Results 5,521-5,540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Appointments (16 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Subsistence expenses were processed through the Department of Children and Youth Affairs in relation to three visits carried out by the then Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Ms. Katherine Zappone, in her capacity as Special Envoy for the UN Security Council campaign. The Department of Foreign Affairs reimbursed the Department of Children and Youth Affairs for these costs. The visits...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is guided by Government policy and guidelines on COVID-19, including Reframing the Challenge, Continuing our Recovery and Reconnecting, and the Work Safely Protocol published by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, as well as by HSE advice.  The Department provides staff with face masks where they are deemed essential for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Sep 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 Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (16 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Defence has complied with both the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and Covid19 public health guidelines, providing all staff with barrier facemasks (black reusable) to be worn while in attendance in any of the Department's buildings. Masks provided meet the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI) certified standard. With regards to Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (16 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: All members of the Defence Forces have a right to be treated with respect, equality and dignity and to carry out their duties free from any form of sexual harassment, harassment or bullying. Unacceptable forms of behaviour are not tolerated in the Defence Forces and where there are allegations of offences having been committed, investigations will be initiated by the appropriate...

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I want to sincerely thank colleagues who will vote in support of me this evening despite the fact that many of them have been less than impressed - I know that - with my handling of this controversy.

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I thank them for their trust, their sense of perspective, which is often lost in the heat of political debate, and their decency. I sincerely hope that following this motion, I can return to focusing fully on the important work of Government and the office that I am privileged to hold.

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is a hypocrite.

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: You are a hypocrite.

Confidence in Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence: Motion (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: First, I would like to thank everybody who has spoken in support of me this evening. Their support is much appreciated. Quite honestly, I never thought I would find myself in the middle of a debate like this one. Given the magnitude of the issues this House needs to deal with, including the removal of Covid restrictions, the pressures on healthcare delivery across the country, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 343 and 344 together. 1206 and 1208 together. The Government has dedicated substantial time and resources into preparing for Brexit since 2016. This intensive effort across departments and agencies included the development of two Brexit Omnibus Acts; three Brexit Action Plans; substantial investment in the State’s infrastructure and IT systems...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 345, 349, 351, 355, 360, 364, 367 and 368 together. With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has been in contact with the applicants to provide an update on the status of the passport applications.  The current turnaround times are 10 working days for Simple Adult renewals, 15 working days for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (15 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.  We take our legal responsibility in relation to Foreign Birth Registration very seriously and prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the processing time for these applications stood at 18 months.  This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Asylum Seekers (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: 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 (IRPP).  The IRPP was created in 2015 as part of Ireland’s response to the migration crisis in central...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs paid Common Purpose Ireland for one place on a leadership development course at a cost of €3,000 during 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 350, 356 and 357 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 who required passports for a range of emergency...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Government Communications (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department recognised the public interest in the matter raised, namely the appointment of a Special Envoy on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. For this reason, it was decided to publish records related to the matter on our website, in a transparent and comprehensive manner, within all the applicable deadlines under the FOI Act. Each individual person who had lodged an FOI request was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland House Tokyo is a significant construction project under the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 commitment to double Ireland’s global outreach.  It will include a flexible economic promotion event and exhibition space as well as office accommodation for the Embassy of Ireland and a number of the promotional State agencies (Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Bord Bia and Tourism...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Government Communications (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Since March 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, entry to the United States of America has been restricted for most people travelling from Ireland, as well as from a number of other countries.  Vaccination status currently does not have any bearing on such admissions, for tourism, or otherwise.  Although admission to the United States is solely a matter for US...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service maintained operations throughout the 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 during the pandemic, our staff were able to assist citizens who required passports for a range of emergency and urgent personal, business or legal reasons, or...