Results 5,461-5,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Equality Issues (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland delivered a national statement on the 22nd September 2021 at the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. Our participation in the event was an expression of our unequivocal condemnation of racism in all its forms. It also provided the opportunity to categorically...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 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. The current turnaround 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 and 8 weeks for Passport Express...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The application to which the Deputy refers was received on 11 January 2021, and is currently waiting to be processed. All documentation submitted is being stored in a secure environment. 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. We take our legal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The number of passport applications received by the passport office on a monthly basis from January 2020 to August 2021, is set out in tabular form below. 2020 Applications from Overseas Mission Online Applications Paper Applications Total Monthly Applications January 5,229 59,486 25,433 90,148 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 417 and 418 together. The Passport Service maintained operations throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, notwithstanding the fact that the processing of passports requires physical attendance on site to deliver this service. As a result of well implemented safety protocols, our staff were able to assist citizens both at home and abroad who required passports for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: To assist with the response to COVID-19, 166 Passport Service personnel were redeployed into essential public service roles, such as contact tracing for the HSE, assisting the Department of Social Protection to facilitate the processing of COVID-19 related benefits, providing consular assistance to Irish citizens overseas and assisting the Public Appointments Service. Two officers from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: From the 23 August to date, 44 Temporary Clerical Officers were assigned through the Public Appointments Service. Nine TCOs who were assigned did not take up employment with my Department. I can assure the Deputy that staffing needs for the Passport Service, including additional resources to meet the projected demand continues to be an ongoing priority for my Department and an issue which is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has already issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that a pre-budget submission was received in to my Department on 24 September relating to a sail training ship. Officials in my Department will now review and assess the submission. I also understand that officials have contacted the organisation to arrange a meeting in order to discuss the details of the proposal. The State operated a national sail training programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Further to the Deputy’s earlier question, I wish to advise that places on this programme were initially facilitated by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department availed of the opportunity to send participants on this programme but was not involved in the original procurement process. Interest in participating in the programme was sought from employees in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Civil Defence operates on a partnership basis between the Department of Defence and the local authorities. Civil Defence policy is set down by the Minister for Defence through the Civil Defence Branch of the Department of Defence and Civil Defence services are delivered at local level by the relevant Local Authority. The 2015 White Paper on Defence states that it is the responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: There has been considerable interaction between my officials and some of the women who participated in the documentary mentioned before the documentary aired. This took the form of written correspondence, phone calls and a meeting between an individual and officials. All requests for meetings in person are considered within the circumstances pertaining to individual cases.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (28 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise the Deputy that following the broadcast of the Documentary a representative from my Department contacted RTÉ for the purpose of providing Departmental contact details to the Women of Honour. As a result of this contact, an initial meeting subsequently took place between the Secretary General of my Department and the Women of Honour last week and I am scheduled to meet...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 252 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has already issued a passport 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 Applications on Passport Online and 8 weeks...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: In line with the continued scaling up of Passport Services my Department are actively planning for the opening of our Public Offices for the processing of urgent applications for those renewing their passport. This service will resume initially in the public office of the Passport Service in Dublin and we will be making a public announcement on the specific date very soon. The current...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 243 and 244 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has provided an update as to the steps they must take to progress their passport application. 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 (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 245, 247 and 248 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 (23 Sep 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 documents have been received. The current turnaround 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 and 8 weeks for Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I remain gravely concerned by the ongoing human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and particularly the impact on children and their education. Ireland has repeatedly emphasised that the rights of children to protection, safety, and well-being must be upheld at all times. I fully endorse the statement of 9 September 2021 by European Commissioner for Crisis Management,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: There is considerable evidence, including in the most recent report of the United Nation’s Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, that tens of thousands of people in Syria have been subject to arbitrary detention or forcible disappearance by government forces in Syria. Ireland and the EU have repeatedly condemned violations of international human rights law and...