Results 38,041-38,060 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Prison Service (14 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am unable to comment on the pay of medical practitioners in the Prison Service. The Government remains fully committed to addressing pay and conditions across the Defence Forces, however. The current public service pay agreement, ‘Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022’, provides for increases in pay and allowances to all public servants,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45, 73, 75, 94, 96, 98, 101, 104 and 118 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicants as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 68, 69, 71, 72, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84, 86, 89, 91, 92, 93, 95, 99, 100, 103, 110, 111, 112, 114, 115, 116, 117, 119 and 120 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: Foreign Birth Registration (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 123 together. The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the impact of Covid-19, Foreign Birth Registration Service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period. Due to the complex nature of the FBR process, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 67, 70, 81, 82, 83, 85, 87, 88, 97, 102, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 113, 125 and 126 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, these applications are within the turnaround times and have not reached their issue-by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2022)

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 guardian.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 128 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 124 together. The Passport Service continues to see a steady, but increasing demand for passports from citizens in Northern Ireland. Out of the total number of passport applications received from January to May of this year (695,000), approximately 10% (69,000) originated in Northern Ireland. The Passport Service is a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the complex nature of the FBR process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the Service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow over 2 years from the receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 130, 131, 132 and 133 together. I propose to group questions 31347/22, 31348/22, 31349/22, 31350/22 and 31351/22 together for response. The Government nominates officers for Ambassadorial posts on foot of proposals made by the Minister for Foreign Affairs.  The nominated Ambassadors are subsequently appointed by the President and take up duty...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248, 252, 254, 259, 260, 283, 288, 289, 290, 293, 294, 297, 304, 305, 317, 335, 340, 352, 356, 360, 362 and 363 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, these applications are within the current turnaround times and have not yet reached their issue by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: Due to the complex nature of the FBR process, the large increase in applications received following the Brexit vote in the UK, and the pause in the Service due to necessary Covid-19 restrictions, applicants should allow approximately 2 years from the receipt of supporting documentation for processing of FBR applications at this time. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, and the subsequent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 250, 251, 253, 255, 256, 257, 258, 261, 262, 263, 264, 265, 270, 272, 273, 274, 275, 278, 281, 282, 286, 291, 292, 295, 296, 298, 299, 301, 302, 303, 307, 308, 309, 311, 312, 313, 314, 315, 316, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 328, 329, 330, 331, 333, 334, 336, 337, 338, 339, 341, 343, 344, 345, 346, 347, 348, 349, 350, 351, 353 and 361 together. With...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266, 276, 284, 285, 287, 306, 318 and 319 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: US immigration regulation and visa operations are a matter solely for the US authorities, and my Department has no remit over the operations of the US Embassy Visa Service, or of private service providers processing J1 applications. However, officials from my Department have contacted the named company to better understand the present situation. I understand that the company has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 268, 271 and 342 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.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s longstanding position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), the UN-led process and the Secretary General’s efforts to bring about a definitive and mutually acceptable political settlement on this issue. The UN path is, in our view, the only path forward. During the United Nations Security...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277, 279, 280, 300, 310, 332, 354 and 355 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the applications and progressed as appropriate.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I met with the Leader of the Official Opposition in the UK, Keir Starmer MP, and the Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Peter Kyle MP, on 9 June 2022. At the meeting we discussed a broad range of issues including the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, the legacy of the Troubles, and the impact of recent British Government decisions on Northern Ireland. I underlined the...