Results 4,581-4,600 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has a strong and flourishing bilateral relationship with Canada. Our two nations share deep historic ties and enjoy strong trading relations. Over the centuries, Canada has been an important destination for Irish immigrants. Today, over 4.5 million Canadians - more than 14% of the country's population – claim direct Irish ancestry. The Government continues to commit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued a passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Stormont House Agreement was reached in 2014 after a period of intense negotiation by the Irish and British Governments and the political parties in Northern Ireland. It has been the consistent position of the Government that the Stormont House Agreement provides a balanced and comprehensive framework to address the legacy of the Troubles and it should be implemented for the benefit of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 to 354, inclusive, together. My Department is aware of the issues raised by the individual concerned. The former Ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva met with the individual concerned on 2nd March 2016. The current Ambassador met with the individual concerned on 29 July 2019 and again on 16 September 2021. In the intervening periods the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides consular assistance to all Irish citizens in distress overseas where requested. This includes confidential advice and support in relation to illness or any emergency situation, in line with the principles of our Consular Assistance Charter. Irish citizens who test positive for Covid-19 while travelling abroad are advised to follow the local public health guidance in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: Passport Service operations have been severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as were many Government services. The Passport Service maintained operations throughout the pandemic, notwithstanding the fact that the processing of passports requires physical attendance on site to deliver this service. Passport Service staff assisted citizens who required passports for a range of emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: President Win Myint, State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and Mayor Myo Aung received sentences in a military court in Myanmar on 6 December. Ireland condemns the politically motivated verdicts and believe they represent another step towards the dismantling of the rule of law and a further violation of human rights in Myanmar. The proceedings appear to be an attempt to exclude...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Australian authorities have taken exceptional measures to restrict international travel in response to the pandemic. Entry into Australia and the issue of visas are matters solely for the Australian authorities. However, I am very conscious of the impact which these travel restrictions are having on many Irish people both here and in Australia, especially...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the UK’s Nationality and Borders Bill, which was recently passed in the House of Commons and has now proceeded to the House of Lords. As currently drafted, this Bill would provide that the UK’s immigration rules may require that specified categories of individual, to be set down in the rules, have an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) in order to travel to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, remains deeply concerned about the treatment of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities in the province of Xinjiang. We are closely following the situation, including in relation to evidence based reports of systemic abuse, torture, arbitrary detention, forced labour, forced sterilisations, and restrictions on freedom of religion and belief. I raised our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: The recruitment of children remains a significant and deeply worrying issue with thousands of children recruited into conflicts around the world each year. This timely report from Save the Children reinforces the findings of the UN Secretary-General's annual report on Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) which examines both trends and specific country situations, listing all armed groups that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Yemen continues to be the world’s most severe humanitarian crisis. Seven years of conflict, accompanied by economic collapse and the breakdown of public institutions and services, have left over 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. Ireland, along with all EU member states, fully supports the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, in his...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland stands in solidarity with Poland and other affected Member States amid this deeply challenging situation at the Polish-Belarusian border. We are mindful that frontline EU Member States like Poland face immense pressures and we recognise that the unprecedented state of affairs at the Polish-Belarusian border has been a major factor in Poland’s state of emergency decision. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Office continually examines how to improve its processes and turnaround times, including examining the process for the submission and verification of supporting documentation. Preparation is currently underway for several system and service improvements that will enhance the customer service experience and will improve processing times. These improvements will be rolled out in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 367 to 369, inclusive, together. Under Ireland’s inaugural National Plan on Business and Human Rights, the multi-stakeholder Implementation Group developed Guidelines on Business and Human Rights for business enterprises. These Guidelines have been published on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ website and members of the Implementation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: There has not been a recent review of service user experience undertaken by the Passport Service. Passport Service operations have been severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as were many Government services. Despite the consequences of the pandemic, the Passport Service has issued almost 600,000 passports to date in 2021 and 45% of simple adult renewals issue within one business day....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is intended that the contract will be signed early in the New Year, with a construction programme of 12 months expected to complete the project.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (14 Dec 2021)

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 (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: A person who enlisted in the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) before 1 January 1994 may be permitted to continue in service up to the age of 60 years. The normal maximum periods of service for personnel enlisted to the PDF post 1 January 1994 are: - Line Privates, Line Corporals (and Naval Service equivalent ranks) and those in receipt of Technical Pay Groups 1 or 2, may not serve beyond 21...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Dec 2021)

Simon Coveney: The scheme of Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) for members of the Permanent Defence Force provides a formal mechanism for the determination of claims and proposals from the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, relating to remuneration and conditions of service. Officials from my Department continue to work with the Representative Associations in a positive and...