Results 4,261-4,280 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Ireland remains unequivocally committed to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Bosnia- Herzegovina. As a member of the UN Security Council, we are actively engaged in efforts to promote greater dialogue and political stability within Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as support for the Institutions established under the Dayton Peace Accords. Ireland also contributes a small number of...

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

Simon Coveney: Ireland's relationship with the United States has been of critical importance for successive Governments and continues to be an important priority for the current Government. The key priorities and objectives for this relationship are set out in the Government's United States and Canada Strategy 2019-2025. Under this strategy, we have reinforced our network of eight offices across the US,...

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

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant and returned their parents' documents as requested.

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435 and 440 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update to the applicants' guardians as to the steps they must take to progress their children's passport applications. The Passport Service cannot process these applications until the required supporting documents have...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 436 and 438 together. With regard to the specific applications about which Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

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

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that my Department is aware of the case raised by the Deputy. Ireland's Embassy in Berne, which is also accredited to Algeria, is engaging with the named person. My Department's Consular Assistance Unit also stands ready to provide support to the person's family in Ireland and can be contacted directly on (01) 4082527. As with all consular cases, I cannot comment on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Process (1 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: Specific provisions of Acts under my Department that have not yet been commenced include Sections 14(8) and 14(9) of the Passports Act 2008. These Sections of the Passports Act, if commenced, would provide that guardians’ consent to the issuing of a passport would be considered to be enduring for the child up to the age of 18. These provisions will be considered as part of the Passport...

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

Simon Coveney: With regard to the passport application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the application to the applicant's parent.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (1 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: The White Paper on Defence 2015 set out the defence policy framework and practical vision over a ten year period.  In relation to radar the White Paper states that should additional funding become available, the development of a radar surveillance capability for the Air Corps is a priority. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020 was completed following...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (1 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the military authorities that, within an establishment of 44, there are currently 18 Electrical Artificer vacancies in the Naval Service. The Defence Forces recruit Electrical Artificers internally through the Trainee Technician Scheme and, externally, through Direct Entry Competition. The current direct entry Electrical Artificer competition is one of eight being utilised...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Maritime Jurisdiction (1 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: Military exercises or manoeuvres are traditionally recognized as being a part of the freedom of the high seas as captured in article 87 under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).  These rights are transcribed directly into the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of coastal states. Under international law, including UNCLOS, states are entitled to carry out naval...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Process (1 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: In relation to the Department of Defence, the only Acts or provisions of Acts for which a commencement order has yet to be signed is the Defence (Amendment) Act 2021 which was signed into law by the President on 9 November 2021. In order to give full effect to the provisions of this Act, there is a requirement to prepare amendments to certain Defence Force Regulations. These...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: The meeting between the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces on 21 January was one of series of routine courtesy meetings which the new Chief of Staff has been holding with foreign ambassadors and/or defence attachés since his appointment last September. It is normal practice that foreign ambassadors and/or defence attachés would pay routine courtesy calls on a newly appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (1 Feb 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 and developed to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, including overseas deployments.  The Naval Service is the State's principal sea-going agency and is tasked with a variety...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (1 Feb 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Emergency Civil Assistance Team which was led by the Department of Foreign Affairs and deployed to Kabul last August received transport assistance from our EU partners, France and Finland.  It is not unusual for small countries such as ours to receive this type of support from larger partners in relation to overseas deployments and crisis management scenarios. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: First, the whole point is I am not making that work. This is not a review that is being undertaken by the Department of Defence. It is a review being undertaken independently, with an independent chair, a former High Court judge, and a very experienced HR reform consultant, who has spent the last 12 months looking at some of these issues already through her work with the Commission on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure the operational capacity of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered in the context of the lifetime of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: We will probably have that commission report in the next two weeks, so we do not have to wait very long to get it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (27 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I will have to give a quick answer as we are tight on time. The mental health and well-being strategy for the Defence Forces, which was launched by me on 2 December 2020, recognises the unique nature of the experience of military life in Ireland. The aim of the strategy is to provide a co-ordinated and effective mental health and support system for the personnel of the Defence Forces...