Results 11,121-11,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (16 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Procurement Unit in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for the management, coordination and implementation of procurement processes, and procures services, goods and works on behalf of the Department. It oversees the implementation of procurement rules and procedures in accordance with national and European procurement regulations. The section engages with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions. Both Governments are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (16 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government engages frequently with the US Administration and US elected representatives, both Republican and Democrat, on all aspects of the US-Ireland relationship and on other issues of mutual concern. I plan to travel to Washington, D.C. in early February for a series of political and other engagements. The Embassy of Ireland in Washington, D.C., will prepare my programme for that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Catalan Pro-Independence Prisoners (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The issues referred to by the Deputy are the subject of ongoing judicial proceedings in Spain. As such it would not be appropriate for me to make an intervention or statement on the matter. There are no plans for Irish officials to make such visits. I am kept informed of developments in Catalonia by our Embassy in Madrid on a regular basis.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 170 together. The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Maritime Jurisdiction (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: In international law the outer limits of a coastal state’s maritime zones - such as the 12 mile territorial sea, the 200 mile exclusive economic zone and the continental shelf - are measured from the baseline. The normal baseline is the low water mark along the coast. In 1958, however, following an earlier decision of the International Court of Justice, it was agreed at the UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department comprises two separate votes, Vote 28 Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and Vote 27 International Co-operation. Vote 28 incorporates the majority of Ireland’s 83 diplomatic and consular Missions abroad while Vote 27 encompasses a small number of development-focused Missions, mostly in Africa. Total taxi hire costs for both Votes for 2018, including domestic and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am aware of this long-running Consular case. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Embassy of Ireland in Turkey have been providing consular assistance to this citizen and his family since his arrest in 2017. At the latest hearing on 2 January the matter was adjourned and his bail was extended. I understand that the court in Turkey has made...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am aware of this case, which relates to a civil legal matter in another European country. Embassy officials have provided this citizen with details of local English-speaking lawyers who are best placed to advise on legal proceedings. My Department has replied directly to this citizen on several occasions, and to the representations made on her behalf.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department engages in advertising and public awareness campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens. Some examples of these campaigns have included the Online Passport Renewals Service, a “Citizens Dialogue on the Future of Europe” initiative, the “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” campaign and the Global...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has a dedicated Communications Unit that employs twenty one civil servants covering, inter alia, press relations, website and digital media and public outreach. The role of the Unit is to promote and facilitate external communication in support of Ireland's objectives internationally. This includes communicating to the public about the work underway by Government to prepare...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee T.D., represented Ireland at the General Affairs Council on 11 December 2018 which prepared the draft Conclusions for the European Council meeting on 13-14 December. These welcomed progress made in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy, including reform of EU Civilian CSDP, a longstanding ambition of Ireland. It...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The issue of fisheries, in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU, was addressed by Member States during the GAC Article 50 meeting on 19 November 2018. Fisheries and fish products are not addressed in the Withdrawal Agreement. The Withdrawal Agreement sets the terms of the UK’s departure from the EU. However, arrangements on fisheries will be an important aspect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am familiar with the cases of the persons in question, and remain concerned both about the grounds for their detention and with regard to their treatment by the Bahraini authorities over the past number of years. Ireland attaches a high priority to safeguarding human rights defenders, and continually advocates for freedom for civil society actors to operate in a safe and enabling...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government’s planning for Brexit has from the start included issues relating to the continued effective use of the UK landbridge. This is a priority for the Government, given the importance of the landbridge in getting Irish products, in particular agrifood products, to market on continental Europe. This is an important issue with regard to protecting the competitiveness of our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: All passports are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 ("the Act") as amended. In regards to guardianship, the Passport Service is bound by Section 14 of the Act 2008 (as amended). Section 14 requires the consent of a child’s guardian(s) before a passport can issue to the child, subject to very limited exceptions. In line with Section 2 of the Passports Act,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Pension Provisions (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: Transfer of funds to and from Iranian financial institutions has been an area of difficulty for individuals and companies for some years. This arose originally because of the role of the relevant Iranian banks in evading international sanctions on sales of weapons and controlled technologies. This problem had begun to ease following the removal of many sanctions in 2016, but has now come...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The 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, under which and in general, Irish citizenship may be obtained by birth in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The focus of my Department, and of this Government, continues to be on securing ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement. This is the best way to ensure that the rights of EU citizens in the UK and UK citizens in the EU are maintained post Brexit. This includes the rights of frontier workers. The Government is acutely conscious of the concerns of border communities and of cross-border...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government's contingency planning and preparedness for Brexit was initiated well in advance of the UK referendum in June 2016 and since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June 2017 I have overseen a sustained intensification of these efforts. At its meeting of 11 December the Government agreed, that while work on Brexit preparedness for the central case...