Results 2,921-2,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The validity required on an Irish passport for overseas travel depends on where a person is travelling to.  For travel within the European Union, a person's Irish passport must be valid up to their return date.  The passport validity required for countries outside of the European Union varies greatly. My Department recommends contacting the relevant travel agent or the embassy of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland was designed and agreed by the UK and EU to mitigate against the inevitable disruptions arising from Brexit on the island of Ireland and to protect the Good Friday Agreement in all its dimensions. EU-UK engagement on resolving outstanding issues under the Protocol is an ongoing process. The EU-UK Joint Committee met on 21 February and the Specialised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have remained in contact with the parties in Northern Ireland, and with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the Assembly elections. I travelled to Belfast for meetings with the political parties on 11 May last. In addition, the Taoiseach travelled to Belfast on 20 May to meet with political parties and business leaders. Engagement is essential between the parties and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: Meetings of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) are prepared through the Joint British-Irish Intergovernmental Secretariat (BIIGS) in Belfast, which is staffed by officials from my Department and the Department of Justice, and their counterparts in the Northern Ireland Office. As established under Strand Three of the Good Friday Agreement, the Conference brings both...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The UK Government’s Legacy Bill has now been introduced into Westminster and has had its second reading. It is disappointing that the UK Government has chosen to unilaterally introduce legislation, moving away from the process agreed in the Stormont House Agreement, a process that was agreed by both Governments, political parties and victims and survivors groups. I have raised...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The age limits for personnel wishing to enter the Defence Forces are as set out in Regulations made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended. The nature of military service requires that the age profile of personnel in the Defence Forces must be appropriately managed to ensure that capability requirements are met.  There are currently no plans to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Radon Gas Levels (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department operates offices in Newbridge, Co. Kildare, Renmore, Galway, Phoenix Park, Dublin and Roscrea, Co. Tipperary. None of the offices operated by the Department is within a high radon area whereby there would be a legal obligation to conduct a radon test. However, due to the proximity of the Offices at Renmore, Galway to a high radon area, the Department in association with the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments. I am advised by the Military Authorities that the Defence Forces operate many different types of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 116 together. 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 note with concern the cases referred to by the deputies. When I visited Saudi Arabia last year, I raised a number of human rights concerns, including the continuing use of the death...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 117, 118, 131, 136 and 139 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 (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100, 114, 120, 126, 132 and 133 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 (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the document has been returned to the applicant's parent as requested. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service is reviewing the applications and taking action where appropriate. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department actively follows emerging reports regarding Xinjiang and I am aware of the recent disturbing files published by a consortium of media agencies. Ireland remains deeply concerned about the evidence-based reports of human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang. We have raised these concerns, along with our partners in the EU and the wider international community, on a number...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119, 123, 125, 134, 135, 137 and 138 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: Passport Services (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is a unified service composed of three constituent offices located in Lower Mount Street and Balbriggan in Dublin and South Mall in Cork, respectively. Passport applications from all citizens - whether at home or abroad - are distributed for processing across the three Passport Offices, on the basis of the type of application rather than the place of residence of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: In October 2021, the Passport Service established a temporary phone line to respond to Oireachtas Members' queries on urgent passport cases. I appreciate that it can, on occasion, be challenging for Members of the Oireachtas and their staff to access the Oireachtas line given the volume queries that the team are currently handling. Staff on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: The EU has been united in providing support to Ukraine in its struggle as a consequence of Russia's unjustified and illegal further invasion since 24 February. On 28 February, President Zelenskyy of Ukraine submitted a letter to the Presidency formally applying for membership of the European Union, in accordance with Article 49 of the Treaty.  In light of the grave situation facing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. 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 complex nature of the FBR process, the large increase in applications...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (1 Jun 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together. My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. The processing of Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. There are currently...