Results 4,241-4,260 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Passport Office Service: Motion (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: I will, if the House will permit me.If a political decision is taken by a Minister in Northern Ireland to stop all checks in ports on goods coming across the Irish Sea to Northern Ireland, that is effectively a breach of international law. I would remind everybody the protocol is part of an international agreement. It was agreed and ratified by the UK and the EU and its implementation is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: Last week, following extensive engagement with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Dublin, I wrote to the Minister of Defence of Russia, Sergey Shoygu, to request a reconsideration of the planned Russian naval exercises off the Irish coast. Officials from my Department, including the Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs, also held several additional discussions with...

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

Simon Coveney: The Government has made clear that a Statue of Limitations with respect to Troubles-related offenses, as proposed in the UK Government’s command paper last July, is not something we could support. It has been opposed by all parties in Northern Ireland, and, crucially, by victims and survivors. We have also cautioned very strongly against unilateral action by the UK Government in this...

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

Simon Coveney: I have consistently raised the need to comprehensively address the legacy of the past with the British Government, including at the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference, the latest of which took place in London on 2 December. I am in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, with the party leaders in Northern Ireland, and with victims and civil society...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: Coinciding with the beginning of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union, the President of France set out an overview of his views on a range of issues in a speech to the European Parliament in January. In a wide-ranging address, President Macron expressed a view that the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights should be updated so as to be more explicit about certain issues...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: As part of the Government's Global Ireland 2025 initiative, Ireland is investing in a new, state-of-the-art Ireland House in Tokyo. Construction is expected to take two years and is scheduled to commence within the next twelve months. Japan is an important and like minded partner for Ireland. As the third largest economy in the world, Japan is a vital market for Irish goods and services...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Patent Applications (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: The processing of Foreign Birth Registration has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the complex nature of the Foreign Birth Registration 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Patent Applications (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service does not currently have the documentation required to process this application to passport issue as these documents were returned to the applicant's parents in error. The Passport Service has contacted the applicant's parents to apologise for this error and the inconvenience it has caused. They have been advised to resubmit the required documents to the Passport...

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

Simon Coveney: The Passport Online service offers Irish citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It is a user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to 4 times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. 90% of all passport applications are received through Passport Online. All Irish citizens, including children,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Patent Applications (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant's parent and advised them on the status of their application.

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 75 together. The table below shows the establishment and current strength of the Defence Forces, by service, as at 31st December 2021, the latest date for which such data is available: Service Establishment Current Strength (WTE) Army 7,520 6,841 Air Corps 886 751 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the military authorities that the strength of the Air Corps, as at 31st December 2021 (latest date for which such data is available) is 751 wholetime equivalent personnel. The table below shows the strength by requested stream: Personnel Stream Strength as at 31/12/2021 Qualified pilots 89 Cadets currently completing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (2 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety of defence and other roles. The primary day-to-day tasking of the Naval Service is to provide a fishery protection service in accordance with the State's obligations as a member of the European Union. In terms of fishery protection the Naval Service is tasked with patrolling all Irish waters from the...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 79 and 80 together. The number of women who discharged from the Permanent Defence Force in 2021, by month, up to 31stDecember 2021 (the latest date for which such information is available) is as follows: Month Departures January 3 February 2 March 2 ...

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

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, following Cabinet approval, an Independent Review Group has been established, under the Chair of Ms. Justice Bronagh O’Hanlon, to examine issues relating to sexual misconduct, bullying, harassment and discrimination in the Defence Forces. The overall aims of the Independent Review are to: - Advise on whether the current legislative frameworks, policies,...

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

Simon Coveney: Under the Defence Forces occupational pension scheme applicable to Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and Privates enlisting in the Defence Forces before April 2004, 21 years is the minimum service required for an immediate retirement pension and gratuity, regardless of age. Under this ‘fast accrual’ pension scheme, maximum retirement benefits accrue after 31 years and the...

Legacy Issues in Northern Ireland and New Decade, New Approach: Statements (1 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: This has been quite a substantive debate and I thank the Taoiseach and all of the Deputies, from all sides of the House, who contributed to it. Over the years, many of our days in this Chamber have been spent putting on the record the facts and the outstanding questions around terrible events in the history of the conflict and the hardship that followed for so many families. It is important...

Legacy Issues in Northern Ireland and New Decade, New Approach: Statements (1 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: This is an important debate. The legacy of conflict on this island and how we address this chapter of our history is vital for the shared future that we want, a shared future committed to on all sides as part of the Good Friday Agreement. We cannot build an inclusive future on cracked foundations. That is why, as difficult as it is, we must have a comprehensive approach to the violence of...

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

Simon Coveney: Last week, following extensive contact with the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Dublin, I wrote to the Minister of Defence of Russia, Sergey Shoygu, to request a reconsideration of the planned Russian naval exercises off the Irish coast. I raised a number of concerns in respect of these exercises, notably in light of the current political and security situation in Europe. I also...

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

Simon Coveney: Adequate staffing of the Passport Service to respond to demand is a priority for my Department and is an issue that is kept under constant review. My Department is actively working with the Public Appointments Service on an ongoing basis to recruit and assign additional staff at all grades to meet the current and forecasted high demand for passports in 2022. Additional permanent and...