Results 9,701-9,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is not magic money.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Of all people, Deputy Howlin should know how the profiling changes for capital projects throughout the year.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: We are endeavouring to ensure the capital plan will be presented to the Minister and, presumably, this House before the summer recess.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. As he knows, in respect of financing the children's hospital project, €150 million has been included in the 2019 capital profiles for the project. Based on the outcome of the guaranteed maximum price, GMP, process in December 2018, an additional €100 million was required to fund the project this year. The Government decided that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Allocating capital resources in healthcare is always challenging. What the Minister for Health, the Taoiseach and I have committed to over and over again is that projects under way, which we have contracted to deliver, are proceeding. When we consider the €7.33 billion of capital expenditure, it puts into context the challenge we have to overcome from a healthcare perspective of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (27 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The recent visit of the President of the United States of America and First Lady Melania Trump to Ireland served to support the promotion of Ireland’s interests in the US and also contributed to the development of our strong economic, political and cultural links with the US. No. of staff dispatched to Co. Clare for the visit No. of overtime hours worked Associated transport and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Controls (26 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: As only limited details have been supplied about the individual in question, it is not possible to provide specific guidance on this case. I can, however, provide some general advice in relation to establishing eligibility to hold an Irish passport. All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (26 Jun 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 and the UK to advance Ireland’s priorities. For Ireland, and our EU partners, the backstop forms an essential part of the Withdrawal Agreement. It has always been our hope that the future relationship agreement between the EU and UK would...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Rockall Island Ownership (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Rockall is a small uninhabitable rock located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda and 230 nautical miles to the north-west of Donegal. It marks a point at which the Rockall Bank, part of the very large Hatton-Rockall area of continental shelf extending under the north-east Atlantic Ocean, protrudes 21 metres above sea level. During the 1960s and 1970s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. I am aware of the bill that was proposed in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which sought to amend local legislation to allow for extradition to the Chinese Mainland, Macau and Taiwan. I note that, on 15 June, the passage of this legislation was suspended indefinitely by the Hong Kong authorities in response to ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Documents (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service, within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is responsible for the issuance of passports to Irish citizens, as set out in the Passports Act 2008, as amended. Immigration or administrative requirements for entry into other States, including what documentation is acceptable for those purposes, are not matters that are within the competence of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Parliament Elections (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 113 together. Protecting democratic processes and institutions from disinformation is a major challenge for all societies. In order to tackle this challenge, the EU is building a robust framework for coordinated action which is fully in line with European values and fundamental rights. The most recent EEAS / European Commission Report on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and its EU partners closely follow developments in relation to media freedom and the treatment of journalists in the Russian Federation and Ukraine, and monitor the environment for journalists and any legislation which encroaches on the freedom of speech. Developments are discussed on a regular basis in Brussels and by EU Missions in Moscow and Kyiv. The EU plays a key role in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Data (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: A breakdown of the Freedom of Information (FOI) requests received by my Department in 2018 is set out in the table below. A total of 320 requests were received in 2018, plus 16 requests received in 2017 which were carried over into 2018 for reply. Freedom of Information Number of requests Number of FOI requests granted 60 Number of FOI requests part-granted 91 Number of FOI requests...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Properties (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department delivers Ireland’s foreign policy objectives through our Embassy network. At present, my Department is responsible for 159 properties comprising Embassies, Consulate Generals, Permanent Missions, Permanent Representations, Secretariats, Representative Offices and official accommodation. As part of the duty of care to staff, their families and visitors to our buildings...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Finance has policy responsibility for matters relating to Financial Services. Throughout the Brexit process, Ireland and the EU have been at one in our determination to do all we can, deal or no deal, to protect the peace process and to avoid a hard border. The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland which was agreed as part of the Withdrawal Agreement underpins, in a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: There are 62 resident Embassies in Dublin. Opportunities to meet Heads of Mission - Ambassadors or Chargé d'Affaires - at each Embassy arise on a frequent basis. I will meet Heads of Mission from the entire diplomatic corps (both resident and non-resident) at the National Day of Commemoration on 14 July. I also meet Heads of Mission on the occasion of visits by my counterparts to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s interests in Australia are currently represented by our Embassy in Canberra and our Consulate General in Sydney. These Missions are at the forefront of efforts to promote our political and economic interests, our values, and in providing important services to the Irish community in Australia. Ireland is also represented in Perth by an Honorary Consul. Honorary Consuls are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee TD, attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg on 17 June. The agenda covered the EU Global Strategy, CFSP Effectiveness and Sudan. Ministers discussed the EU Global Strategy on Foreign and Security Policy, three years following its launch, and in light of High Representative Mogherini’s Assessment Report on the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: A vibrant suckler herd is an important part of Irish agriculture. That does not mean that we do not need to constantly strive for more efficiency and to ensure that the emissions footprint of our herd continues to decrease. That goes for the dairy herd too. There is substantial efficiency built into the latter and, from the perspective of emissions, we produce milk in a more efficient way...