Results 11,221-11,240 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Catalan Pro-Independence Prisoners (12 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Four Catalan prisoners currently held in prison on pre-trial detention are on hunger strike. As they are awaiting trial and their cases are due to be heard by the Spanish Courts, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further. 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: Brexit Issues (12 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: On 10 December, the European Court of Justice gave its judgement that the UK can revoke its Article 50 notification, unilaterally, at any point up to its withdrawal from the Union. The Court made clear that it would have to be an unequivocal and unconditional decision, taken in accordance with the UK’s constitutional requirements. Were the UK to decide to revoke, the withdrawal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (12 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The European Union and Legal Divisions of my Department have reviewed the UK Attorney General’s advice on the “Legal Effect of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland”, as published on 5 December, as well as the “Legal Position on the Withdrawal Agreement”, presented to the UK Parliament by him on 3 December. The advice, including that on the backstop...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am aware of this difficult and long-running consular case and have been in written contact with the citizen’s family here in Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been providing extensive and ongoing consular assistance to the family of this citizen since first being made aware of the case. Officials from my Department have met...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107 and 109 together. The European Parliament adopted the Sargentini report, on 15 September last - a reasoned proposal inviting the Council to determine whether there is a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the European Union is founded. The Hungarian Government has issued a written response in relation to this report. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am aware of this difficult and long-running consular case and have been in written contact with the citizen's family here in Ireland. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been providing extensive and ongoing consular assistance to the family of this citizen since first being made aware of the case. Officials from my Department have met regularly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: On 10 December, the European Court of Justice gave its judgement that the UK can revoke its Article 50 notification, unilaterally, at any point up to its withdrawal from the Union. The Court made clear that it would have to be an unequivocal and unconditional decision, taken in accordance with the UK’s constitutional requirements. Were the UK to decide to revoke, the withdrawal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is committed to promoting freedom of thought, conscience and religion as well as the rights of persons belonging to minorities. In this regard, Ireland played a key role in the adoption by the European Union of guidelines on freedom of religion or belief during our Presidency in 2013. Ireland regularly condemns any violent attacks faced by Christians, irrespective of where they...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the organisation to which the Deputy refers. In February 2018, it sent a report to my Department entitled “Official India: On the Side of the Militants”. Officials from my Department have met with representatives of the organisation to discuss the report. Under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Religious Persecution (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Government has been closely following reports regarding restrictions on freedom of religion or belief and expression, as well as the rights of persons belonging to ethnic minorities in China. The protection and promotion of universal human rights is one of the key values for Ireland and we take these reports very seriously and raise our concerns in an appropriate manner with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The number of online passport renewal applications received since the launch of the service in March 2017, per county, is as follows: Passport Renewal Applications: ANTRIM 2,767 ARMAGH 663 CARLOW 2,359 CAVAN 2,678 CLARE 4,661 CORK 20,421 DERRY 2,029 DONEGAL 6,976 DOWN 2,250 DUBLIN 66,554 FERMANAGH 250 GALWAY 10,644 KERRY 5,139 KILDARE 10,745 KILKENNY 3,693 LAOIS 2,944...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service receives applications via a range of channels, including Embassies and Consulates abroad, the Online Passport Application Service, Passport Express service and, by appointment, at the public counter. The total number of applications for a renewal of child’s passport received worldwide between 28 November and 5 December, the week after the launch of the online...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June 2017, I have overseen and co-ordinated a sustained intensification of Brexit preparedness. As part of these efforts, the Government has organised “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” public information events around Ireland to inform and advise about Brexit preparedness, and the range of support measures and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The negotiations on both the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and political declaration on the framework for the EU-UK future relationship, both of which we were endorsed by the European Council on 25 November, were conducted on behalf of the EU27 by the EU's Chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the Commission's Article 50 Taskforce. Brexit is a priority issue for this Government, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Any Brexit scenario will mean considerable change and impact for Ireland and extensive and detailed Brexit preparedness and contingency work is being taken forward, co-ordinated by officials in my Department, working closely with the Department of the Taoiseach, across all Government Departments and Agencies. Our focus continues to be on ensuring an orderly UK withdrawal through...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The EU-Morocco Fisheries Partnership Agreement was concluded in 2006, and entered into force the following year. It has subsequently been renewed on two occasions. A Protocol implementing the fisheries agreement was also renewed on two occasions, and expired in July this year. Following a legal challenge, the Court of Justice of the European Union issued a judgment in Court case...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The standard Irish passport issued to adults is valid for 10 years. Passports are not issued for periods of shorter duration except in cases where a passport of restricted validity is issued to facilitate emergency travel or because there are concerns regarding an individual having multiple lost or stolen passports. Given that the production cost of a passport is the same, irrespective of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Parking Provision (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Any properties, including car park space, occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the state, are provided by the Office of Public Works. At present in properties where parking spaces form part of the demised, 98 are allocated to the Department in Dublin city and 105 in Limerick. The spaces in Limerick are shared with another Department. The Department also provides...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 to 128, inclusive, together. On 30 November, the total number of permanent full-time equivalent staff in civil service grades in my Department was 1364.7, comprised of 760.4 females and 604.3 males. The grades of these officers and the proportion of female and male staff in each grade as a percentage of the overall total is in tabular form below. My...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (11 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Government, together with the European Union, continues to view developments in Turkey with regard to freedom of media, human rights, rule of law and democracy, as well as the high volume of arrests and detentions of individuals such as those mentioned in the Deputy’s Question, with grave concern. The Conclusions on Enlargement adopted on 26 June last at the General...