Results 4,681-4,700 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Operations of the Passport Office were severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as were many other government services. Due to Level 5 restrictions, between January and May of this year, the Passport Service offered emergency passport services only. First time passport applications are necessarily complex to process, since they are essentially applications for Irish citizenship. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The event to which the Deputy refers took place as a webinar on Thursday last. Its aim was to provide information to Irish industry and research institutions on the opportunities for EU funding for research and development projects and engagement in cross-border European programmes and projects in the security and defence domain. Contributors to the event included the European...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The event to which the Deputy refers took place as a webinar on Thursday last. Its purpose was to provide information to Irish industry and research institutions on the opportunities for EU funding for research and development projects and engagement in cross-border European programmes and projects in the security and defence domain. Contributors to the event included the European...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Claims Agency (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The State Claims Agency (SCA) has delegated authority to manage personal injury claims taken against the Minister for Defence. My Department does not hold the information sought by the Deputy. The SCA has provided the following information which was extracted from the National Incident Management System (NIMS). They have advised that they received notification of 80 claims relating to the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Budgets (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Vote 36 Defence is managed through a single programme with all operational outputs delivered from a single set of forces encompassing the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service. Public Financial Procedures set out that a contingent liability arises in any situation where past or current actions or events create a risk of a call on Exchequer funds in the future. Contingent liabilities are disclosed...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I wish to assure the Deputy that the health and welfare of the men and women of the Defence Forces is a high priority for me, my Department, and the military authorities. Given this priority, the former Minister ensured that allegations relating to exposure to chemical and toxic substances whilst working in the Air Corps in Baldonnel were independently reviewed. The independent report...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (30 Nov 2021)

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. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (30 Nov 2021)

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 of defence and other roles. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The mission of the Army Equitation School is to promote the Irish Horse through participation in international competition at the highest level. The Army Equitation School has discharged this task with considerable distinction down through the years and, through its participation and numerous successes in equitation events at home and abroad, it has successfully promoted the qualities of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Planning Issues (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that there is no appeal mechanisms available to An Bord Pleanala’s decision to grant consent. My Department, with the military authorities, is actively considering the implications of this decision and is currently seeking legal advises on same. In the circumstances, I am not in a position to comment further.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is acknowledged that my Department receives correspondence on a continuous basis from the named person. The correspondence has been addressed by way of reply appropriate to the individual issues raised by him. Some of the issues raised by him are beyond my policy brief as Minister for Defence and this person has been so advised. I am ware that there has also been correspondence between him...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant's parent. The parent's passport has been returned as requested The passport processing times apply to passport applications that are fully complete, where all required supporting documentation has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Nov 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: Passport Services (25 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs recognizes the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language in accordance with the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. The Passport Service, as a public office, has a number of staff members who are available to interpret with members of the public availing of its passport services. A member of the public who may...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport applications to the applicants' parent.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (25 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the applicant applied for a first time passport when completing the application form online. The estimated issue date given is in line with processing times for first time applications.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (25 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: We have strongly communicated our position on this issue to the British Government and will continue to do so, and to caution in the clearest terms against any unilateral action. It has been the consistent position of the Government that the Stormont House Agreement provides a balanced and comprehensive framework to address the painful legacy of the Troubles based on the principles of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (25 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: My colleague Minister Ryan, as Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, has overall responsibility for cyber security at a national level. The National Cyber Security Centre in his Department is the national response authority for cyber security incidents. But, of course, response to cyber threats is a whole-of-Government challenge with inputs in the security domain from An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (24 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Travel Emergency service is available to citizens in cases of medical emergency or death of a family member abroad. Proof of emergency is required to avail of this service. First time passport applications are essentially applications for Irish citizenship and, as such, require very rigorous evaluation. First time applications for children are generally expedited through the Travel...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (24 Nov 2021)

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