Results 7,161-7,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Data (28 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As at 31st December 2020, the latest date for which such data is available, the number of female personnel in the Permanent Defence Force was 603. The table below shows the number of women in the Permanent Defence Force in each of the last 5 years. Year 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Females 568 600 601 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jan 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: Overseas Missions (28 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As of 5 January 2021, Ireland is contributing 586 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 350 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 138 personnel. The UNIFIL mission in Lebanon...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Remuneration (28 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Similar to other sectors in the public service, the pay of Permanent Defence Force personnel was reduced as one of the measures to assist in stabilising national finances during the financial crisis. Pay is being restored to members of the Defence Forces and other public servants in accordance with public sector pay agreements. A 2% increase on annualised salaries was implemented from 1...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Strength (28 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Covid-19 is impacting across all sectors, including the Defence Forces. I would like to acknowledge and commend the work of the whole organisation, including both the Naval Service and the Air Corps, in maintaining key operations, including the ability to respond to emergencies, in the face of unprecedented disruptions across many areas of Irish life at this time. To date, Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As you will have observed in my statement of 18 January, I join the EU, US, UK and others in condemning the detention of Alexei Navalny on his return to Moscow on 17 January and I call for his immediate release. Having survived an attempted poisoning on Russian soil, Mr Navalny chose to return home of his own free will. His detention, immediately upon arrival, raises serious questions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368, 379, 409, 412 and 414 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Controls (27 Jan 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: Human Rights Cases (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As you will have seen in my statement of 18 January, I join the EU, US, UK and others in condemning the detention of Alexei Navalny on his return to Moscow on 17 January and I call for his immediate release. Having survived an attempted poisoning on Russian soil, Mr Navalny chose to return home of his own free will. His detention, immediately upon arrival, raises serious questions around...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (27 Jan 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: Mother and Baby Homes Inquiries (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Firstly I wish to repeat the apology of the Government and the State to the Irish mothers and their children who ended up in a mother and baby home or a county home. As the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes clearly states, "they should not have been there." Minister O'Gorman has publicly stated that all parties who were involved in the management or delivery of these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland provides funding to Pakistan for humanitarian and development assistance through multilateral and bilateral channels. This funding amounted to more than €3.4 million between 2015 and 2019. Meanwhile between 2009 and 2019, the EU provided over €565 million to Pakistan to support families affected by conflict, malnutrition and food insecurity. Ireland has consistently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Passports are internationally recognised travel documents that attest to the identity and nationality of the bearer. The Irish passport is a highly valued identity document and its integrity is paramount to the maintenance of the level of visa-free access that Irish citizens enjoy to 93 countries worldwide today. Any changes to the format of the Irish passport must be fully compliant with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (27 Jan 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. Normal service will resume once Level 3 restrictions are in place. Any developments in this regard will be notified on the Department’s website. The delivery of the FBR service has been delayed by up to eighteen...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: In response to the move to Level 5 on the Government's National Framework for Living with COVID-19, the Passport Service is operating an emergency service at this time. Applicants can apply using Passport Online and processing will resume at Level 4. In cases where an applicant's most recent passport has expired by more than five years, i.e. their last passport was issued more than 15...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service does not provide a reduced fee to any category of adult applicant for a passport, whether for the renewal of a passport or for a first time application. A reduced fee is applied on applications for passports for minors in recognition of the fact that a minor’s passport is valid for only five years. Most adult passports will be issued for a period of ten years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (27 Jan 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. We continue to maintain close relations with Members of Congress and contacts from across the political spectrum, and will continue to seek opportunities to deepen and strengthen our bilateral relations with the new...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Local Authority Funding (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and administers a number of funding schemes under both votes. This includes, under Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs), funding for Diaspora projects, funding for certain projects under the communications budget and the Department’s Reconciliation Fund. Details of funding allocated to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: A passport is valid up until the expiry date stipulated on the passport. An applicant may choose to update their passport in advance of this expiry date for reasons such as changing their name through marriage. There is no requirement for a person to update their name on a passport to that of their spouse after marriage, it is a choice which the Passport Service accommodates. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (27 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The appointment of Ambassadors by the United States is solely a matter for the U.S. authorities. Pending the nomination of a new U.S. Ambassador to Ireland by President Biden and the subsequent confirmation of the appointment by the US Senate, we continue to engage closely with the U.S. Embassy in Dublin on the whole range of issues pertaining to the Ireland-US relationship. We have...