Results 6,021-6,040 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jun 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: Diplomatic Representation (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department is aware of the arrest and sentencing of environmental activists in Cambodia. Officers at our Embassy in Hanoi have been in contact with the EU Delegation in Phnom Penh in relation to this situation. Within the EU, officials from the Embassy of Sweden attended the trial as observers and debriefed EU colleagues. We will continue to discuss the appropriate reaction with our EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service scaled up 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 priority currently is to clear the Covid passport backlog and to continue to supply emergency and expanded customer services via our web chat and phone services. So far we have issued approx...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Working Holiday Authorisations (WHAs) play an important role in building Ireland’s bilateral relations with the United States, Canada and a number of other non-European countries and regions with which we have reciprocal agreements. As Minister, I am fully supportive of the objectives of the Working Holiday programmes and their important contribution in promoting people-to-people...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department is fully committed to promoting a fair and equal workplace for our people and, in particular, to our obligations under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014. Equality and respect for human rights are fundamental values of my Department both as a policy objective and in the performance of its functions. The fostering of a positive working environment is a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Disabilities Assessments (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department is committed to ensuring our policies, procedures and services across our business areas comply with our requirements in the area of human rights and equality including disability. In line with the Cabinet Handbook, as part of every proposal that goes to Government we are required to assess and declare that there are no impacts for the following: North/South or East/West...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the processing of US student visas, and the provision of appointments at US Embassies, are solely a matter for the US authorities, I cannot advise on this specific case. My advice to those seeking to apply for a US student or exchange visa is to monitor the US Embassy in Dublin's website and to engage with them directly on visa appointment issues. My officials have, however, raised the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that the Department of Foreign Affairs can issue a civil letter of freedom (Certificat de Coutume) to Irish citizens getting married abroad. This is not a requirement under Irish law, but is sometimes required by the relevant authorities in the country in which a citizen wishes to get married. The Certificat de Coutume that the Department of Foreign Affairs issues is a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Addressing the situation of undocumented Irish emigrants in the US and working to secure legal pathways for Irish people who wish to live and work in the US are key priorities for this Government. We have continued to raise these matters in our engagement with successive US Administrations, Members of US Congress and leaders from across the political spectrum. The Taoiseach raised the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: As we have all seen from recent incidents, Cyber security is an issue with very significant implications for governmental administration, for industry, for economic wellbeing and for the security and safety of citizens. It is a standing item on the agenda of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which I Chair where it is always a key topic of discussion. The response to cyber...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 289, 290, 300 and 301 together. As of 8 June 2021, Ireland is contributing 564 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 337 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Emergency Plan (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which coordinates emergency management policy across Government Departments and Agencies. Key areas of work include critical entity resilience, risk management and emergency communications. I convened four meetings of the Government Task Force in 2020 and have chaired two meetings so far in 2021. A further meeting is scheduled to take...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The attached table details the strength of the Permanent Defence Force across the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps as at 31st May 2021 (the latest date for which such data is available); the breakdown of all ranks across the three services; and the gender breakdown of same.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 293 and 309 together. As of 8 June 2021, Ireland is contributing 564 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 337 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: As has been evident from the current attack on our health sector, cyber security is an issue with very significant implications for governmental administration, for industry, for economic wellbeing and for the security and safety of our citizens. The response to cyber threats is a whole-of-Government challenge, with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications taking the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are many reasons why individuals may leave the Defence Forces ranging from individual personal circumstances, other career opportunities, having fulfilled their contract or retirement on age grounds. The Defence Forces offer significant career opportunities and whilst pay has been highlighted as an issue, there has been significant progress in recent years. Public Service pay policy is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My colleague Minister Ryan, as Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, retains overall responsibility for cyber security at a national level but, of course, the response to cyber threats is a whole-of-Government challenge with inputs in the security domain from An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. As we have seen with the cyberattack on the HSE, cyber...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s People Strategy underpins the approach to supporting employees. It has at its core, a commitment to equality of opportunity. Department employees are supported in working in a safe, inclusive environment through a Dignity at Work policy and through a range of learning and development opportunities, including unconscious bias training. There are also additional supports...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Disabilities Assessments (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not had occasion to undertake a disability impact assessment, but should the requirement arise, an assessment will be carried out as required by the Cabinet Handbook.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: 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 airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel,...