Results 38,921-38,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (20 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Representatives of the Polisario Front visited Ireland from 12th to 14th October 2022. On 13th October, the delegation met with officials from the Middle East and North Africa Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Officials welcomed the opportunity to hear perspectives on the current situation in Western Sahara and the upcoming renewal of the mandate of the UN Mission for the Referendum...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Electricity Supply Board (20 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility with regard to the importation of coal comes under the remit of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, and my Department does not hold information around the quantity of coal that has been purchased by the ESB. However, I am aware of the human rights concerns that have been raised by some civil society organisations around the operation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (20 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Birth Certificates (20 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (20 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (20 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Tigray and in other parts of northern Ethiopia remains of grave concern. The conflict in Ethiopia has had a devastating impact on civilians, with many killed or injured, and widespread human rights violations. The report published last month by the UN International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia presents further alarming details of the human rights and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and I, as Minister for Defence, welcomed the publication of the report of the Commission on 9th February last.  The Commission undertook a significant body of work, encompassing wide-ranging terms of reference.  It recommended significant changes for the...

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

Simon Coveney: The situation in Haiti is deeply concerning. The troubling crisis has deteriorated further recently, with gang violence at new levels. Accounts of violence, particularly sexual and gender based violence, are highly disturbing, as is the outbreak of cholera in the country. Gangs are currently blocking fuel terminals and thousands are facing catastrophic levels of hunger. Humanitarian aid has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Communications Unit is led by a Director at Counsellor level and there are six staff in the Press Relations team.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Security Committee (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Neither the Chinese authorities nor Fuzhou/Fujian Province made a request in advance to the Department of Foreign Affairs to establish the office referred to. In this context, the Department of Foreign Affairs raised the presence of a 'Fuzhou Police Overseas Service Station' with the Embassy of China in Ireland in recent weeks. The Department noted that actions of all foreign states on Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Security Committee (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has a longstanding partnership with Ethiopia and its people. Our Embassy in Addis Ababa opened in 1994, and Ethiopia has been our largest bilateral development partner over the last five years. The situation in Tigray and in other parts of northern Ethiopia remains of grave concern, including the significant escalation of fighting in recent weeks. The conflict has had a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The comments of the HR/VP are a matter for him to address, although I do not agree with the characterisation expressed in his remarks. I welcome that he has taken the opportunity to clarify his remarks and has indicated that he intended to refer to the erosion of internationally agreed norms and the rules-based international order. The EU and all of its Member States are bound by the...

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

Simon Coveney: The monthly gross revenue received by the Passport Service for passport applications in 2022 is outlined in the below table. Month 2022 Total € Jan 8,383,449 Feb 9,227,808 Mar 7,661,900 Apr 7,810,533 May 8,921,163 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Civil Registration Service (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs advises all applicants wishing to get married abroad to apply for a Letter of Freedom to Marry at least three to four months in advance of the date of the marriage. Applicants should note that the Letter of Freedom to Marry is not an Irish requirement but a requirement of the country in which they are due to get married. We advise all applicants to check the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Travel Area (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Common Travel Area is a long-standing arrangement involving Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man that facilitates the ability of British and Irish citizens to move freely between these jurisdictions. It provides for associated reciprocal rights and privileges that have been enjoyed by Irish citizens in the UK and British citizens in Ireland for decades. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: While not intended as formal visa waiver schemes, I take it the Deputy is referring to the UK’s proposed Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme and the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) being developed for use in the Schengen Area. The UK’s plans to establish an ETA scheme that would apply to non-Irish residents of Ireland and tourists who wish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 348, 350 and 351 together. I recently received correspondence related to this case, as have a number of officials in my Department. I am aware that several members of the Oireachtas have also received details of this case and are concerned by the issues raised. As you know, the protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who died in police custody in Iran on 16 September, was a tragedy. The fact that she was arrested simply due to the way she was dressed understandably provoked a strong response from the Iranian people and the international community. The subsequent response by the Iranian authorities to largely peaceful protestors in Iran has been extremely concerning. I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of persons working in the Department of Defence Press Office, Communications Team and Social Media Team is as follows. Grade of staff members. Numbers of Communications/Press/Social Media PO 0.5 AP 1 HEO 3 Total (equivalent whole-time...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (25 Oct 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces building stock covers a range of building types from residential buildings to ammunition depots and given their military nature it is not the policy to value same. I assume the material sought by the Deputy relates to buildings of a residential nature which would attract a LPT liability. My officials are now collating, with the Defence Forces, this material and I will...