Results 9,821-9,840 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Staff (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its Missions overseas are active in our response to Brexit, and staffing levels have been augmented in response. As Brexit looms closer, 'Global Ireland 2025' will support efforts to grow and diversify export markets, inward investment and tourism. It will ensure that Ireland is...

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

Simon Coveney: Extensive Brexit preparedness and contingency planning has been undertaken across Government. In particular, since December 2018, planning for a no deal Brexit has been prioritised. Addressing the challenges of a no deal Brexit would require responses at an EU level, by Government, and by businesses and affected sectors. Throughout the Brexit process, Ireland and the EU have been at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: At the informal summit in Sibiu, Heads of State and Government discussed priorities for the next five years, with a view to adopting a new Strategic Agenda at the European Council on 20-21 June to guide the work of the Institutions. In late 2017 the Minister of State for European Affairs and I joined the Taoiseach in launching a citizens' dialogue on the future of Europe. There was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Embassies and Consulates play a central role in advancing Ireland’s international trade as part of Team Ireland overseas. Embassies and Consulates around the world provide vital support for Ireland’s state enterprise agencies, including by supporting their strategic objectives and activities in overseas markets. The role of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Western Balkans Issues (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is a strong supporter of the enlargement of the European Union and the accession of the countries of the Western Balkans. Based on our own experience of EU membership, we believe it to be a transformative driver for stability, peace, and prosperity. The European Commission published its Annual Enlargement Package on 29 May, which included progress reports on the six Western Balkans...

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

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is currently in its peak season for passport demand with the vast majority of applications being received between February and August each year. Renewal applications received through the Online Passport Renewal Service are being processed within the target turnaround time of ten working days plus postage time. A large proportion of applications submitted through this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (13 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government is aware that, following a judicial review, a decision was taken by the PSNI not to progress the investigation  into the journalists. We welcome this decision. Obviously in any democracy press freedom is essential. My officials met with the two journalists on a number of occasions in the course of this process and kept it under review throughout.    The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I continue to be deeply troubled by the human rights abuses that migrants and refugees suffer in Libya, in particular the persistent abuses that have been reported in detention centres. I am particularly concerned by the ongoing fighting around the Libyan capital, Tripoli, which is endangering thousands of civilians, including putting already vulnerable migrants and refugees in Libya at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Fisheries Protection (13 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: In April 2017, Marine Scotland (an agency of the Scottish Government) advised the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine that it intended to exclude Irish fishing vessels from waters within a 12-mile zone around Rockall. The proposed Scottish action was based on the UK Government’s stance on sovereignty over Rockall and their interpretation of their prerogatives under UK...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (12 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 as amended (“the 2008 Act”). The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is in turn determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956 as amended (“the 1956...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (12 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is of grave concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. On 26 April, the Taoiseach and Prime Minister May announced a new phase of political talks in Northern Ireland, involving the five main parties, together with the British and Irish Governments. The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (12 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The most recent meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council took place in Brussels on 13 May. Ministers did not discuss Israel and Palestine. I do however expect that the Middle East Peace Process will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of EU Foreign Ministers in Luxembourg on 18 June, since regional issues would be a natural topic for discussion with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (12 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Throughout the Article 50 process I, as well as officials from my Department, have had frequent and ongoing contact with representatives from other EU27 Member States, the Commission and the Article 50 Task Force headed by Michel Barnier, as well as with the UK. I met with Mr Barnier on 8 April during his visit to Dublin in advance of the European Council on 10 April. On that occasion we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (12 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is currently in its peak season for passport demand with the vast majority of applications being received between February and August each year. All renewal applications are currently being processed within target turnaround times. A large proportion of applications submitted through the Online Passport Renewal Service are currently being processed in timeframes shorter...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (12 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 81 to 83, inclusive, together. The peace agreement that was signed between the Government of Colombia and the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia - Ejército del Pueblo (FARC-EP) in November 2016 brought to an end over 50 years of armed conflict in the country, which cost the lives of over 200,000 people and resulted in widespread violence and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (11 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department’s Reconciliation Fund awards grants to organisations working to build better relations within and between traditions in Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain.It operates on the basis of two annual funding rounds.  The first round of 2019 opened on 26 March and closed on 16 April. By the closing date, no funding application had...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (11 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am advised by the Passport Service that the application to which you refer requested that the passport issue in a name other than that noted on the applicant’s birth certificate and that in the absence of legal documents verifying this change of name, the passport issued to the applicant in the name noted on their birth certificate. All passport applications are subject to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (11 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the situation to which the Deputy refers, and of the difficult situation more generally that currently exists for human rights defenders, activists and social leaders in Guatemala. Ireland is fully committed to supporting the promotion and protection of human rights and open civil society space globally and I would like to take this opportunity to strongly condemn any...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (11 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission published its Annual Enlargement Package and country reports on 29 May. These are currently being examined in depth, in preparation for a discussion on enlargement at the General Affairs Council on 18 June.. Serbia and Montenegro are both candidate countries that are currently negotiating their accession to the Union. The Commission notes that both countries have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (11 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of this ongoing consular case. While I understand this must be a very difficult situation for the citizen, neither the Embassy nor the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can interfere with the judicial and legal processes in another country, including on visa and immigration matters. I can confirm that the citizen in question is in direct contact with the Embassy in Beijing...