Results 4,921-4,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland: Statements (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am delighted to be back once again in the Seanad to participate in this timely discussion on the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. The ongoing work of this Chamber on Brexit issues, particularly the efforts of the Seanad Special Select Committee on the Withdrawal of the UK from the EU, underlines the continued importance of this issue for communities across the country. Northern...

Seanad: Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland: Statements (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank all Senators for their contributions which, in some cases, were questions. I will try to move through those questions as best I can. I will deal first with Senator Mullen's comments. He rightly asked questions that some might, perhaps, think are unpalatable and so on. I will try to answer some of the issues. As the person representing him and the Irish Government, I have tried to...

Seanad: Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland: Statements (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: They have accepted that, but they also want to maintain connection with the rest of the island of Ireland. They want an absence of borders and the protections of a free trading environment in and out of the European Union, as well as with the rest of the United Kingdom. This was a compromise where all sides had to sacrifice something. To see it through only one perspective because there is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The number of staff working in the Passport Service as of 11 November 2021 is 557. All Passport Service processing and operations teams are working on site to produce passports. This represents 99% of total staff, allocated to core functions such as customer service; validation and checking; production and dispatch of passports. So far this year, the production and operations teams have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 96 together. My Department fully recognises that Passport Express, and Northern Ireland Passport Express, continue to be an important channel for applicants who do not wish to use the online system or who do not have access to online services. The Passport Express channel was created in partnership with An Post’s Swiftpost option to provide...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has issued over half a million passports to date in 2021 and 45% of simple adult renewals issue within one business day. The current passport processing times are: - 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals - 15 working days for Complex renewals - 40 working days for First Time Applications on Passport Online - 8 weeks for An Post’s mail-in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are currently 5,874 passport applications from Cork with the Passport Service.While we cannot set out the applications from Cork that were on hand on previous dates or periods as requested by the Deputy, the table beneath summarises the applications by type - Adult and Child first time applications and Adult and Child renewal applications. The current turnaround times are: - 10...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I remain concerned by the situation in East Jerusalem where tensions remain high. Palestinian residents in the neighbourhood of Sheikh Jarrah have faced a longstanding threat of eviction. I have clearly and repeatedly conveyed our concerns on this issue directly to the Israeli authorities, at EU level and at the UN Security Council. Ireland’s Representative Office in Ramallah...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Cadet School Headquarters projects involves the upgrading of the current Mission Preparation Centre and adjacent Mess with the provision of a new build extension complete with administration offices, recreation areas, interview/meeting rooms, ablution facilities and storage areas to support the induction and training of officer cadets. The new facility will provide for a mix of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Consultations (17 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department with Kildare County Council have commissioned consultants to conduct public consultations to inform the development and future management of the Curragh Plains. The first round of consultations were completed earlier this year and resulted in excess of 3,600 responses. The next phase of the project relating to the development of a Conservation Management Plan and a Branding Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has already issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (“The 2008 Act”). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this legal requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship in his/her passport application. As part of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 304, 305, 307 and 325 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update on the status of the passport application to the applicant. The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for Complex renewals, 40 working days for First Time...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the passport application has been cancelled by the applicant's guardian.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department fully recognises that Passport Express, and Northern Ireland Passport Express, continue to be an important channel for applicants who do not wish to use the online system or who have limited digital skills. Passport applicants who choose to use An Post's paper-based, mail-in "Passport Express" service receive a letter from the Passport Service if additional documents are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 to 318, inclusive, together. Passport Service operations were severely disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, as were many Government Services. Notwithstanding that disruption and the necessary restrictions put in place to protect public health, the Passport Service provided service to our citizens facing a medical emergency of death of a family member...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Communities Abroad (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Regarding travel advice to Iraq, the Department constantly reviews and updates international travel advice for Irish citizens travelling abroad, working closely with our missions abroad and international partners. The Department of Foreign Affairs have for several years advised against all travel to Iraq, due to the volatile security situation, with a high risk of terrorism and kidnapping....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland stands with Poland, Lithuania and Latvia in resisting the attempts by Belarus to provoke a violent confrontation on the external border of the European Union. Our view is that this is a humanitarian crisis above all, and that the welfare and safety of the affected migrants must be our priority. Ireland has repeatedly raised the plight of refugees stranded on the border between...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: In 2018, the United States introduced a new law obliging the US State Department to apply reciprocal treatment between US and foreign citizens when it comes to costs of visas and permissions. The State Department subsequently conducted a review for Ireland, initially identifying seven visa categories for which they proposed an increase to bring them in line with their interpretation of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (16 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has been in direct contact with the applicant's parent and has provided an update on the status of the application and the steps they must take to correctly complete the passport application. The Passport Service cannot process the application until the required supporting documents have been...