Results 4,881-4,900 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 125 together. The Department of Public Expenditure & Reform is responsible for managing the process for the appointment, by Government, of an Adjudicator for all Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) schemes operating across the public service, including the C&A Scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force. The term of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Public Service pay policy is determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, having regard to Public Sector Pay Agreements. The most recent public service pay agreement ‘Building Momentum – A New Public Service Agreement 2021 – 2022’ was voted on and has been accepted by members of the Permanent Defence Force Representative Associations, that is RACO...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Properties (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that my Department has given permission to the Office of Public Works for the use of part of this holding as a Direct Provision centre which has been in operation for a number of years. My Department has not received any notification of the intention to vacate the premises. The Deputy may wish to note that my Department together with the Defence Forces have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: In general, medals are awarded to members of the Defence Forces on the basis of various criteria such as their length of service, for service overseas and for acts of bravery associated with such service both at home and overseas. Defence Force Regulation (DFR) A9 sets out the qualifying criteria required to be awarded such Defence Forces Medals. This Regulation also delineates the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: There is sustained close collaboration between the civil and military sides of the Defence Organisation to identify, resolve and progress any matters that may arise. Such collaboration takes place at all levels of the organisation. The central forum for the management and oversight of civil and military matters is provided by the joint civil-military Strategic Management Committee,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The UNIFIL mission in Lebanon continues to represent Ireland's largest overseas deployment and on 4 May 2021 the Government approved the continued participation of the Defence Forces in UNIFIL for a further 12 month period. The Irish contingent serves as part of a joint Ireland/Poland Battalion, with smaller numbers of additional personnel provided by both Hungary and Malta. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: All members of the Defence Forces, both male and female, have the right to be treated with respect, equality and dignity and to carry out their duties free from any form of harassment, sexual harassment or bullying. Where there are allegations of offences having been committed, investigations will be initiated by the appropriate authorities. Arising from the 2002 publication of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Primary responsibility for the internal security of the State rests with the Minister for Justice and An Garda Síochána. Accordingly, responsibility for the security aspect of border control rests with An Garda Síochána, while the Revenue Commissioners also have responsibilities relating to their particular mandate. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Naval Service (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Naval Service is the State’s principal seagoing agency maintaining a constant presence 24 hours a day, 365 days a year throughout Ireland’s enormous and rich maritime jurisdiction, upholding Ireland’s sovereign rights. It is the maritime component of the Defence Forces and is tasked with a variety of roles in support of a broad range of departments and agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: 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 truth, justice, rule of law and reconciliation. Progress on its implementation is crucial, for families and victims and for society as a whole. It was agreed in 2014 by both Governments...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I wish to thank the Deputy for this parliamentary question and refer him to the previous response to his parliamentary question 47401/21, which provides information on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government is committed to doing everything possible to support and facilitate the resumption of safe international air travel, and especially to ensure that Irish citizens living abroad are able to return home to Ireland for visits and to reunite with friends and family here. Singapore determines its own policies and regulations on who can enter that country and what measures and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (18 Nov 2021)

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. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that as of Monday 15th November, the processing of Foreign Birth Registration has resumed and will be gradually scaling up in line with the recruitment of additional resources. Foreign Birth Registration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the applicant mistakenly applied for a first time passport when completing the application form online. As a result, the estimated issue date given is in line with processing times for first time applications. The Passport Service has contacted the applicant and informed them of what is required to progress their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 215 together. The Passport Service Customer Service centre has been operational since June 2021 in line with the scaling up of passport operations as pandemic restrictions were eased. Currently, 75 officers are responding to customer queries by phone and webchat as well as with enquiries related to Emergency Passport cases. Since June, Customer...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together. At an early stage in the Withdrawal Agreement negotiations, both the UK and the EU acknowledged the unique circumstances on the island of Ireland, recognising the necessity of protecting the gains of the peace process, including avoiding a hard border and protecting North-South cooperation. To recall, the Protocol is the joint EU-UK...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government has dedicated substantial time and resources into preparing for the political and economic effects of Brexit since 2016. The Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland / Northern Ireland, and the Trade and Cooperation Agreement agreed by the EU and the UK mitigate many of the potential political and economic issues that might have arisen as a result of Brexit. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I have met with UK Minister of State David Frost on a number of occasions in the last year, most recently in September, at the meeting of the British Irish Association in Oxford. I have also discussed the Protocol in meetings with other UK ministers, including with the UK Foreign Secretary Elizabeth Truss on 13 October and the Minister for Europe and Americas at the Foreign, Commonwealth...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 203 together. Ireland condemns the regime of Alexander Lukashenko for its exploitation of migrants for political purposes. At the November Foreign Affairs Council meeting, EU Foreign Ministers discussed the escalation in the crisis along the EU’s borders with Belarus. We took swift action and agreed to broaden the listings criteria for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204, 205, 210, 212, 213 and 214 together. The promotion and protection of human rights is a foreign policy priority for me as Minister, and for the wider Government. As well as bilaterally through our mission network, Ireland contributes strongly to United Nations and European Union efforts to eliminate human rights violations and abuses. The rights of...