Results 8,621-8,640 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 38 and 41 together. A new Israeli Government was sworn in on 17 May, and of course I wish it well in these very difficult circumstances, as it takes on the challenge of combatting COVID-19. I take note, however, of comments made by Prime Minister Netanyahu in the Knesset on 17 May, regarding the annexation of territory in the West Bank, which is part...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 33 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 violations of fundamental freedoms, including the targeting of human rights defenders. Ireland participates actively in the UN Human Rights Council, and regularly raises the case of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is operating a limited service at this time which has allowed us to both reassign staff to our consular services, assisting our citizens abroad and redeploy staff to critical areas including contact tracing for the HSE and Covid-19 payments for DEASP, all critical services at this time.  The Passport Service continues to process emergency passports for our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is operating a limited service at this time, which has allowed us to both reassign staff to our consular services, assisting our citizens abroad and redeploy staff to critical areas including contact tracing for the HSE and Covid-19 payments for Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, all critical services at this time. The Passport Service continues...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland enjoys excellent relations with Qatar, with the Embassy of Ireland in Abu Dhabi being accredited to Qatar on a non-residential basis. While travel between Abu Dhabi and Doha has become more complex in recent years, the Ambassador of Ireland in Abu Dhabi continues to visit Qatar regularly in support of our broad policy objectives, including the development of political and trade...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: COVID-19 is a global crisis, requiring a collective, coordinated, global response.  Ireland's priority is to provide vital support to the multilateral system's efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic in the most vulnerable countries, protecting their people and, ultimately, Irish people also, on the basis that “nobody is safe until everybody is safe.” The World...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The diplomatic mission network plays a key role in promoting and protecting the values, interests and economic well-being of the country and its citizens.  There are sixty six Embassies, seven Permanent Missions, sixteen Consulates General and four other Representative Offices in the global network.  Heads of Mission positions are filled by Ambassadors, Consuls General and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: Last week, 17 May, was the 46th anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974 in which thirty three were killed and hundreds seriously injured, attacks which saw the largest loss of life on a single day in the Troubles. While it was unfortunately not possible to gather at the memorial on Talbot Street in Dublin this year to mark the anniversary, we still stand together as a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides all possible consular advice and assistance to citizens overseas, where requested and where appropriate. As part of the comprehensive approach to the repatriation of our citizens overseas in the context of COVID-19, our focus has been on helping citizens who are normally resident in Ireland to return home safely on commercial flights...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the Joint Letter from the Foreign Ministers of the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden) to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in regard to Member State responses to the Covid-19 outbreak. This followed on from the release on 8 April of a “toolkit” on respecting human rights, democracy and the rule of law during the COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has a very clear  position on Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian Territory and the Golan Heights. They are illegal under international law, notably being contrary to the Fourth Geneva Convention, and actively undermine the prospects for a two-state solution. As I have said many times in the Dáil, the regulation of international trade, including in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: In recent years, the Arctic has become a region of increasing geopolitical importance.  The growing environmental and strategic importance of the Arctic has very significant impact, with melting ice having far-reaching implications for climate change and maritime access across the region.   My Department has been undertaking a mapping exercise to assess Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (20 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes - Vote 27 (International Co-operation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade). This Department spent €415,108 on external consultants in 2019 across both Votes. The Department seeks to minimise expenditure on consultants. It commissions external expertise in line with national and EU procurement rules in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: Immediate access to up-to-date and reliable information is critically important to the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including via the network of 90 Missions overseas. The value of high quality information has been amply demonstrated by the Brexit and COVID-19 crises. At headquarters, a dedicated Library Service is responsible for the central purchase of electronic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides ICT services on a global scale in support of it's work at home and abroad. Internet access is provided to officials on Departmental devices in acccordance with an Appropriate Usage Policy. The records provided refer to the most commonly visited websites Records are available for 2019 and 2020 to date. Records for 2017 and 2018 are not available. 2019 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not been lobbied or received any representation from the Chinese Embassy in relation to the use of the Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) for the performance of the group you have mentioned. Officials in my Department have been contacted by the group involved regarding their concerns over the refusal of the CCD to host their show, and have met with these individuals to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in Iran remains a matter of serious concern. This includes freedom of expression and assembly, arbitrary arrest, and torture in detention. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply saddened by the recent violence and loss of life in New Delhi following demonstrations about the Citizenship Amendment Act. The demonstrators claim that the Act is discriminatory because, unlike other religious groups, Muslims would not benefit from the Act. I understand that the Indian Supreme Court is considering numerous petitions against the Act and that the UN High...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 29 together. It is not the practice to divulge information in relation to the specific purposes of individual landings. In the majority of cases, military aircraft using the landing facilities in Ireland do so for the purposes of refuelling and to allow for crew and passenger rest. In a small number of cases, such aircraft land to allow for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The estimated total cost to my Department, if the rate of employer PRSI is increased to 15.75% for the portion of salaries over €100,000, is €218,948. It should be noted that this amount is based on current salary figures and would change over time in line with any pay increases, changes in work patterns and other future work-related amendments.