Results 4,481-4,500 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: A Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland is a central provision of the Good Friday Agreement . The Agreement sets out that a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland should be based on the European Convention on Human Rights, enhanced by additional rights to “reflect the principles of mutual respect for the identity and ethos of both communities and parity of esteem.” The full...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to reply to Parliamentary Question No. 659 which addressed the situation in Kazakhstan. As indicated in that statement, I continue to be deeply concerned by recent developments in Kazakhstan. 164 people were reported to have been killed in violent clashes, and over 12,000 people arrested. It appears that initially peaceful protests at the beginning of the year rapidly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department is currently carrying out a review of the workplace arrangements on 17 June 2020. The review will be completed by the end of this month and will include a timeline of that day. I was working in my Department on the day of the UN Security Council vote on 17 June. Prior to the announcement of the result of the vote I went to Government Buildings...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Investigations (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Department commenced the review referred to by the Deputy on 13 January 2022, to be completed by the end of this month.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: There has been extensive engagement on the referenced case at the most senior political and diplomatic levels. I can assure the Deputy that all possible efforts continue to be made through multiple channels – by myself as Minister and at senior political levels here in Dublin; as well as by our diplomats in Beijing, Shanghai and elsewhere throughout our diplomatic network. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is very supportive of the Commission Work Programme 2021 and we will be working closely with our European partners to implement the measures outlined, including in respect of gender-based violence. Violence against women and girls constitutes a serious human rights abuse, a form of discrimination against women, and a major obstacle to the achievement of gender equality. Achieving...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Staff (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: My security arrangements are handled by An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate to comment on such security arrangements which are kept under ongoing review by An Garda Síochána. My Department also has four Civilian Drivers, who are each paid a salary of €38,296 p.a. Total mileage claimed in respect of official travel of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, a Joint Task Force was established to coordinate the Defence Forces contribution to the whole-of-Government Covid-19 response. A wide range of supports have since been provided by the Defence Forces to the HSE as well as to other Departments and Agencies, including support to the ongoing vaccination programme. Currently the focus remains on dealing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: Chapter 2 of Administrative Instruction A7 provides a formal mechanism for individuals, under Section 114 (1) and 114 (2) of the Defence Act, 1954, to seek redress of wrongs or to make a complaint. Complaints may be submitted orally or in writing to the complainants Commanding Officer, or in the case where they feel themselves wronged by their Commanding Officer, may complain to the Chief of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (25 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The high-level goal of the Defence Organisation is to ‘provide for the military defence of the State, contribute to national and international peace and security and fulfil all other roles assigned by Government’. Defence outputs are delivered under a single programme in Vote 36 (Defence) under a range of subheads. While there is no dedicated subhead, capital or current, for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (20 Jan 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 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 and the pause in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (20 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 233 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 has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Due to the complex nature of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (20 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Tigray and in other parts of northern Ethiopia remains of grave concern. The conflict is having a devastating impact on civilians with reported widespread human rights violations, while the number of casualties continues to rise. Over 9 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance, including 5.2 million people in Tigray alone. Through our bilateral...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Voluntary Sector (20 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: The National Volunteering Strategy commits to the promotion of ethical and skills-based international volunteering to deliver results for beneficiaries and to enhance global citizenship education in Ireland. My Department works with specific partners to deliver upon this. For example, my Department provides significant support to the United Nations Volunteer Programme. Twenty seven United...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Official Engagements (20 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I attended the recent Informal meeting of EU Defence Ministers which took place between the 12th and 13th of January in France. This meeting consisted of three working sessions; a Working Dinner with NATO and the UN on the topic of “Interferences and actions of state and non-state actors in our operational theatres”, a Working Session on “Safeguarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: First time passport applications are necessarily complex to process, since they are essentially applications for Irish citizenship. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant and take measures to confirm the applicant’s entitlement to Irish citizenship. Passport applications are valid for six months for a number of reasons...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service cannot process an application until the required supporting documents have been received. The Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's guardian as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 619, 652, 660, 666 and 668 together. With regard to the passport applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to these applicants. 

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service cannot process an application until the required supporting documents have been received. The Passport Service has provided an update to the applicant's guardian as to the steps they must take to progress the passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (19 Jan 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 621, 622, 623, 628 and 629 together. The Middle East Peace Process remains a priority issue for Ireland, including in the context of our current membership of the UN Security Council. I am seriously concerned by the designation of six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist entities by the Israeli Ministry for Defense and I underlined this position to the Israeli...