Results 37,661-37,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Global Ireland aims to see Ireland’s global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence. Specifically, the Global Ireland programme envisages the opening of 26 new Missions. Since the launch of Global Ireland in June 2018, 14 missions have now opened.  A Government decision in 2021 approved the opening of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government will continue to work closely with the British government and with the parties in Northern Ireland in support of the devolved power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent implementing Agreements. It is now for the political parties to come together to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 134 together. The EU has already adopted five sanctions packages in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and is currently discussing a sixth package of sanctions. Together, these are the most extensive sanctions in the history of the EU. The aim of these sanctions is to deprive the Russian government, and the supporters and enablers of this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: On 5 April, the European Council authorised the disbursement of €150 million in loans and grants to Moldova in the coming months to support its financial stability and substantive reform agenda. Also on 5 April, Germany, France, and Romania hosted EU Member States, including Ireland, as well as other international partners at the Moldova Support Conference “Bridge of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Security Committee (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I do not have a direct engagement with the National Security Committee. The Committee is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government and is comprises senior level official representatives from the Departments of Justice, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Environment, Communications and Climate and of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is referring to a case which recently concluded in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. As indicated to the House previously, Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality is not inconsistent with military aircraft of other states being allowed under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, to land in Ireland under certain circumstances. Foreign military...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The promotion and protection of human rights is a key foreign policy priority for Ireland within our commitment to a strong and fair rules-based multilateral order with the United Nations (UN) at its core. Our current term on the UN Security Council for 2021-2022 actively reflects that commitment while mainstreaming human rights across all areas of the Security Council agenda. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Electricity Supply Board (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will appreciate, matters relating specifically to the import and export of coal, and policy in this regard, do not fall under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs. However, I am aware that issues have been raised by NGOs around the operation of the Cerrejon mine, and my Department has been following developments closely. Ireland takes a very active role in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I value the role Amnesty International and other civil society organisations play in relation to the Middle East. The Amnesty International report shines a clear spotlight on the illegal and unacceptable treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli state. Ireland’s position on these matters is – and will continue to be – based on international law including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Discussions on reform of the Security Council take place in the General Assembly, through the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiations framework for Security Council reform.   Ireland has long been active in these negotiations and has been consistently clear on the need to increase the size of the Security Council; to address geographic under-representation, particularly for Africa; and to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department maintains dialogue with Iranian counterparts on a wide range of bilateral and international issues.  One of the most important roles Ireland has been given on the Security Council is as Facilitator of Resolution 2231, covering the Iranian nuclear deal, the JCPOA. Ireland strongly supports all efforts to restore the JCPOA, and in this context we have engaged extensively...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389, 407, 429 and 439 together. The Passport Service is proactively managing the current demand for passports and has put in place resources and structures to address the estimated significant increase in demand for passports in 2022 in this essential citizen service. A Passport Service communications campaign was deployed at the start of the year with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 401, 402, 422, 423, 430, 433, 434, 437 and 459 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 applications to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 391, 393, 394, 399, 400, 403, 404, 421, 424, 425, 432, 435 and 436 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 395, 396, 397 and 398 together. The Passport Service does not maintain records of passport applications that have been expedited. The Passport Service has a dedicated Travel Emergency team that work to expedite passport applications in cases of genuine emergency such as a need for urgent medical treatment overseas or the death of a family member abroad. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to two of the applicants and has provided an update as to the steps the applicant must take to progress the third application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Yemen is one of the world's worst humanitarian crises, driven by seven years of conflict, economic collapse and the breakdown of public institutions and services which has left millions of people in need of humanitarian assistance. Ireland fully supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, to bring about a political resolution to the conflict in Yemen. I have held...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The appointment of full-time specialist Cultural Officers in priority locations worldwide has been identified in the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy as a key action to widen and deepen our global cultural presence and engagement. Five positions in Berlin, London, New York, Los Angeles and Beijing have been filled to date in a close partnership between my Department and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: In response to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department undertook consular operations on an unprecedented scale in 2020 and 2021. A major element of the assistance provided was the repatriation of Irish citizens from around the world. In 2020, for example, my Department assisted more than 8,000 citizens to return to Ireland. Informed by the particular circumstances of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has a wide-ranging relationship with China, which covers political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people links. The Government takes a holistic approach to this relationship; our trade relationship with China is not considered separately from our values and priorities including in relation to human rights. The protection and promotion of human rights remains a core pillar of...