Results 8,341-8,360 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service commenced a phased return to full operations on 8 June 2020. Between 8 June and 22 July 2020, the Passport Service issued approximately 113,000 passport books and cards. The Passport Service is currently meeting the target turnaround times for Passport Online applications. This is 10 working days for simple applications and 20 working days for complex applications,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 64 together. Though the United Kingdom has now left the EU, the relationship between Ireland and the UK will remain a vital one between close neighbours, trading partners, and co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement. Our bilateral trade with Britain, worth over 1 billion Euro per week, as well as our significant people-to-people links, ensure...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I note the result of the recent Presidential election in Poland and I congratulate the incumbent, President Duda, on his re-election. Ireland enjoys very good bilateral relations with Poland, and we will seek to continue to develop this relationship. As the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I visited Poland on a number of occasions and had the opportunity to engage with my counterpart...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: As part of the Government’s commitment to supporting the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement and the importance of maintaining strong relationships, I have made 12 visits to Northern Ireland this year. Where this was not possible due to the Covid-19 pandemic, I have remained in regular contact with the First Minister, Deputy First Minister, other members of the Executive, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Yemen is the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with over 24 million people in need of humanitarian assistance. The spread of COVID-19 threatens a catastrophic situation in a country where the health system has been shattered by years of conflict. Ireland is deeply concerned by this level of humanitarian suffering, and has provided over €27 million in humanitarian aid to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government states that the Government will “Honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a two-state solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”.  In recognition of the lack of progress towards a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Responsibility for Maghaberry prison rests with the Northern Ireland Prison Service, which is overseen by the Northern Ireland Department of Justice.  As is the case with prisons in this jurisdiction, the overriding concern in recent times has been the health and safety within the prisons due to Covid 19. Maghaberry Prison has so far been successful in preventing any cases of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365, 376 and 381 together. I am aware of the credible reports of the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang, and am deeply concerned about the reports of restrictions on freedom of religion and belief, arbitrary detention, widespread surveillance, and recent allegations of forced sterilisation in the region. My officials and I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Bodies (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Conference on the Future of Europe is a proposal, from Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, for a two-year long series of conferences aiming to promote better citizen involvement in the EU. Ireland, as an active proponent of improved citizen engagement with the EU, welcomes and supports President von der Leyen’s initiative. We believe that the Conference should be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 368 and 369 together. The Government closely follows reports of persecutions against Falun Gong practitioners, including allegations of organ harvesting, and officials in my Department have met with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and human rights lawyers on a number of occasions.  Ireland frequently raises human rights...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Foreign Births Registration (FBR) team was reassigned to our consular services at the beginning of the current public health emergency to operate a COVID-19 crisis call centre, assisting our citizens abroad. Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation related to three generations and issued by several...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Government is closely monitoring the situation in Hong Kong, following the adoption of a national security law on the 30 June by the Chinese National People's Congress. I made a statement on 1 July to express my concern at the adoption of this law and reiterated Ireland's full support for fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong, such as freedom of expression and the right to peaceful...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 372, 374, 377 and 382 together. The human rights situation in Bahrain remains a matter of concern. Although progress has been made in certain areas, there continue to be instances of human rights violations. I am aware of the cases raised by the Deputies, and the decision of the Court of Cassation in Bahrain to confirm the death penalty ruling in their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs publishes travel advice for over 200 countries on our website and the TravelWise app. This travel advice includes the use of security ratings to help communicate how safe or unsafe we believe a country may be to visit and to help citizens make informed decisions about overseas travel.  It is based on consultation with our Embassies and Consulates on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in Iran remains a matter of serious concern. There are concerns in particular about the treatment of religious and ethnic minorities, political activists, human rights defenders, lawyers, journalists, labour rights activists, artists and environmentalists. Human rights issues therefore continue to constitute an important part of our engagement and dialogue with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can advise the Deputy that the Government decision of 21 July regarding travel advice for certain locations made no change with respect to either the Isle of Man specifically or Great Britain more generally. It remains the situation that persons arriving into Ireland from the Isle of Man and Great Britain,  including citizens and residents returning to Ireland, are required to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Since the launch in 2018 of Global Ireland - Ireland's Global Footprint to 2025, my Department has been working closely with a range of other Government partners to ensure the effective delivery of the ambition to double the scope and impact of our global footprint. This commitment has been further cemented in the new Programme for Government. Since August 2018, new Embassies have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: No deal preparations were well advanced for the possibility of a no deal Brexit on 29 March, 31 October, 2019 and 31 January 2020. The additional time afforded by the transition period has allowed departments to refine this work and re-calibrate it as necessary for the end of the transition period. The end of transition will involve both immediate challenges and long term, permanent changes....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s approach on the UN Security Council will be informed by our record as a country that has a consistent, principled and independent foreign policy, guided by the values enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations. Disarmament and non-proliferation is one of Ireland’s signature foreign policies and will continue to be a priority throughout our membership on the UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s approach on the Security Council will be informed by our record as a country that has a consistent, principled and independent foreign policy. Ireland is determined to be an effective, credible and influential member of the Council. My Department, in Dublin, New York and in relevant Missions, is currently preparing for taking up our seat in January, including by reviewing...