Results 5,341-5,360 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Middle East Peace Process is a key priority for Ireland during our term on the Security Council. We have engaged actively in monthly meetings on the situation. I addressed meetings of the Council on this issue in January and May. Throughout our Security Council tenure, my officials have consistently engaged with representatives of the parties to the conflict, and with key...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entry to the US has been restricted for most people travelling from Ireland, as well as from a number of other countries, since March 2020. In recent weeks, the White House announced that these restrictions will be lifted, for those who are fully vaccinated, in early November. I very much welcome this announcement and I know this will come as good news...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 (“the 1956 Act”), 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 necessarily rigorous...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I remain deeply concerned by the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Tigray, including the ongoing blockade of the region and attacks on humanitarian workers. Ireland continues to strongly advocate for an urgent response to the crisis, and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict - through our bilateral engagement, our EU membership, and at the UN Security...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 75 together. Ireland’s Presidency of the United Nations Security Council in September provides an important opportunity to advance our foreign policy priorities, including the promotion and protection of human rights.  Since taking up our seat in January, we have consistently worked to uphold international human rights law and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The current programmes through which Afghan nationals can re-locate to Ireland are the Irish Refugee Protection Programme, managed by the Department of Children, Equality Disability, Integration and Youth Affairs, and the family reunification and international protection programmes managed by the Department of Justice.  Last month I announced, together with the Minister for Children,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23, 25 and 82 together. Irish citizens and their direct dependents in Afghanistan currently number 50. The Department of Foreign Affairs is in touch with and providing consular assistance to this group, and since mid-August 58 Irish citizens and their dependents have safely exited from the country. Our support has included the short-term deployment of an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am concerned by some of the developments relating to LGBTI+ people in Poland including the impact of resolutions adopted by some local authorities on members of the LGBTI+ community. I can assure the Deputy that our concerns on these matters have been raised with the Polish Government. I have written to my Polish counterpart to set out the concerns that have been expressed by Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach chaired the UN Security Council Open Debate on Climate and Security on 23 September, the second of three high-level signature events during Ireland’s Presidency of the Council this month. Climate and Security is a relatively new agenda item on the Security Council. It is a priority for Ireland’s membership, and we are currently providing leadership on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 67 and 70 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: My colleague the Minister for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne, T.D., undertook a working visit to Latvia and Estonia from 5th to 7th September 2021.  The visit marked the thirtieth anniversary of diplomatic relations between Ireland and the Baltic States following the re-establishment of independence in 1991. The Minister’s programme included a wide range of engagements in both...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The issues to which the Deputy refers are kept under review by my officials at the Belfast Secretariat. Officials regularly engage with a range of parties to monitor the situation in relation to security related matters. The Deputy will be aware that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact in terms of causing delays and backlogs within the Northern Ireland criminal justice...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Family Reunification (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Justice has responsibility for matters pertaining to family reunification visas. In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, that Department is currently focused on processing family reunification applications for Afghan family members of Irish citizens and Afghan nationals living in Ireland. A person can apply for family reunification under the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I consider that the US's long-standing economic embargo serves no constructive purpose and that its lifting would facilitate an opening of Cuba’s economy to the benefit of its people. Ireland, along with our EU partners, has been a consistent supporter of the annual Resolution put forward by Cuba at the UN General Assembly regarding the US economic blockade, and Ireland again voted in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, proposals for such a treaty are being advanced by an Open Ended Intergovernmental Working Group established by resolution 26/9 of the Human Rights Council in 2014. I favour constructive engagement with proposals for a legally binding treaty in the area of Business and Human Rights.  Ireland has engaged with this treaty process through the European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: As a current member of the Security Council, Ireland seeks to improve the mandates of UN peacekeeping operations so that they align with the needs of the populations that they serve, including in the case of MINURSO. We believe that UN peace operations have an essential role to play in promoting respect for human rights. Ireland’s longstanding position on Western Sahara is one of...

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

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has issued almost 450,000 passports and passport cards in 2021. There are approximately 130,000 applications currently on hand with the Passport Service. Approximately 60% of those applications are first-time applications. First-time applications are complex to process. The Passport Service must validate the true identity of the applicant, take measures to ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 55, 56 and 71 together. Last month I announced, together with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and the Minister of State for Law Reform, Youth Justice and Immigration, that places would be allocated to Afghan nationals under the Irish Refugee Protection Programme.  The programme was created in 2015 as part of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I travelled to New York from 20 to 24 September for a series of meetings in relation to the 76th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) High Level Week, which began on 21 September. Although heavily curtailed due to COVID restrictions, this year saw a limited number of in-person elements which provided Ireland with an opportunity to highlight our priorities for the United Nations and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government continues to prioritise immigration issues in our relationship with the United States. This includes working towards secure legal pathways for Irish people to live and work in the US as well as addressing the situation of undocumented Irish. We have continued to raise these matters, including but not limited to the E3 Visa Bill, in our engagement with successive US...