Results 7,241-7,260 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and procedures that are applied by the Passport Service in the issue of passports. Section 10 of the Act provides that a passport will issue in the name of a citizen as it appears on his/her birth certificate or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: There are 476 Irish citizens officially registered with the Irish Consulate General in Hong Kong. However, Ireland does not require its citizens to register with Embassies and Consulates, so this number is not an accurate representation of the number of Irish citizens in Hong Kong. Based on the number of passports processed over the past 10 years, the Consulate estimates that there are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government has pointed out for some time now, that from the end of the Brexit transition period, the way in which operators use the UK landbridge would change. The UK’s accession to the Common Transit Convention (CTC) is welcome and allows EU goods to transit through the UK without undergoing full customs import and export formalities on entry and exit to/from the UK. To...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The National Plan on Business and Human Rights was published in November 2017. The Plan contains a range of commitments under the UN’s ‘Protect, Respect and Remedy’ framework under the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as well as commitments to provide for greater policy coherence. Following publication of the Plan, implementation initially focused...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 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. The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency passport service for Irish citizens at home and abroad. The service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or because the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The implementation of the Stormont House Agreement forms part of the Programme for Government, and it provides for a comprehensive and balanced framework to address the legacy of the past. The Government is continuing to work for the implementation of this framework, for all victims and families, including those impacted by the terrible acts of the Glenanne Gang. The Government also...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 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. The Passport Service continues to provide an emergency passport service for Irish citizens at home and abroad. The service is available for those who are required to travel due to the death or serious illness of a family member or because the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and the EU have been vocal in condemning the appalling human rights situation in Belarus and we have repeatedly called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those unjustly detained. This stance was reiterated by the Head of the EU delegation in Minsk when he met the Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs on 18 January. Along with our EU partners, we have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government outlines the Government's ambitions for Irish-British relations in the coming years, and includes a specific commitment to deepen and intensify links with the devolved administrations in Wales and Scotland, as part of a broader strategy of renewed east-west engagement. The reopening of Ireland's Consulate General in Cardiff in 2019 reflects the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Review (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with a commitment made in the Programme for Government, the Government gave their approval on 15th December 2020 to establish an independent Commission on the Defence Forces, with a mandate to report within 12 months. The Government also approved the Terms of Reference and the membership of the Commission. The establishment of an independent Commission on the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces Recruitment (21 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The age limits for personnel wishing to enter the Defence Forces are as set out in Regulations made pursuant to the Defence Act 1954, as amended. The Defence Forces have a derogation on age grounds under the Employment Equality Acts. The military authorities have advised that the status of the application outlined in the details supplied to the question is that the applicant did not meet...

EU-UK Trade and Co-operation Agreement: Motion (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: This year on 1 January we saw the single largest change in relations between the EU and UK for many decades as the transition period ended and the new framework of the EU-UK trade and co-operation agreement took effect. This House knows all too well that Ireland is the EU member state most affected by this change. I warmly welcome that Deputies today have the opportunity to make statements...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government has been very clear that the UK’s decision to leave the EU would mean an end to seamless trade between the EU and UK. Even with an EU-UK trade deal in place, the UK is no longer a member of the Single Market and Customs Union. This means that businesses must engage with a range of checks and controls on their trade with the UK that did not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Correspondence (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I received correspondence from the organisation concerned on 30 November 2020. The Christmas and New Year holiday period, as well as work pressures under current circumstances, contributed to a delay in responding. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that a reply to the correspondence issued from my office on 15 January 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: No employee of the Department of Foreign Affairs has received a COVID-19 vaccine in Ireland. A number of employees of the Department abroad have been advised by the host country in which they are posted that they and their dependents are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine locally should they wish to avail of it. The timing for such vaccination will be in line with the plans set out by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The approach of any Government in relation to Irish unity is guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998. The Government respects everyone’s right on this island to make the case for the constitutional future they wish to see for Northern Ireland - whether the continuation of the union with Great Britain or a sovereign united Ireland. The Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Stormont House Agreement was reached in 2014 after a period of intense negotiation by the Irish Government, the UK Government and the political parties in Northern Ireland. It provides for a comprehensive and balanced framework to address the legacy of the past, including an Historical Investigations Unit (HIU) to take forward outstanding investigations in Troubles-related deaths, an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Consulate General opened in October 2019 as an important part of our efforts to strengthen Ireland’s presence in Germany. The opening of the Consulate General is a clear sign of Ireland’s commitment to deepening its relationship with Germany. The Consulate currently operates in a temporary location. Work is ongoing to identify a long-term property option that will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 264, 266 and 267 together. As the Deputy will know, it has become clear that there will soon be a significant reduction in the number of Irish officials in senior roles in the EU Institutions, as many high-ranking Irish officials will soon retire. At the current rates of recruitment of Irish permanent staff, we are far below the replacement rate. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jan 2021)

Simon Coveney: Managing the response to Brexit continues to be a priority for my Department. The approach has been to prioritise effective policy and operational measures across the Department to manage Brexit impacts, with additional staff assigned or recruited as required. In recent years my Department has established new posts in Madrid, Berlin, Paris, Rome, The Hague and Warsaw as well as at the...