Results 8,761-8,780 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 specifies that all foreign aircraft seeking to overfly Irish sovereign airspace or land in the State must request the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Specific criteria with regards to the granting of such permission have been put in place by successive Governments and include that the aircraft be unarmed, carries no...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: Myanmar was not on the agenda at the most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, which took place on 9 December. However, this issue remains very prominent at EU level. Ireland and our EU partners remain deeply concerned over the findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (IIFFM), and other special mandate holders regarding gross human rights violations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: Brexit is a priority issue for this Government, and the Taoiseach, my cabinet colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage with EU partners to advance Ireland’s priorities.   On 9 December I attended a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council with whom I discussed matters such as my recent visit to Israel and Palestine and a number of human rights issues. While Brexit...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: At the December General Affairs Council (GAC), Member States exchanged views on the revised Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposal put forward by the Finnish Presidency. This is the most recent iteration of the draft proposal by successive Presidencies in these complex negotiations, which are likely to continue well into 2020. The Presidency has proposed an overall level of 1.07% of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have engaged extensively with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the leaders of the political parties in Northern Ireland to seek a way forward on implementation of the Stormont House Agreement legacy framework, and will continue to do so in the period ahead. At the meetings of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference and in our regular bilateral meetings, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is clear that the UK’s decision to leave the EU will change fundamentally the nature and frequency of our bilateral interaction. In this context, I am conscious of the importance of protecting existing Ireland-UK cooperation, and of providing opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and relationship-building in the future as the UK departs from the EU. The overall...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The conflict in eastern Ukraine - now in its sixth year - has resulted in over 12,000 deaths, 1.6 million people displaced and an estimated 3.5 million people in need of humanitarian assistance and protection.  2019 has seen a reinvigoration of efforts to secure implementation of the Minsk peace agreements within the framework of the OSCE Trilateral Contact Group (OSCE, Russia and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Data (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I can advise that my Department has so far provided consular assistance in 1,723 instances in 2019, a breakdown of which is below.  Arrests – 243 Child Abductions – 13 Child Welfare – 21 Deaths Abroad – 268 Deportations – 64 Medical – 270 Mental Health – 92 Missing Persons – 72 Other – 344 Prisoners – 40 Victims of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Waiver Programme (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The J1 visa programme, for Irish citizens to work and travel in the US, is managed by US-based sponsors and student travel agents in Ireland, under the authority of the Bureau for Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State. All figures related to the J1 programme are maintained by US authorities. Figures shared by the US Authorities with my Department laid out in tabular...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach and I have prioritised the issue of Irish immigration in the United States since taking office and the issue of the undocumented Irish remains a high priority for the Government. I have continuously raised these issues in all my interactions with the US Administration and US political leaders. In April, I discussed these matters with the Speaker of the US House of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: Since military operations in Rakhine State escalated in August 2017, an estimated 720,000, predominantly Rohingya, refugees have fled to Bangladesh. A significant number of Rohingya civilians were also internally displaced within Rakhine State and 128,000 people remain in IDP camps having fled previous bouts of violence. Recent months have again witnessed an escalation of violence in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The numbers of first time passport applications received from applicants who were resident in Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the time of application for the years 2014 to 2018 and to date in 2019 are detailed in the following table. Year First time applications from Great Britain First time applications from Northern Ireland 2014 5,672...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: In recent years my Department has recruited a significant number of additional staff. As well as recruitment to fill vacancies including those that arose during the embargo, staff have been allocated to support Brexit-related negotiations and preparations following the decision by the UK in 2016 to leave the EU. Further investment since then relates primarily to demands on the passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: In “Global Ireland – Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025”, the Government committed to opening an additional consulate in another UK location post-2019. During a visit to Manchester in June for the British Irish Council, the Taoiseach reiterated this commitment. It is envisaged that the new consulate will cover the entire North of England, including major...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising Data (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government-wide ‘Getting Ireland Brexit Ready’ public information campaign was launched on 20 September 2018. In the initial phase of this campaign, my Department organised “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” public information events in Cork, Galway, Monaghan, Dublin, Limerick and Donegal throughout autumn 2018 to inform and advise citizens and businesses about...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Personal Injury Claims (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department will not be publishing personal injuries pay-outs for properties under its ownership for the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019 as there are no records of such payments in these years.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 113 and 117 together. It is clear that this is the moment to finally secure an agreement that will get the Executive, Assembly and the North South Ministerial Council restored to operation again. The Taoiseach and Prime Minister Johnson spoke on Friday, and they agreed that achieving this is the top priority for both Governments. If the Executive is not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 112 together. I am deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a comprehensive approach to migration. Migration remains a difficult issue within the Union where views can often be sharply divided. There are countries which have been required to take in large numbers of asylum seekers and others who...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The promotion and protection of human rights remain at the core of Irish foreign policy and we continue to monitor the human rights situations in many countries across the globe. Respect for human rights is a fundamental component of the EU's global engagment and Ireland strongly supports the work of the EU Special Representative on Human Rights, former Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore, to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland condemns the reprehensible violence and terror inflicted by Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab.  In its engagement across the relevant regions, Ireland places a strong emphasis on tackling poverty, hunger and exclusion that contribute to fostering violence, radicalisation and terrorism.  At a bilateral level the Government continues to work to promote and sustain peace in West...