Results 8,961-8,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: In my capacity as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, my responsibilities include trade promotion. Broadly these responsibilities seek to advance Ireland’s prosperity by promoting our economic interests internationally. In this context my Department also supports the Ireland for Finance Strategy, which seeks to promote Ireland’s offering for specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service can confirm that no public authority has access to its datasets. The Passport Service considers requests from public authorities for information, and only provides this information on request, if it is satisfied it can do this in accordance with the GDPR and relevant sections of the Data Protection Act 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Office provides information requested from public authorities and An Garda Síochána only when it is satisfied it can do so in accordance with the GDPR and relevant sections of the Data Protection Act 2018. This request for information could include the data on a passport application form or on a printed passport document. The data shared is the specific data...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Office provides data when it is requested from public authorities and An Garda Síochána and only when it is satisfied it can do so in accordance with the GDPR and relevant sections of the Data Protection Act 2018. The data shared is the specific data requested by the public authority and An Garda Síochána. Given that the nature of the response is determined by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department is fully committed to keeping all personal data submitted by its customers, safe and secure during administrative processes. All data access requests must be made in writing, citing the relevant legislation. Requests are triaged by a designated officer. This is to primarily ensure that each request is made in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and that sufficient...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Dialogue (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have not taken part in discussions on the future of NATO.  Such discussions are appropriate to members of that organisation. In the EU context, discussion of NATO is limited to the context of agreed areas of EU-NATO cooperation. All such cooperation takes place with full respect for the decision-making autonomy and procedures of both organisations,  and respects the specific...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The UK Government assertion of jurisdiction over the whole of Lough Foyle has never been accepted by Ireland and this position remains unchanged. Following discussions in 2011 between the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and the British Foreign Secretary, the British and Irish Governments agreed to seek to resolve jurisdictional issues relating to both Lough Foyle and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has spent the following amounts on mobile phone purchases from 2016 to date; Year Amount 2019 €14,000 2018 €43,935 2017 €33,084 2016 €15,852 The figures above relate to handsets purchased in this country. Missions abroad are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The total number of permanent full-time equivalent staff in civil service grades in my Department as of 30 September 2019; the grades of these officers and the proportion of female and male staff in each grade is set out in the following table. The Department also employs locally engaged staff in Missions abroad, and temporary staff on a seasonal basis. My Department is committed to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Advisers Data (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Details of Political Advisers employed by my Department since the commencement of this Government are outlined in the following tables. All appointments were made in line with “Instructions to Personnel Officers – Ministerial Appointments for the 32nd Dáil” which include “Guidelines on staffing of Ministerial offices” issued by the Department of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and its EU partners closely follow legislative developments in EU Member States that could impact negatively on fundamental EU principles, including those relating to the operation of the rule of law, as well as freedom of expression. In relation to Poland, the European Commission activated its rule of law mechanism in January 2016 and formally triggered the Article 7 procedure on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Fundamental values and the rule of law are a shared EU interest. We have concerns about issues relating to the rule of law in Hungary in the area of civic space, media freedom and the judiciary.   We have concerns over the civic space available for NGOs to continue to operate in Hungary. These concerns have been exacerbated by the passage of legislation aimed at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the elections that took place in Bolivia on 20 October 2019 were followed by reports of violence and excessive force by the authorities. On 10 November last, the Organisation of American States (OAS) released a preliminary report indicating that it found clear irregularities, and that it could not verify the result of the October elections. It concluded that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: There have been far too many deaths in Gaza during this latest outbreak of violence, including, tragically, the deaths of several children. In the conduct of military operations, constant care must be taken to spare the civilian population, civilians and civilian objects. All feasible precautions must be taken to avoid, and in any event to minimize, incidental loss of civilian life, injury to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The current crisis in Venezuela continues to be of deep concern and is having a worsening impact on the Venezuelan people, whose needs are acute. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) estimates that 25% of the population is in need of humanitarian assistance, with serious health and medical needs and a severe lack of access to basic goods, services and medicines...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade examines all formal complaints made to its HR Unit notwithstanding the category they fall under. Complaints in relation to bullying and sexual harassment are addressed under the Dignity at Work:  An Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment Policy for the Irish Civil Service policy, which came into operation in 2015. In circumstances...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has dismissed six employees since 2016. Four employees were not established at the end of their probationary contract. Two employees were dismissed following a disciplinary process. It would not be appropriate for my Department to provide additional details as so doing could potentially identify the individuals in question. My Department did not suspend any employees in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the Passport Service that the applicant referred to became an Irish citizen through entry on the Foreign Birth Register in August of this year. My Department will be in contact with the family to assist them with making a passport application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has made no expenditure on public relations, promotion and advertising for the National Development Plan 2018-2027 and Project Ireland 2040.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (20 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has spent €4,992.19 to date this year at headquarters on bottled water.  The Department has a contractual commitment to bottled drinking water until 2021 for two of twelve HQ buildings, at which stage drinking water provision will be switched to mains supply.  The cost of the contracts to-date in 2019 was €2,803.27.  ...