Results 37,901-37,920 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for her interest in the Irish-Armenian bilateral relationship. As the Deputy will be aware, trade policy within the European Union is a competence of the EU institutions, rather than national governments. The new EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement (CEPA) entered into force on 1 March 2021. It aims to intensify EU-Armenia co-operation in numerous...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Investigations (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: No investigations, internal or external, have been commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs into alleged instances in which Departmental documents or information may have been leaked to the media during the past ten years and to date in 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the refund and is reviewing the case. The Passport Service will contact the applicant directly with any further updates.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service contacted the applicant directly on 20 May to provide an update as to the status of the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service regrets the delay in processing the applications and is prioritising them to ensure no further delay is experienced.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I speak regularly with the both the European Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefcovic and with UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss with regard to EU-UK relations generally, and the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland in particular. Most recently, I met with Vice-President Šefcovic in Brussels on May 16, and with Foreign Secretary Truss on May 20 in Turin. I made clear to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is firmly opposed to the use of the death penalty in all circumstances, and has consistently made our opposition clear to the Saudi authorities. I am aware of the case raised by the Deputy. When I visited Saudi Arabia last year, I raised a number of human rights concerns, including the continuing use of the death penalty. Officials from my Department have also raised concerns over the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Elected representatives of Irish citizens, including those from Northern Ireland,  can make formal representations to me in relation to passport applications by submitting enquiries directly to my office. It is important to note that this channel does not function as a means of expediting passport applications. In each case raised by an elected representative, the Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The military authorities have advised that they do not collect details pertaining to the ethnicity of recruits to the Defence Forces. Potential applicants from alll ethnic backgrounds are included in the target demographic that the Defence Forces seek to reach in regular recutiment campaigns. The female strengths of the Defence Forces, broken down by the Branches within the Permanent Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Investigations (24 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: There were no circumstances nor requirements which led to the commissioning of investigations, internal or external by my Department during the period in question into instances in which Departmental documents or information was leaked to the media.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: There are certain passport applications for applicants resident in Ireland that require forms to be witnessed by a member of An Garda Síochána. These applications include: - All Passport Express applications - Section 9 Certificate of Identity - First time adult online applications - Identity Verification Form - First time child online applications - Child...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 55, 59, 60, 64, 67, 80 and 85 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 (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54, 56, 58, 62, 63, 65, 66, 68, 69, 70, 72, 73, 74, 75, 78, 81, 84, 86 and 87 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 or their guardian. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I remain concerned by demolitions and evictions in East Jerusalem, including in Sheikh Jarrah, where tensions remain high. I am deeply troubled by the evictions and demolitions that took place in the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood on 17-18 January of this year. Ireland’s Representative was present at the scene in Sheikh Jarrah on 17 January and the Ambassador in Tel Aviv communicated...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has recently reduced the turnaround time for first time applications from 40 working days to 30 working days. This 25% reduction in processing times for first time applications is a direct result of the staffing and resources the Department has invested in the Passport Service. The Passport Service is focused on reducing this processing time further in the coming months....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service provided an update to the applicant's parent as to the status of the passport application on 16 May 2022. The Passport Service is within the standard turnaround time for this application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific passport application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service regrets the error with this application. The Passport Service is in contact with the applicant and is working to resolve the issue.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific passport application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service is investigating the case and is in direct contact with the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's guardian as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service Reform Programme was established in 2016 with the objective of delivering a citizen focused, efficient, consistent service while maintaining the integrity of the Irish passport. This process has delivered major upgrades to the Passport Service technology platforms and business processes as well as making significant customer service improvements to the Passport Service....