now be accessed by first time applicants, both children and adults, in Ireland, Northern Ireland, Great Britain, Europe, Australia, Canada,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: In order to apply for Foreign Birth Registration, applicants must complete a two step process. Firstly, the applicant must complete an online form. Secondly, the applicant must print, sign and submit that form along with the supporting documentation that is required to the Department of Foreign Affairs or to their closest Irish Embassy if applying from overseas. The application cannot be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to 4 times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. Over 90% of all passport applications are received through Passport Online. All Irish citizens, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (3 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in tabular form below. There are several factors that will help to clarify the figures of passports issued before, on or after the issue-by date in 2021. Passport Service operations were severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as were many Government services. Between January 2021 and May 2021, many Passport Service staff members were...