Results 6,201-6,220 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 654 and 658 together. The Passport Service scaled up to more normal operational levels 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 Passport Service has a great deal of experience in dealing with peaks in demand, and we are confident, taking...

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

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs has responsibility for two separate votes, Vote 28 - Department of Foreign Affairs and Vote 27 - International Co-operation. The travel and subsistence costs across both Votes from 1 January 2020 to date are detailed below: € Travel costs (including accommodation) €2,339,564 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reviews (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs has not conducted a value for money study since 1st January 2019. However, as part of the Department's wider evaluation work programme, and in line with the Public Spending Code, a Spending Review of the Ethiopia Country Strategy (2014-2019) was completed in 2020. There were no external costs involved.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The processing of Foreign Births Registration (FBR) applications has been temporarily paused as a result of COVID-19 related restrictions. Prior to this pause, it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to the high volume of applications being received, the complex nature of FBR applications, as well as the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. The FBR application...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department has ongoing contact with Morocco on the range of issues which are of interest to both countries, including human rights. We have an active engagement through our respective Embassies and the opening of an Irish Embassy in Rabat this year will allow us to deepen our bilateral engagement and dialogue with Morocco. I had a virtual meeting with H.E. Nasser Bourita, Minister of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Websites (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department takes its obligations in relation to web accessibility seriously, and we are committed to meeting the requirements set out under the directive 2016/2102 (EU). The Department operates a number of websites including dfa.ie, irishaid.ie, and ireland.ie. A review of accessibility statements across our sites is ongoing.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Websites (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department takes its obligations in relation to web accessibility seriously, and we are committed to meeting the requirements set out in S.I. No. 358/2020 - European Union (Accessibility of Websites and Mobile Applications of Public Sector Bodies) Regulations 2020. The Department operates a number of websites including dfa.ie, irishaid.ie, and ireland.ie and is committed to achieving...

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

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service scaled up to more normal operational levels on 4 May 2021, in line with the phased easing of restrictions set out in “COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021 – The Plan Ahead”. Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The...

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

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement. Entitlement to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: No decision of the European Council or of the Council of the European Union is required to approve Israel's association to Horizon Europe. Israel’s participation in EU programmes, including Horizon Europe, is governed by the specific conditions laid down in the EU-Israel Association Agreement. In accordance with EU policy, this Agreement does not apply to the geographic areas that...

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

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 ("The 2008 Act"). The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. In order to meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department, including the Embassy of Ireland in Bogotá, closely monitors the human rights situation in Colombia and has been active, in co-ordination with our EU partners, in responding to human rights concerns that have arisen in the context of the ongoing national strike. It is our hope that progress can be made in the period ahead on negotiations on a national dialogue. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The EU Digital Covid Certificate is designed to facilitate the safe free movement of citizens within the EU during the Covid-19 pandemic. It will be valid in all EU Member States, including Ireland, and will be provided by the Member State within which the vaccination or Covid-19 test took place. Individual Member States will determine how the EU Digital Covid Certificate will be used as...

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

Simon Coveney: Passport applications for children have specific witnessing requirements in respect of establishing the child applicant’s identity and establishing that consent for the issuance of a passport from all the child’s guardians has been granted. Applications are only valid for six months primarily due to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Regulations on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government has been clear in expressing its support for the EU Digital Covid Certificate which is expected to be implemented in Ireland from 19 July 2021 subject to the prevailing health conditions. The EU Digital Covid Certificate will provide a standardised recognition of the holder's status related to vaccination, recovery from Covid or test result. Each country participating in the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The human rights abuses and breaches of International Humanitarian Law committed by the Syrian regime are extremely well documented. Ireland has consistently called for full accountability for crimes committed, including through our statements on the UN Security Council, and statements at the UN Human Rights Council. The EU has also instituted a series of sanctions against the Syrian regime...

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

Simon Coveney: 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 Plan Ahead”. Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an...

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

Simon Coveney: 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 Plan Ahead”. Passport Online will continue to be the priority channel given the efficiencies that are in-built into the system for both the applicant and the Passport Service. The processing of an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm that there are no employees in my Department in receipt of a higher duty acting allowance for over two years. There are no bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (15 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Matters related to expert working groups on restarting travel formed by the US Administration are the responsibility of US authorities. However, ease of travel is vital to our economic relationships and for building connections across the Atlantic. We continue to engage with the US State Department, primarily via our Embassy in Washington D.C., on travel, and the associated restrictions,...