Results 9,861-9,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Declarations (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Heads of State and Government of the EU27 adopted the Sibiu Declaration at the informal European Council meeting on 9 May. Agreed on Europe Day, the Declaration recalls key achievements of the EU and sets out 10 commitments to guide the decisions that leaders will take about the future. At the same time, leaders discussed strategic priorities for the coming years, with a view to adopting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (21 May 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 26thMarch and closed on 16thApril. By the closing date, no funding...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Controls (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is not aware of the case referred to by the Deputy. Irish citizens in Germany requiring consular assistance are encouraged to make contact with the Embassy of Ireland in Berlin, which will be able to provide the appropriate guidance and support.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: An application for a first Irish passport for the person in question was registered with the Passport Service on the 13 May 2019. The Passport Service aims to process first-time passport applications submitted via Passport Express within 20 working days. At present, first time applications submitted through Passport Express are being processed in an average time of 22...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Under International Auditing Standards there is an obligation to have an independent assessment of the work of the Evaluation and Audit Unit of the Department carried out every five years. This is an external quality assurance requirement. Ernst and Young undertook this assessment work in 2018 and a payment of €15,990 was made to the company by the Department last year. My...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118 and 119 together. The human rights situation in Bahrain remains a matter of concern. My Department regularly raises the issue of human rights abuses and the detention of human rights defenders with the Bahraini authorities. Most recently officials from my Department met with officials from the Bahraini Embassy in March 2019 and raised our human rights...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: When Romania joined the EU on 1 January 2007, the EU established the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) as a transitional measure to assist the new Member State in addressing issues in regard to the rule of law, particularly in relation to judicial reform and the fight against corruption.  The European Commission reports annually to the European Parliament and the Council on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Since military operations in Rakhine State escalated in August 2017, an estimated 720,000 refugees have fled to Bangladesh. A significant number of civilians were also internally displaced within Rakhine and 128,000 people remain in IDP camps having fled previous bouts of violence. This exodus of refugees and internal displacement was accompanied by widespread and credible claims of serious...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Applications made via the online passport renewal service are currently being processed within the target turnaround time of 10 working days, excluding postage time. In fact the vast majority of applications are processed in a considerably shorter time period. The Passport Service aims to process all passport renewal applications submitted via Passport Express within 15 working days. At...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Syria remains grave. Since 2011, the Syria conflict has cost the lives of well over 400,000 people. As the conflict enters its ninth year, nearly 12 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, and more than 80 per cent of people live below the poverty line. Over 6 million people are displaced inside Syria, and a further 5.6 million have fled to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am concerned by the growing tensions between the United States and Iran which have escalated in recent months and weeks. Following US withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) last year, both Ireland and the EU conveyed our great regret at the decision to the US Government, and have maintained that view. Ireland has clearly expressed our belief that there is no credible peaceful...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies Membership (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The 1996 Ottawa Declaration formally established the Arctic Council as a high level intergovernmental forum to promote cooperation among Arctic States and indigenous communities. Membership of the Council comprises the eight littoral States and six representative groups of the Arctic Indigenous peoples. Non Arctic States and other bodies can apply to become Observers, of which there are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The decision of the April European Council to extend the Article 50 process until 31 October 2019, at the request of Prime Minister May, reduced significantly the risk of an immediate no deal UK withdrawal from the EU. However, the deepening political impasse in the UK since then, and the failure to date of the UK Parliament to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement, has raised the risk of a no deal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Data (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The number of cases notified to the Consular Directorate of my Department of deaths of Irish citizens abroad are as follows: 2013 - 231 2014 - 225 2015 - 272 2016 - 250 2017 - 320 2018 - 292 The statistics held by the Department do not distinguish between citizens resident in the State and those resident abroad, and of course would not include those cases where the death was not reported...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (21 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Support for human rights defenders is a long established priority of Ireland’s foreign policy and we proudly play an active role in championing the promotion and protection of human rights defenders and of open civil society space globally. I wholly condemn any threats, intimidation or violence against human rights defenders and social leaders, including the instances to which the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that the Deputy raised this issue previously. I will raise it directly with the Minister and try to get an answer for him.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I know the Deputy has raised this issue previously and I cannot remember whether I told her I would get the Minister to speak to her directly on it. I do not have the details on individual respite places for Cavan and Monaghan but I will ask the Minister's office to come back to the Deputy on it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Let me be blunt on this. I want a conclusion to this process for the families concerned but I want it to be the right conclusion for them, as does the Minister for Health. There is a process under way that must conclude. Absolutely, I share the Deputy's frustration with the length of time it is taking. We are trying to get the right outcome rather than making early decisions that would be...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I take that point.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (16 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Certainly the issue of insurance has been a big priority for the Government for quite some time. Multiple pieces of legislation are now moving forward or in gestation to try to make sure we deal with fraudulent claims in a comprehensive way to ensure we will not see the type of disparity we see today with regard to payouts following court cases. When we compare our benchmark with the UK...