Results 5,861-5,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: As of 1 July 2021, Ireland is contributing 579 personnel to 10 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 351 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 137 personnel. The Defence Forces have a long and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) is 262 members, as of 31 May 2020. As outlined in the White Paper on Defence, the Government has decided to retain the FLR. The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to join the Army Reserve or Naval Service Reserve. This is subject to their meeting certain criteria. Direct entry to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Corps (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 190 together. The Air Corps is not tasked or equipped to monitor and communicate with aircraft overflying Irish airspace, military or otherwise and irrespective of whether the transponder is switched on or not. However, on a routine basis the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Naval Service (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: An Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) is a concept adopted at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (1982), whereby a coastal State assumes jurisdiction over the exploration and exploitation of marine resources in its adjacent section of the continental shelf, taken to be a band extending 200 miles from the shore. The current Irish Exclusive Economic Zone, (EEZ) or Exclusive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Corps (14 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: For the Deputy's awareness, in accordance with the legislative requirements of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly or land in the State require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. A request is received by the Department of Foreign Affairs from the relevant embassy of the visiting/overflying foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The EU Digital COVID Certificate (DCC) is proof (in digital or paper format) that an individual has been vaccinated against COVID-19, hasreceived a negative COVID-19 test result or has recovered from COVID-19 in the last 6 months. The Digital COVID Certificate is a record of a medical event that takes place in the country of issuance. People who were vaccinated or have recovered from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I cannot comment on reports concerning arrangements for national security. I can confirm however that the Government’s engagement in international security cooperation is aimed at ensuring public safety and is conducted with full respect for Irish sovereign decision-making authority and for Ireland’s long standing policy of military neutrality.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service was in contact with the applicant's guardians on 12 July confirming the return of supporting documents provided and provided an update on the status of the passport application. The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reviews (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: No social impact assessments have been carried out by my Department since 1 January 2016. There are no public bodies or agencies under the remit of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for citizenship by descent through the Foreign Births Register. Prior to COVID-19 it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to the complex nature of FBR applications and the very high volume of applications due to Brexit. At present, there are just over 30,000 applications in the Foreign Births Registration (FBR) system that await...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply concerned by ongoing violence between nomadic herders and sedentary agrarian communities, which has escalated in Nigeria in recent years, and poses a serious challenge to stability and security in the country and the region more generally. There can be no justification for acts of violence and discrimination based on religion or belief. While the vast majority of herders are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 388 together. Ireland is a strong supporter of the EU’s new Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, established in December 2020. The Regime provides the EU with a concrete tool to target those responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses, wherever they might occur, including in States not currently subject to a specific...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department closely followed preparations for the Tbilisi Pride and statements made by its organisers, Georgian authorities and religious officials prior to the event. In response to the shocking events that took place on 5 July Ireland joined a statement from the EU Delegation to Georgia and over 20 Embassies and Missions, condemning the violent attacks, as well as the failure of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. The Service has been focused since then on four priority areas. - Clearing the COVID-19 backlog of 89,000 passport applications. - Processing all adult renewal applications (including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Cases (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The table below sets out the number of cases brought against my Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021, and the nature of those cases. Year Number of Cases Nature of Case 2021 3 Passport (1)  Foreign Births Registration (1) Unfair Dismissal (1) 2020 6 Passport (3) Data breach...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: I note with concern the details in the statement referred to by the Deputy. Respect for human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. Ireland urges all States to safeguard the human rights of prisoners and detainees, as set out in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service was in contact with the applicant on 9 July to provide an update on the status of the passport application. The Passport Service scaled up operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has issued 309,000 passport books and cards to date in 2021. The Passport Service commenced the scaling up of operations on 4 May 2021 in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. The Service has been focused since then on four priority areas. - Clearing the COVID-19 backlog of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: As I have previously stated, the ceasefire which came into effect on 21 May is welcome and we must do all we can to support it. Tensions are still high in the region, and there remains a responsibility on all parties to ensure the ceasefire is respected. Responsibility also lies with the international community to support the ceasefire and to encourage the parties towards a return to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 Jul 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s membership of the United Nations and the European Union is central to our foreign policy and to our continued efforts to highlight and eliminate human rights violations. Through our membership of the United Nations Security Council, we are committed to actively mainstreaming human rights across the full Council agenda, which includes some 20 thematic files and 30 country...