Results 2,801-2,820 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible for the Passport Service to provide the historical figures requested for the number of passport applications that were incomplete or experienced delays as this is only a temporary status for the application until such time as the application is complete. The other information requested by the Deputy is outlined below in tabular form. Applications received by month 1...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: 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: Passport Services (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is already outperforming any previous year, despite the challenges that it has encountered over the past two years. The Passport Service continues to outperform its previous busiest year, 2019, by over 20%. Over 623,000 passports have been issued to date in 2022. This is 105,000 more passports than were issued at this point of the year in 2019. In the past four weeks, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: In recent months, it has become increasingly clear that we are living in a new era in Europe, in which Ireland faces significant new security and defence challenges. In this context, we will need to have a mature debate about our broader approach to security and defence issues in Ireland, including opportunities for cooperation and collaboration at EU level. The Taoiseach has indicated...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (22 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The situation as set out in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 905 of 21 April 2021 remains unchanged. The firing range at Cushla, County Roscommon is administered by the Department of Defence on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in whom the land is vested. While the Cushla Rifle Range is not currently in use and there are no immediate plans to reactivate this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has a longstanding policy of military neutrality, meaning that we do not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. This policy, which has been implemented by successive governments, informs our active approach to peace support operations, crisis management, conflict resolution, and peacebuilding. There are no plans to alter this policy at this time...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: On 17 June, the European Commission published its formal Opinion on Ukraine's application for membership of the European Union. As the Opinion states, the aspiration to belong to the European Union has for many years been an important priority for Ukraine, its governments and citizens. It has been an underlying motive for democratic changes over the past decade and a driver of a number...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 276, 277, 281, 283, 284, 288, 290, 292, 298, 299, 306, 311, 314, 322, 323, 339, 340, 342, 344, 346, 351, 355, 356, 358, 368, 369, 370, 395, 397, 401, 406, 407, 408, 411, 416, 418, 420, 426, 427, 428, 497, 498, 500, 503, 504, 508, 509, 510, 511, 514, 516, 521, 524, 526 and 531 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278, 315, 319, 335, 338, 367, 394, 409, 413, 414, 495, 517 and 520 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: Passport Services (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279, 280, 286, 293, 294, 296, 302, 303, 305, 310, 312, 325, 327, 329, 334, 354, 359, 362, 374, 380, 382, 391, 393, 400, 410, 412, 419, 506, 512, 513 and 519 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: Passport Services (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 282, 285, 287, 289, 295, 297, 300, 301, 304, 308, 316, 317, 318, 320, 324, 326, 328, 337, 341, 343, 345, 348, 352, 353, 357, 361, 363, 364, 365, 366, 371, 372, 375, 378, 381, 383, 386, 388, 389, 399, 421, 422, 423, 424, 435, 441, 443, 448, 454, 456, 457, 458, 459, 460, 461, 462, 463, 464, 465, 466, 467, 468, 473, 480, 481, 482, 485, 490 and 491 together. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 291, 321, 333, 336, 349, 379, 429, 446, 447, 452, 502 and 528 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: Passport Services (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service Customer Service Hub is available to respond to customer queries by phone and webchat. The Customer Service Hub has handled over 123,000 queries to date this year and is currently handling an average of 1,200 queries per day. During times of peak demand, there can be delays in getting through to a service agent due to the high volumes of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (21 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, ##applicant's 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 (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 445 together. With regard to the specific case about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 330, 331, 332, 347, 350, 360, 390, 392, 398, 402, 403, 404, 405, 415, 417, 492, 493, 494, 496, 499, 505, 507, 515, 518, 522, 523, 525 and 529 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 (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application 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: Passport Services (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising these important cases of political prisoners in Belarus. The journalist Roman Protasevich and his partner Sofia Sapega were detained by Belarusian authorities following the forced diversion of a Ryanair aircraft to Minsk in May 2021. Reports indicate that Mr Protasevich and Ms Sapega were sent to prison until June and subsequently transferred to house arrest. Mr...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: As I stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question 146 of 10 May 2022, the Amnesty International report highlights the illegal and unacceptable treatment of Palestinians by the Israeli state. Ireland’s position continues to be based on international law including international human rights law, Israel’s obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention as the occupying power in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport was recently ranked 5th in the Henley Global Passport Index...