Results 13,081-13,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service currently requires a photocopy of the applicant’s Public Services card (“PSC”) for first time adult applicants and for applicants seeking to replace lost, stolen or damaged passports that were issued prior to 2005. This measure has been an important step in protecting against fraud and identity theft and in upholding the integrity of the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The position in relation to expenditure by my Department on external public relations or communications advice remains as set out in my reply to Question No. 108 of 13 February 2018. As regards online advertising and public awareness campaigns, my Department engages in these where there is Government information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens. Since January 2017 there...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department is taking steps to reinforce existing missions, including in key partner countries, to address the impact of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. Already sixteen additional staff members have been assigned to our Embassies in London, Paris and Berlin and to Ireland’s Permanent Representation to the European Union in Brussels. There are plans to significantly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government, working with the British Government, has spared no effort in supporting and facilitating talks on the formation of an Executive over many months. The devolved, power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are the only way forward for Northern Ireland, and are urgently required. The Government is currently working...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Officers join the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through standard recruitment practices i.e. through competitions run under license directly by this Department or the Public Appointments Service, or through transfer/redeployment from another government Department under standard transfer/redeployment arrangements. Under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments)...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: All government Departments were guided by the advice of the National Emergency Coordination Committee in deciding to close certain offices during Storm Emma. While staff were unable to work in the headquarters offices of the Department, Ireland’s Embassies and Consulates, where approximately 40% of the Department’s staff work, continued to function as normal. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I remain very concerned about the human rights situation in Bahrain. Despite repeatedly stating its commitment to improving its human rights record, the Bahraini Government appears to be targeting those who express disagreement with or criticism of the Government. A number of worrying developments suggest an increasingly restrictive attitude to those opposing or challenging the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Human Rights Council (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: While not a member of the Human Rights Council (HRC) Ireland is participating actively in the current session of the HRC which began on 26 February and will run until 23 March. My colleague Ciaran Cannon, Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development took part in the high level segment at the beginning of the session and delivered a national statement on behalf of Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The persistence of Israeli flights over Lebanon has from time to time been raised with Israel by Irish Ministers and officials, particularly in the context of discussing issues surrounding Ireland’s deployment of troops with UNIFIL. I am also aware, of course, that both Lebanon and Syria remain officially in a state of war with Israel, with the most serious recent conflict taking...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Successive US Administrations have provided immensely valuable support to the peace process over the last three decades, and this support continues to be provided by the current US Administration, as well as by our many friends in Congress. The Government strongly appreciates the sustained engagement by the current US Administration, including by the US State Department, in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I discuss Brexit collectively with my EU27 counterparts on a monthly basis at the General Affairs Council (Art. 50). At this month’s meeting, which is taking place today, Michel Barnier will provide an update to the EU27 Member States on the progress made with the UK in advancing discussions on the draft Withdrawal Agreement. Draft additional guidelines for the next stage of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens wishing to apply for a passport. These include a postal application system, an award winning online passport application service, in person counter application facilities in Dublin and Cork and the network of Irish Missions worldwide. The turnaround timeframe for a passport application will depend, in the first instance, on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Embassy in Moscow, working with the state agencies, continues to raise awareness of Ireland as an attractive investment location and to support Irish companies present in Russia and those seeking to explore new market opportunities there. In December, I co-chaired the 11th meeting of the Ireland-Russia Joint Economic Commission in Dublin, where we discussed opportunities to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I wish to make clear my total condemnation of the ongoing bombardment of Eastern Ghouta. The attacks being directed at the civilian and humanitarian population are disproportionate. Ireland does not recognise the legitimacy of the 2014 Syrian Presidential Elections and has ceased all diplomatic or political contacts with the Assad regime. Ireland remains engaged through the EU in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens wishing to apply for a passport. These include a postal application system, an award winning online passport application service, in person counter application facilities in Dublin and Cork and the network of Irish Missions worldwide. The turnaround timeframe for a passport application will depend in the first instance on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Capital Expenditure Programme (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Under the recently published National Development Plan 2018 - 2027, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will have capital allocations in the period 2019 – 2022, across its two Votes (Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 – Foreign Affairs and Trade) as follows: 2019€17 million 2020€13 million 2021€13 million 2022€14 million The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Reform Programme consists of over 25 individual projects and the award-winning online passport application service has been the most significant project launched under the Programme to date. Currently 45% of people who are eligible to apply online do so with a significantly reduced turnaround time. The funding allocated to the Passport Reform Programme is €20m up to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Global Footprint Initiative (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: €2 million was allocated in Budget 2018 to cover initial expenditure by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the Doubling of the Global Footprint Initiative. Work has begun on the initial phase of the expansion of Ireland’s Diplomatic Network which includes the Government decision to open new Embassies in Santiago, Chile; Bogotá, Colombia; Amman, Jordan; and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Refusals (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not been made aware of any recent cases in which Irish citizens were leaving the State for the purposes of conversion or reparative therapies. As the deputy will be aware, any powers my department has to prevent any Irish citizen from travelling abroad are extremely limited and outlined in the Passports Act 2008. Any citizen who finds themselves in distress abroad may...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Lobbying Data (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the newspaper report referred to. However, I have not myself been lobbied in this regard and I am unaware of any actual lobbying on this basis. While the Government does not support a policy of “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions”, it is a legitimate and non-violent political viewpoint, albeit one regarded in Israel as hostile. The Government firmly opposes...