Results 6,661-6,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (29 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, is concerned about the adoption by the National People’s Congress of a national security law in Hong Kong, which risks undermining the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong under the One Country, Two Systems principle.  The decision by the Chinese National People's Congress in March of this year to change the electoral system in Hong Kong is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (29 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 55 and 56 together. In line with the National Framework on Living with COVID-19, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19. This essential service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness...

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

Simon Coveney: Staff of the Passport Service continue to produce emergency and urgent applications, to offer customer service through WebChat, to assist with consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas and temporary reassignment. The Passport Office has issued more than 3,500 urgent and emergency passports since the beginning of the year. Our Webchat team have also responded to more than 45,000...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (29 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: As I have previously outlined in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 22 April 2021, the development of the Air Corps Flying Officers Commitment Scheme arose from a recommendation made in the Public Service Pay Commission report on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces. Following engagement by my officials with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: The events of recent weeks in Northern Ireland have been of real concern for us all, and the Government has been in regular contact with the British Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland throughout this period. The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Johnson have spoken and called for calm and dialogue, and I have been in regular contact with the Secretary of State for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: In line with the National Framework on Living with Covid-19, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of Covid-19.  Applicants who require an urgent or emergency passport, can contact the Passport Service via our Customer Service Hub Webchat function on our website. Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: Last week, the Danish authorities provided an update to EU Ambassadors to Denmark, including Ireland’s Ambassador, on the current situation in the context of migration policy and the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum. I understand that the decisions referred to by the media regarding Syrian refugees were made by an Independent Appeals Board in Denmark which is part of the independent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: The importance of acknowledging, respecting and effectively dealing with the tragic legacy of the past cannot be underestimated. Lost Lives, which chronicles all of the 3,700 people killed in the conflict, is a significant historical and social resource. The rights to Lost Lives are solely a matter for its authors, who have made such a valuable contribution to the historical...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is wholly opposed to Israeli settlements in Palestine, which are contrary to international law, and is committed to upholding relevant UN Security Resolutions on settlements. It is critical however that action against settlements must be both lawful and well-considered, since actions which are not fully thought-through risk ultimately being unwound, thereby undermining the cause they...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 507, 511, 518 and 519 together. In line with the National Framework on Living with Covid-19, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of Covid-19.  This essential service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: Effective whole-of-Government coordination has always been central to the Government’s approach  to Brexit. Dedicated structures and working methods to ensure effective and coherent cooperation are in place in both the Permanent Representation in Brussels and at Headquarters. During the EU-UK negotiations there was ongoing contact between the Brexit structures of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 509 and 510 together. I did not meet either President Macron or Chancellor Merkel in December 2020, and as such, no briefing material exists. Throughout the negotiations process that led to the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, Ireland stayed in close contact with other EU Member States and the Commission. This included engagements I held with my counterparts,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: In line with the National Framework on Living with COVID-19, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19.  Applicants who require an urgent or emergency passport, can contact the Passport Service via our Customer Service Hub Webchat function on our website. Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: The processing of Foreign Births Registration (FBR) applications has been temporarily paused since Ireland entered Level 5 restrictions of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Prior to this pause, it took twelve to eighteen months to process applications. This was due to a heavy demand on the FBR service, the complex nature of FBR applications, as well as constraints on output...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the report to which the Deputy refers.  Ireland’s position on this issue will continue to be based on international law, Israel’s obligations as the occupying Power under the Fourth Geneva Convention, and on the relevant Resolutions of the UN Security Council. Our approach is rooted in the illegality of Israel’s occupation and the right of Palestinians...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Language (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 515 and 516 together. My Department takes its obligations under the Official Languages Act (2003) very seriously. Passport Online, the Passport Service’s online application service, is available through Irish. Passport applicants can also complete paper application forms in Irish. APS1G and APS2G are Irish language forms. A fluent Irish speaker works...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: In line with the National Framework on Living with COVID-19, the Passport Service continues to provide a high-quality essential service in line with Government measures to reduce social contact and combat the spread of COVID-19.  This essential service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or have compelling reasons for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: In 2020 and 2021 to date, the Department of Foreign Affairs agreed three contracts for Covid-19 related spending. Details are supplied in the table following. The values provided are inclusive of VAT. Year Payee  Value Reason 2020 Dell €842,160 The Department used the negotiated procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: This person is one of a number of human rights defenders in India currently being detained under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. I have expressed my concern on a number of occasions about this individual, who is elderly and has a health condition.  My concern for his health is heightened by the rapid deterioration in the COVID situation in India. I was disappointed to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (28 Apr 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not incurred expenditure on external public relations or media advice. From time to time, consultants or companies with a public relations and communications background are commissioned to provide other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management. Africa Day, which falls on 25 May annually, is the official day of the African Union and...