Results 7,061-7,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused processing of routine applications while Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Passport Service staff have been temporarily reassigned to provide consular assistance for Irish citizens overseas. The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency passport service for Irish citizens at home and abroad. The service is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The individual in question originally applied online via our Embassy in Singapore in late August 2020 for a Certificat de Coutume (CdC) to get married in the Philippines on 8 January 2021 to a Philippine national. The Statutory Declaration was witnessed by an official at our Embassy in Singapore on 15 September, and approval was granted by our Dublin office on 15 October. The individual...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has paused the processing of Foreign Births Registration applications as Ireland is at Level 5 of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Applications that have been sent to the FBR team are being held securely and will be processed when normal services resume at Level 3. Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, often...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not entered into any contracts over €10,000 for public relations and consultancy since January 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Communications (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Strengthening bilateral relations with the US is a priority for Ireland as set out in our Programme for Government,as wellin our Strategy for the US and Canada (2019-2025). With each successive Administration in the White House and each successive US Congress, our bilateral relationship has been valued and strengthened, to the benefit of our people on both sides of the Atlantic. We look...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: It has not been possible to gather the required information in the turnaround time for PQs. I will revert to the Deputy when I am in a position to reply.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (17 Feb 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 so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. The Equipment Development Plan (EDP) published in June 2020, completed through extensive joint civil-military work, provides a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Veterans (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department formally recognises the two veterans’ organisations referenced by the Deputy as representing all former personnel, namely, the Irish United Nations Veterans Association (IUNVA) and Óglaigh Náisiúnta na hÉireann (ONE), the Organisation of National Ex-Service Personnel. As part of the supports currently offered to retired members of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Military life places unique demands on individuals and it is necessary that Defence Forces personnel are prepared to meet the challenges of all military operations. To this end, it is vital the age and health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised in any way. The age and fitness profile of the Permanent Defence Force was an...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Properties (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that, since this matter came to light, my officials have consistently engaged with the County Council with a view to resolving this matter. The Deputy can be assured that my officials will continue to engage with the local authority on same. I am advised that Kildare County Council has acknowledged that the environmental assessment conducted by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Personnel (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not entered into any contracts for public relations advice and consultancy over the cost of €10,000 since January 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Communications (17 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I have not had any contact to date with my Defence counterpart in the United States administration, Mr. Lloyd J. Austin III, the US Secretary of Defence.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The European Security and Defence College (ESDC) is a virtual college operating under the European External Action Service. It offers a range of courses to support both civilian and military CSDP. These courses are provided free of charge to participants by institutions from the Member States. In Ireland, the Edward Kennedy Institute at NUI Maynooth became a participating institute in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 122 together. EU Member States, including Ireland, have committed to strengthening synergies and complementarity between the civilian and military dimensions of CSDP, in line with the EU’s integrated approach and the Civilian CSDP Compact. Synergies relate primarily to common interests of Civilian and Military CSDP missions deployed in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Security and Defence Policy (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs currently funds 17 Irish experts in civilian CSDP missions in Europe, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Africa. Seven of these experts have previously served with An Garda Síochána, and two are retired members of the Defence Forces. The skills and experience these individuals have gained in their previous roles have been evaluated favourably...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: No decision has been made to recruit eight additional full-time Principal Development Specialists in my Department. In November 2019 following engagement between the management and staff sides an agreement was reached to restructure the Development Specialist grades in my Department. As part of that agreement, the Principal Development Specialist (PDS) and Senior Development Specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: Many countries allow for their citizens resident overseas to vote in national elections. In most cases, voting is facilitated by the country’s network of diplomatic Missions, with Embassies either operating polling stations, or assisting with collating postal voting. My Department is responsible for liaising between Embassies based in Ireland and the relevant Irish authorities when an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can advise the Deputy that my Department places the highest priority on providing consular support and assistance to all our citizens, and particularly where a child’s interests are concerned. While there may be instances where issues have arisen at airports or other points of international travel due to the fact that a parent or guardian has a different surname than their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (11 Feb 2021)

Simon Coveney: All passengers arriving into Ireland are required to have a negative/'not detected’ result from a pre-departure COVID-19 RT-PCR test taken within 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland. Passengers are also asked to present evidence of their negative/‘not detected’ result before boarding their airplane or ferry, and are required to produce this evidence to Immigration...