Results 5,061-5,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 420, 429 and 430 together. Operations of the Passport Service were severely disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic, as were many Government services. Emergency passport services were maintained during the pandemic, which required staff to be on site to process and issue passports. On that basis, and taking account of the COVID protocols in place at the time,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (2 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. I know that this is a matter of great concern for the approximately 5,000 members of our Irish community in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The principle of consent and the possibility of change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland are fundamental elements of the Good Friday Agreement, endorsed by the people of this island North and South. The Government respects and affirms everyone’s right on the island to make the case for the constitutional future for Northern Ireland they wish to see, whether they are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Our network of diplomatic missions in Asia is kept under constant review, in the context of commitments set out in the Programme for Government, in Global Ireland 2025 and in our Asia-Pacific Strategy. In Asia, we have opened a Consulate-General in Mumbai and a new Embassy in Manila will open very soon. However, at present there are no plans to open either a new Consulate General or Embassy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: This is a complex case involving an Irish citizen who has been prevented from leaving China since March 2019. My Department has been providing ongoing consular assistance to the citizen since that time through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, our Embassy in Beijing and our Consulate General in Shanghai, while he and his legal teams work on the legal, commercial and financial issues...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service of my Department is one unified service composed of three constituent offices located in Lower Mount Street and Balbriggan in Dublin and South Mall in Cork. Passport applications from citizens residing in Ireland or elsewhere in the world are distributed for processing across the three Passport Offices. All passport applications are processed through the centralised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (2 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. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit, and the necessary rigorous processing that applies to citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Nov 2021)

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 document has been received. The Passport Service has provided an update as to the steps the applicant must take to progress the passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 432 and 433 together. As the Deputy is aware, Ireland distinguishes between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967, in line with international law and the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. This position is common across all Government Departments. Consequently, as noted in the response to Parliamentary Question...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 435, 434 and 440 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.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: While the operation of the Passport Service public offices was necessarily restricted due to public health measures arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Passport Office in Mount St, Dublin 2 and the Passport Office in Cork are now offering an Urgent Appointment Service for the renewal of passports. To avail of the Urgent Appointment Service for Passport Renewal, applicants must first...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (2 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. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit, and the necessary rigorous processing that applies to citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Tracker provides applicants with an indication of how their application is progressing through the system and gives an estimated issue date based on the current average application processing time. The ‘bar level’ is only indicative and applicants should refer to the text box below the ‘bar level’ which gives the most up to date position. Once the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: On 18 October, 2021, a number of Embassies in Ankara (Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the USA) issued a joint statement regarding the ongoing detention of Turkish businessman and philanthropist Osman Kavala, noting that the date marked four years since his detention. The joint statement called for a just and speedy resolution to his...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am very sorry to hear of this case, which must be distressing for all involved. As the Deputy will be aware, matters related to Australia's border restrictions are managed by the Australian Government. The Department of Foreign Affairs role is therefore limited in such instances. However, the Consular Assistance team in my Department has engaged with the family in question on how to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (2 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. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for FBR applications stood at 18 months due to an unprecedented surge in applications as a result of Brexit, and the necessary rigorous processing that applies to citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Strengthening the ties between Ireland and the United States is a priority for this Government as set out in our Strategy for the US and Canada (2019-2025).Ireland has continually developed and maintained close relations with the US, including through our Embassy in Washington D.C., our other diplomatic missions across the US and through the US Embassy in Dublin. I have spoken to my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I made a statement on this issue on 27 October, as follows: "I am concerned at the designation by Israel’s Ministry of Defence of six Palestinian NGOs, including organisations in receipt of support from Irish Aid and the EU, as terrorist entities on Friday, 22 October. The EU is in touch with Israeli authorities to seek clarification. We were not informed in advance of these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Bodies (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Mr Christos Stylianides was appointed ‘Special Envoy for the promotion of freedom of religion or belief outside the EU’ in May 2021 but has since resigned. The EU are currently seeking a suitable replacement for Mr Stylianides. The EU has made clear that an appointment to the role will be made in due course and that the future mandate of the Special Envoy is currently being...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (2 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is a party to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and is a firm supporter of the role and work of the ICC in ending impunity for the most heinous crimes. One of the mechanisms provided by the Rome Statute to trigger the Court’s jurisdiction over these crimes is that the United Nations Security Council can refer a situation to the Court. Referrals by the...