Results 13,021-13,040 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I join with my colleagues on both sides of this House in thanking the emergency responders who responded to a significant and extensive fire in the Metro Hotel and apartment building in Ballymun last night. There were 11 units of Dublin Fire Brigade, eight fire engines, two aerial appliances and the incident command unit, comprising 60 firefighters, involved in managing that blaze. The...

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----but it could have been a very different and tragic scene. However, it was not. That is a reflection on the professionalism of our emergency services and first responders. Today, the Garda Síochána has the scene cordoned off. There will be an extensive investigation to understand what happened. As Deputy Darragh O'Brien has done, I thank those involved for their...

Leaders' Questions (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is not what I said.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 46, 47 and 49 together. There are considerable and well-known sensitivities in relation to the position of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, and also to the Holy Places of Christians, Jews and Muslims, especially in and around Jerusalem. Concerns around these issues have led to significant tensions and even violence in recent years, which we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, supports the achievement of a two state solution to the Middle East conflict. This support includes political efforts to encourage a resumption of direct negotiations, which are ultimately the only way to achieve peace. It also includes action on the ground on human rights and justice issues affecting Palestinians under occupation, including settlement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The construction and expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory has been a central focus of Ireland’s approach to the Middle East conflict for some years. The settlement project is contrary to international law, gravely threatens the prospects for a peace agreement, and inherently involves continuing and cumulative injustices and provocations to Palestinians. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: In October 2017 Ireland and eight other EU members of the West Bank Protection Consortium delivered a formal demarche to the Israeli authorities protesting the demolition or confiscation of structures in the West Bank provided as humanitarian relief by the EU and member States, and calling for compensation or restitution by Israel. The Israeli authorities responded that the structures...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Full Time Equivalent (FTE) Staff permanently employed by my Department and assigned to the Passport Service on January 1 for 2017 was 301.7 and in 2018: 322.5. This year, since these figures were released, over 20 permanent staff have started with the Passport Service. In order to respond to seasonal demands and anticipated application increases, the Passport Service received sanction...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have noted the report, referenced by the Deputy, which was published by the House of Commons Northern Ireland Affairs Committee on Friday 16 March. While there are elements of the report with which I do not agree, it nonetheless raises a number of important points. The report highlights the challenges posed for the border if the UK leaves the Single Market and Customs Union. It also...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Staff Data (21 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are a number of categories of staff in my Department who work for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and who are not established civil servants. They are Special Advisors, civilian drivers, local staff overseas and temporary Clerical Officers. I have appointed four Special Advisers in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. - Ms. Caitríona Fitzpatrick is my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Passport Applications (21 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service operates a counter service in both the Dublin (Mount Street) and Cork offices where applicants who need their passport application processed in timeframes shorter than those offered by the Passport Express and the online passport application service can be accommodated. While priority is given to applicants who need their passport issued within these timeframes there are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Undocumented Irish in the USA (21 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government continues to attach a high priority to achieving a solution for the undocumented Irish living in the United States. The Taoiseach visited Washington, D.C., from 13 to 16 March, on the occasion of St Patrick’s Day and had the opportunity to meet with the President, the Vice-President, Speaker Ryan, and the members of the Congressional Friends of Ireland group. He raised...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Election Monitoring Missions (21 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy may recall that arrangements for the 2014 elections in Bangladesh were disputed and were ultimately boycotted by the main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which therefore does not currently hold any seats in parliament. Voter turnout was also very low. The 2016 local elections, which took place with opposition participation, were tainted by violence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Passport Applications Data (21 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Turnaround times for passport applications in Ireland are outlined in the following tables: Type of Passport Application Current Average Turnaround Times Online Passport Application 7 working days An Post Passport Express Renewal Applications 16 working days An Post Passport Express First Time Application, Lost/Stolen/Damaged Replacements 25 working days Northern Ireland Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Passport Applications Data (21 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: From 1 January – 14 March, the Passport Service received over 198,000 applications in total, an increase of 7% on the same period last year. The Passport Service is working hard to minimise the impact of high application volumes on turnaround times and continues to closely monitor the level of passport demand to ensure that all resources, including staffing, are effectively deployed.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Passport Applications Data (21 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Tracking of passport applications is in general carried out against channel of application rather than by other metrics, including country of origin. Bearing this in mind, the following general breakdown of applications will give the available detail on numbers of passport applications received from Northern Ireland and Great Britain for 2012 to 2017 and in 2018 to date: Year Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff Data (21 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The following table details the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff permanently employed by my Department and assigned to the Passport Service on 1 January for each of the years requested: Year No. of Staff (FTE)  2012 306.8 2013 297.8 2014 286.9 2015 272.6 2016 269.7 2017 301.7 2018 322.5 In addition to this, 20 permanent staff have joined the Passport Service since the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Good Friday Agreement (21 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Joint Committee of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission and the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission is an important institution under the Good Friday Agreement with a mandate to consider human rights issues on the island of Ireland. I met with the Joint Committee on 23 January last to discuss Human Rights under the Good Friday Agreement and Brexit. This was a very...

Strategic Communications Unit: Motion [Private Members] (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Great.

Strategic Communications Unit: Motion [Private Members] (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Thanks to us?