Results 13,101-13,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: In the months since military security operations began in Rakhine State, Myanmar in August 2017, more than 680,000 refugees, mostly Rohingya, have fled to Bangladesh resulting in a large scale humanitarian crisis. The exodus of refugees has been accompanied by credible claims of serious human rights violations by the Myanmar Security Forces. These include reports of widespread killing of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the incident in question, which is certainly a disquieting one. I am aware of course that Israel has to contend with very real security threats. Ireland cannot raise every individual action of concern that takes place in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, not least in a case such as this, where I have no information on what was the basis for arrest of the individual...

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

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service offers a range of convenient channels for submission of passport applications by Irish citizens, at home and abroad. Advice and guidance on these channels and other useful information on passports is available on the Department’s website at www.dfa.ie/passport. The award-winning online Passport Renewal service for adults was launched in March 2017 and offers 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, including postal channels, an award winning online application service, in person counter application facilities in Dublin and Cork and through the network of Irish Missions worldwide. The Passport Service is currently processing over 66,000 passport applications. Of these applications, just...

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

Simon Coveney: As of March 20, the average turnaround time for renewal applications submitted through An Post Passport Express stands at 16 working days. Average processing times for all categories of passport application are updated regularly on the Passport Service’s website, www.dfa.ie/passportand reflect actual average turnaround time at the time of writing. An exceptionally large volume of...

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

Simon Coveney: The award-winning online passport application service for adults was launched in March 2017 and offers the convenience of an online application system 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for Irish citizens anywhere in the world, without the need for application forms, printed photos or witnesses The target turnaround time for applications made via the online passport application service is 10...

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

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service is currently processing an exceptionally high volume of applications. From 1 January – 14 March, the Passport Service received over 198,000 passport applications in total, an increase of 7% on the same period last year. The average turnaround time for renewal applications submitted through An Post Passport Express currently stands at 16 working days. The...

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

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

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

Simon Coveney: Managing our response to Brexit has impacted on the work of many staff across the entire range of work of the Department. Following the UK Referendum on EU membership in June 2016, the Passport Service identified an increase in passport applications from Irish citizens in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. The Passport Service monitors the volume of applications on an ongoing basis to...

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

Simon Coveney: In my capacity as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with Special Responsibility for Brexit, I have been particularly keen that the Irish public remain fully informed and up-to-date on the direct implications and challenges of Brexit for citizens and for key sectors of Ireland’s economy and on the Government’s approach to addressing these. The Government Brexit Update email...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Development Plan (20 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The projects mentioned in the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027 under my Department, which form part of the Department’s Strategic Capital Investment Priorities for the period 2018 – 2022, are set out in the table. There are no agencies under the aegis of my Department. Project Estimated Completion Date Global Footprint Initiative 2025 Passport Reform Programme 2021...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will give a general introduction first and then go through the different sectors - A, B, C, D and E - as the Chairman has asked. I will then ask the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon, to deal with Vote 27, which is concerned with the overseas aid development and diaspora budgets, which is the bigger spending area of our Department. I am very pleased to be here this afternoon to present to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: My apologies. Members will have seen the advance briefing notes provided by my Department on the two Votes, which summarise the main activities and priorities under each strategic programme. For 2018, the overall gross estimate for the foreign affairs and trade group of Votes, which is Vote 27 and Vote 28, is €738 million compared with €715 million in 2017, which is an overall...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I would be very happy to do that. I am conscious that we have not had the time for a proper policy debate.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure God has much to do with it but-----

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----I will take that on board.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will address the questions in reverse order. I am very aware of the Chair's interest in Northern Ireland and community relations there. One of the reasons we are not reducing funding which supports community engagement and reconciliation through a series of community and civic-led projects in Northern Ireland in spite of the fact that we are two decades after the Good Friday Agreement is...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: On that question, the global footprint project very much involves the agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia, Tourism Ireland, IDA Ireland and a number of the arts organisations. We are trying to use all of the tools Ireland has to reach out in a more effective and ambitious way in order to extend Irish influence and create opportunities. It is being led by the Taoiseach's...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2018
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: There is a 50% increase in subhead A5, support for Irish emigrant services. On the question of accountability, we have an independent audit system that assesses how we spend money. The Secretary General has to submit audited accounts to the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. There is a robust system for how Departments spend money. While this is a political discussion about...