Results 6,381-6,400 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Travel Area (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government has had to introduce a range of restrictions on domestic and international travel to address the unprecedented challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions were developed on the basis of public health advice and are being amended on the basis of such advice, as conditions allow.   Our current arrangements are set out on the “Travelling...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 May 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: Ministerial Meetings (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Citizens’ rights were a priority issue in the negotiations which ultimately led to the Withdrawal Agreement. The Agreement protects those EU citizens who were lawfully residing in the United Kingdom, and UK nationals lawfully residing in one of the 27 EU Member States at the end of the transition period. It also protects the family members that are granted rights under EU law to join...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Communications (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I have made my position on Ireland's firm and sustained commitment to academic freedom as a cornerstone of an open and democratic society publicly clear, including in the context of the matter raised by the Deputy. I am certain it is well known by both Embassies.  I would recall that Ireland's support for the promotion of respect for academic freedom and freedom of speech form key parts...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 434 and 438 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 is now processing all Passport Online applications. It is expected that the 89,000...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Diplomatic relations between States, and with their diplomatic missions, are regulated by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations 1961, as transposed into Irish law by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967. Under the Vienna Convention, there are a suite of measures provided for the conduct of relations between States including measures to allow States to express...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department's Property Management Unit in our Corporate Services Division, has a number of architects employed to manage the professional and technical elements of development and maintenance of my Department's properties overseas. Please see below the number of architects in my Department for the years requested in tabular form. There are currently no vacant architect posts in my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Social Media (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department takes its obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003 seriously, and we are committed to providing services in both official languages, including communications campaigns promoting the Irish language at home and overseas around International Mother Language Day, Seachtain na Gaeilge, and European Day of Languages. The Department, including through our network of global...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Queries in relation to pension entitlements in respect of serving or deceased members of the Permanent Defence Force can be directed to Pensions Administration Section, Department of Defence, Áras an tSáile, Renmore, Galway, H91 AN2E, telephone number 091 743900 or email pensions.admin@defence.ie.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Sustainable Development Goals (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 440 and 441 together. The Sustainable Development Goals National Implementation Plan 2018-2020 was published in direct response to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and provides a whole-of-government approach to implement the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).  The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has lead...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Social Media (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department engages the company Truehawk Media for media monitoring to include print, broadcast, online and Twitter, and provide reports as required. The cost for complete service to include social media, print, online and broadcast is €798.27 per month inclusive of VAT.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Social Media (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department currently has a communications specialist at Higher Executive Officer grade.  As part of his role he is tasked with monitoring and completing reports on social media coverage of my Department and Ministerial activities. This official spends between 3 and 5 working hours per week on these activities.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Investigations (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: In the past three years my Department has not engaged any private investigation companies or persons.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The overall establishment strength of the Defence Forces School of Music (DFSM) is 123 personnel. The table below details the vacancies, by rank, in the DFSM that existed on 31st March 2021. Rank Lt Col Comdt Captain Lt CS CQ Sgt Cpl Pte* Vacancies 0 0 1 0 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained to the greatest extent possible. This is primarily to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government, as set out in the White Paper on Defence. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are being considered...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The ‘Defence Forces 5 year Infrastructure Programme 2020 – 2025’,provides for the implementation of the policy approach outlined in the White Paper on Defence and will enhance Defence Forces physical infrastructure and accommodation as an important component of defence capability. This Programme reflects the complex environment in which the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Data Protection (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department takes its data protection responsibilities very seriously and makes every effort to ensure that personal data is safeguarded at all times.  Technical and organisational measures, as required under GDPR, are implemented to ensure the security of personal data being processed.  Data security and data privacy are central topics of all data protection awareness campaigns...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Common Foreign and Security Policy (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a process under which groups of Member States can come together to develop capabilities in support of Common CSDP Operations. On a voluntary basis, 25 EU Member States have joined PESCO and subscribed to more binding commitments to invest, plan, develop and operate defence capabilities together within this EU framework. Ireland's participation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) was established on 1st October 2015. Since that date twenty-eight (28) complaints have been made against the Defence Forces, with the Minister for Defence listed as the Respondant in all such cases. Complaints made may originate from either Defence Forces personnel or civilians ("Others" in the table below).  The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Social Media (18 May 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department takes every opportunity possible in its day-to-day interactions with customers to promote and publicise the services it provides through Irish. These include the Department’s website where all static content is bilingual. The Department’s corporate documents are available in both English and Irish as follows:- - Annual Report - Strategy Statement - Customer...