Results 11,261-11,280 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (6 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I very much welcome the passing of an Irish E3 visa Bill in the U.S. House of Representatives on 28 November last. Both the Taoiseach and I have raised the issue of immigration with the U.S. Administration at every opportunity, and I am pleased to report that this particular initiative has the support of the Administration, and of House Speaker, Paul Ryan. The House Bill itself was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (6 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have been working tirelessly since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of March 2017 to support and facilitate the political parties in their efforts to form a new power-sharing Executive. However, as yet, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the formation of an Executive, despite...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (6 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and the EU recognise the United Nation’s classification of Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory. We fully support the ongoing UN efforts to assist the parties in reaching a lasting political resolution to the dispute in Western Sahara. Ireland supports the right to self-determination of the people of Western Sahara, but does not have a view on the outcome of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (6 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: On 15 September last, the European Parliament adopted the Sargentini report - 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 have issued a written response in relation to this report. The Commission has provided a paper on the values-related...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (6 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together. Since 2011 my Department has sponsored five items of legislation, as set out in the following table. Post-enactment scrutiny was adopted for the duration of the 31st Dáil through Standing Order 141A, effective from 5 November 2013, and was adopted by Standing Order 164A for the 32nd Dáil. In that light, the requirement does not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Schemes (6 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Department is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). The Irish Abroad Unit in my Department manages and coordinates the Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) in partnership with Ireland’s Embassies and Consulates abroad. This programme is a tangible expression of the Government’s support of, commitment to, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (5 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 C-266/16...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: While we have seconded individual members of staff to other EU member states’ public sectors in the past, I can confirm that no officer of my Department is currently seconded to the public sector of any other EU Member State. I can also confirm that there are currently no formal schemes in place in my Department for the secondment of officers to the public sector of any other EU Member...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I remain deeply concerned about the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and there are still very serious questions to answer. High Representative Federica Mogherini has issued a statement on behalf of the European Union insisting on the need for a ‘continued thorough, credible and transparent investigation, shedding proper clarity on the circumstances of the killing and ensuring...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since the baseline year of 2009, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has taken part in the Public Sector National Energy Efficiency Action Plan for reducing energy usage. To date the Department has achieved a reduction of 38% in terms of its energy usage under this action plan. This Department is projected to achieve the national target of 33% savings by the 2020 deadline.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (5 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Successive Irish Governments have worked over many years to see some form of immigration legislation passed, pursing two key objectives; firstly, increased pathways for legal migration by Irish citizens to the US; and secondly, seeking some form of relief for undocumented Irish citizens living in the US. Earlier this year, among many other contacts, the Taoiseach discussed the issue with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (4 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge posed by Brexit. We have already taken important steps to prepare the economy for the change that Brexit will bring, including the Action Plan for Jobs 2018, our Trade and Investment Strategy and Project Ireland 2040. The Government has taken a number of key decisions to ensure that the necessary customs controls and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (4 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has funded the Football Association of Ireland during the period 2017 to date through both the Emigrant Support Programme and the Reconciliation Fund. The UK Welfare Officer programme was established in 2008 and was supported jointly by the Football Association of Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade’s Emigrant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts Data (4 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). The Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available within the Department and in particular where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Fees (4 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service does not provide a reduced fee to any category of adult applicant for a passport, whether for the renewal of a passport or for a first time application. A reduced fee is applied on applications for passports for minors in recognition of the fact that a minor’s passport is valid for only five years. Most adult passports will be issued for a period of ten years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (4 Dec 2018)

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: Syrian Conflict (4 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Syria continues to be a matter of grave concern, and I take this opportunity to reiterate my condemnation of the violence against civilians that has been the hallmark of this conflict to date. The conflict was sparked, more than seven years ago, by brutal repression of dissent by the Assad regime. The conduct of the conflict, including the use of chemical weapons and medieval...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (4 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Details of public events that I have attended between 1 May and to date in 2018 are set out in the following table. Location Public Event Date Antrim Remembrance Sunday 11/11/2018 National Famine Commemoration 12/05/2018 Public Consultations on Government of Ireland New International Development Policy 13/09/2018 Getting Ireland Brexit Ready 05/10/2018 Unveiling of Midleton WW1...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Birth Certificates (4 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The application for Foreign Birth Registration to which the Deputy referred was approved on 24 October 2018. This decision was communicated to the applicant’s father and his solicitor at that time.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the difficult situation that currently exists for human rights defenders in Guatemala and elsewhere in Latin America. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is monitoring developments closely and remains committed to supporting the advancement of human rights in the region. I wholly condemn any intimidation or violence against those seeking to defend their rights,...