Results 38,961-38,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (8 Nov 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: Passport Services (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Approximately 10% of total applications received by the Passport Service are submitted by applicants resident in Northern Ireland. 87% of these applicants apply through Passport Online. Currently, the Passport Service is issuing passports to 84% of adult online renewal applicants and 50% of child online renewal applicants within 3 working days or less. 60% of online applications...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Change Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The European Green Deal is the European Commission’s overarching plan to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, while boosting the competitiveness of European industry and ensuring a just transition for the regions and workers affected. Ireland fully supports the ambition set out in the European Green Deal and its aim to make Europe the first climate-neutral continent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 453 together. The Government remains deeply concerned by evidence-based reports of human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang. Ireland welcomed publication of the report by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on human rights concerns in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, published on 31 August. The report found that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 444 and 454 together. I remain concerned by the deteriorating security situation in the West Bank. It is clear that the increase in violence and incursions by the Israel Defense Forces is contributing to an already fragile situation. Ireland has engaged actively on this issue, including in the context of our tenure on the UN Security Council. At the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department has been made aware of the challenges that some active and former members of the Irish Defence Forces have experienced in applying for US visa waivers (ESTA) due to travel they have undertaken, as part of their official duties, to Syria or other countries designated ‘countries of concern’ by the US Department of Homeland Security. US immigration regulation and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I remain concerned by ongoing demolitions in the West Bank, including in East Jerusalem. Demolitions and seizures of Palestinian property and humanitarian aid accelerated in 2022, and this year has seen a record high number of Palestinians affected by demolitions, evictions and confiscations. Ireland has been proactive in ensuring that these issues are highlighted at the UN Security...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached the issue-by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific query raised by the Deputy, the Embassy in Paris has engaged with the applicant on a number of occasions. The Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly and will continue to engage with them with the aim of resolving the issue.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I recently received correspondence related to this case, as have officials in my Department. Ireland is committed to protecting and promoting human rights, including a safe and enabling environment for human rights defenders. This specific case has been raised with the UN Human Rights Committee, the body that monitors the implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 451 and 452 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: 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. My officials have also consulted with other relevant stakeholders in Government. Neither the Chinese authorities nor Fuzhou/Fujian Province made a request in advance to the Department of Foreign Affairs to establish the office referred...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am unable to comment on reports of overflights received by the Deputy’s office in the absence of more specific information on the flights concerned. Nevertheless, I would note that Ireland requires diplomatic clearance to be sought in advance for overflight of Irish sovereign airspace by foreign state and military aircraft. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) was established under Strand 3 of the Good Friday Agreement. It brings both Governments together to promote bilateral cooperation on matters of mutual interest within their competence. Within the Good Friday Agreement, there is provision for the Conference to meet at a Summit Level (Prime Minister and Taoiseach), otherwise Governments...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland supported a special session of the Human Rights Council in May 2021 on the escalation of violence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. At this session, the Council voted to establish a Commission of Inquiry on the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland continues to support the work of the Commission of Inquiry, in keeping with our principled position on such Commissions....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I value the role played by the Special Rapporteur and note the publication of the detailed and comprehensive report issued on 21 September. I have been consistently forthright in expressing concern regarding the unequal treatment of Palestinians in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territory. Ireland will continue to raise our concerns regarding discriminatory practices towards the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Up to date statistics on Ukrainian refugees and persons seeking international protection are a matter for individual EU Member States. Statistics in relation to the numbers of Ukrainian refugees and numbers of persons seeking international protection that each European Union Member State has received to date in 2022 and the numbers per capita are tracked by the European Union Agency for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The question of Business and Human rights is an important area of focus for the Government and my Department. Ireland was among the first countries in the world to develop a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and we are also a strong supporter of the EU’s Action Plan on Human Rights and Democracy 2020 – 2024 which contains many relevant commitments in this field....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Responsibilities (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s long-standing close relationship with Lithuania is highly valued. Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis and I meet in our official capacities regularly at European Foreign Affairs Councils (FAC), the latest of which was held on the 17thof October. Prior to this there was an informal meeting of Foreign Affairs Ministers (Gymnich) held on the 31stof August...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s Consulate General in San Francisco works closely with the Irish diaspora in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States, including in fulfilment of Ireland's Diaspora Strategy 2020-2025. This includes providing support to Irish communities and organisations through the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme, delivering consular assistance to Irish citizens in...