Results 14,261-14,280 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department and our Embassy network is available to provide consular assistance to all Irish citizens. I attach particular importance to the protection of children and their welfare. Child custody disputes are difficult and distressing, and are often more difficult if there is an international or cross-border dimension, and my Department is regularly contacted and asked to assist in such...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 and 502 together. The Irish Government has expressed its deepest sympathy for the enormous suffering of the Armenian people during the terrible events of 1915 which resulted in the tragic deaths of very large numbers of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire. No Irish Government has taken a position on the recognition of the events of 1915 as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Staff (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Additional capabilities and resources have been assigned across my Department to address issues arising from the complex process of the UK exit from the EU. At Headquarters the key Divisions are the European Union (EU) Division and the Ireland, UK and Americas (IUKA) Division. The EU Division is headed at Second Secretary General level and IUKA Division is headed at Assistant Secretary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Staff (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Managing our response to Brexit has impacted on the work of many staff at Headquarters and a significant number of those overseas. Additional staff have been assigned to the key Divisions with responsibility for Brexit matters, the European Union Division and the Ireland, UK and Americas (IUKA) Division, to cover the issues arising from the UK exit process. The European Union Division...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Construction Costs (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Office of Public Works provides my Department with office accommodation for its offices in Ireland. In the case of our offices abroad, the Department undertakes construction projects to maintain those properties which the State owns and, in the case of leased properties, carries out necessary maintenance to ensure lease requirements are adhered to. These projects would be smaller, short...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495, 504, 539, 541 and 543 together. The Government is determined, as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to do everything that we can to see all of its institutions operating effectively, including the devolved Assembly and power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland. I met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in Dublin on 22...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of recent developments involving the People’s Republic of China and India in Bhutan. The Irish Embassies in New Delhi and Beijing have monitored the situation closely, which has now deescalated. It is our strong wish to see such disputes resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, and we urge the parties involved to refrain from actions that could lead to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply worried by the deterioration of the situation on the Korean peninsula. North Korea’s recent actions have raised tensions and present a real threat to peace and security in the entire North East Asia region and beyond. I have expressed my condemnation of these actions in recent statements, including after North Korea’s ballistic missile test which flew over Japanese...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: As part of my ongoing engagement with stakeholders across the island of Ireland, I spoke at a breakfast briefing for the members of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, 29 August 2017, in Belfast. The event was attended by over 60 representatives of businesses from all across Northern Ireland, many of whom have cross-border operations. The event was an important...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Officials of my Department are engaged in this work on an ongoing and continuing basis. This work covers the broad spectrum of political and policy positions on all matters relating to Brexit across the UK, including those articulated in Westminster debates, committee hearings and through the media. Our Embassy in London and our Consulate in Edinburgh report on policy developments and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The person referred to by the Deputy was first brought to the attention of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2009, and officials from the Consular Assistance Section in Dublin and from our Embassy in Cairo have provided extensive consular assistance to the family since then. Cases of this nature are very difficult and complex and are complicated by the fact that Egypt is not a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Services Card (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service currently requires a photocopy of the 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 passport. The Government...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: There have been three rounds of negotiations to date, with the most recent round concluding on 31 August. As this is the first phase of negotiations, and in line with the agreed sequencing of negotiations, the focus has been on the withdrawal issues of citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, other separation issues and the unique Irish issues. Both the EU and UK have used these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The J1 programme has been a tremendously successful part of the Irish-US bilateral relationship for almost 50 years, with 150,000 Irish third level students and young people having participated in the programme over that time. The J1 programme offers a suite of more than a dozen options for participants wishing to experience life in the US while providing opportunities to work while doing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government’s objectives regarding undocumented Irish citizens in the United States remain constant, namely, to achieve relief for the undocumented and facilitate greater pathways for legal migration to the United States. In pursuit of these objectives, Ireland’s diplomatic representatives in the U.S. systematically avail of all opportunities to raise immigration,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: This complex consular case continues to be a top priority for the Government. The Government is doing everything it can to ensure that the Egyptian authorities are in no doubt about our determination to see this young Irish citizen returned to his home and family as soon as possible. The Government has raised this case directly with Egyptian President el-Sisi on numerous occasions, calling...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The number of passports issued in the years requested is as follows: Year Amount 2012 635,600 2013 634,635 2014 632,156 2015 672,760 2016 733,060 2017 (1 January – 5th September) 615,971

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Information on the turnaround times for passport applications is updated weekly on the Passport Service website, www.dfa.ie/passport. The target turnaround time for Passport Express renewal applications is 15 working days. Applications in other categories such as first time applicants or those involving lost or stolen passports take longer, as additional checks are undertaken. The actual...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The percentage of women full time equivalents (FTEs) employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the years in question is provided in the following table. These figures do not include local staff employed in missions overseas or temporary staff employed on short term temporary contracts. Date Percentage of women FTEs 31.12.2010 55% 31.12.2011 56% 31.12.2012 57%...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is a priority for the Government to ensure that the rights of Irish citizens living in the UK will be protected through the withdrawal process of the UK from the European Union. To this end, the Government prioritised the protection of the Good Friday Agreement and the maintenance of the Common Travel Area for the withdrawal negotiations. The Government was therefore pleased at the...