Results 14,341-14,360 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Remuneration (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have asked the Payroll Shared Services Centre to run the necessary report regarding the cost to the Department of introducing a minimum weekly gross wage of €600 for all full time employees under the aegis of this Department. The estimated cost is approximately €0.9 million per annum. This does not include the cost for temporary officers that may be employed by the Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: This case remains the top consular priority of the Department of Foreign Affairs, and very significant resources continue to be deployed to support this citizen and his family. The trial in which he is a defendant was back in court twice in the past ten days – on 4 July and again on 9 July - for further hearings. Our Embassy team was in the court to observe the proceedings, as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Treaty to prohibit nuclear weapons leading to their total elimination, which was adopted by 122 States at the United Nations on 7 July 2017, represents the successful outcome of many years of work by committed States and Civil Society partners who have been concerned at the slow pace of multilateral nuclear disarmament efforts, including the lack of progress on commitments undertaken in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The number of passports issued in each of the years requested is as follows: Year Number issued. 2014 632,156 2015 672,760 2016 733,060 2017 (1 January to 13 July) 503,343

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (13 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has played a key role in developing consultation, cooperation, and action on the island of Ireland on matters of mutual interest and within the competence of the Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. My Department works closely with the Department of the Taoiseach in regard to NSMC matters and the Taoiseach co-chairs the NSMC Plenary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade regularly hosts a wide range of promotional events both at home and abroad aimed at increasing Ireland’s international profile, promoting Irish trade, economic and cultural interests, developing our network and influence and advancing our national interests. These events can take many forms and include events with a business, trade, cultural...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Protocol Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade regularly purchases refreshments, including wines, for use in official hospitality, events to promote Ireland and its interests and in pursuit of the Department’s High Level Goals. At all times every effort is made to ensure value for money in such purchases. The total amount expended on wines from the Protocol Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: In appointing me as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, the Taoiseach has asked me to coordinate the whole-of-Government approach to the EU-UK negotiations and to preparations for Brexit, with a view to securing the best possible outcome for Ireland. Coming shortly before the formal launch of the Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Following the publication on 2 May of the comprehensive document setting out the Government's approach to the Brexit negotiations, which drew on the findings of sectoral dialogues held to date in the framework of the Civic Dialogue, work is underway across Government to prepare adaptive Sectoral Brexit Response Plans to mitigate emerging sectoral challenges. These plans will build on ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The configuration and scale of the State’s diplomatic network is kept under ongoing review by the Government. The Government is of course conscious of the political, economic, trade and other factors that might warrant the opening of a resident diplomatic mission in a number of countries. However, resource constraints do not allow us to have resident representation in all the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Italy and Greece have for the past two years been at the centre of the EU migration crisis. Following the deal agreed between EU Heads of State and Government and Turkey in March 2016 the migration pressure moved from Greece to Italy. More than have risked the Mediterranean crossing to reach Italy so far this year, a 20% increase over the same period in 2016, according to figures from the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I began my engagement with all parties in Northern Ireland immediately upon being appointed to the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since 19 June I have represented the Government at the talks’ process in Belfast to support the formation of an Executive and as part of this process I have engaged with all the political parties, including the SDLP, UUP, and Alliance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Protecting the Northern Ireland peace process is one of the Government’s priorities in the Brexit negotiations. The Government’s focus in relation to Northern Ireland is the substantive outcome to the key issues. The Government’s objectives in the withdrawal negotiations are well-known: to secure the avoidance of a hard border, respect for the provisions of the Good...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Safeguarding the rights and entitlements of EU citizens resident in the UK as well as UK citizens resident in the EU has been identified as a key priority by both the European Union and the UK within the context of the Article 50 negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. As set out in the comprehensive document published on 2 May entitled Ireland and the negotiations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The increase in terrorist attacks in Europe in recent months has highlighted once again the need to address the diverse threat posed by terrorism. The EU is working to strengthen its response to international terrorism through multilateral cooperation, political dialogue and concrete support to third countries. EU Foreign Ministers remain focused on implementation of the recent Council...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The issue of euroscepticism is not new but in recent years it has become stronger and more vocal. That is why this year in the Rome Declaration of 25 March, the leaders of the 27 Members States and of the EU Institutions pledged ‘to listen and respond to the concerns expressed by our citizens’ and committed to offering citizens ‘both security and new...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government is continuing to work very hard on this Irish citizen’s behalf, and this case remains the top consular priority of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Very significant resources continue to be deployed to support this citizen and his family.The trial in which he is a defendant was back in court twice in the past week – on 4 July and again on 9 July - for further...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The stability of the countries of the Western Balkans continues to be a priority for the European Union. The region is currently facing many challenges, and internal political difficulties are frequently compounded by the impact of external influences. On 9 March, the European Council reaffirmed its unequivocal support for the European perspective of the region and stressed the importance...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (12 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 to 203, inclusive, together. The Taoiseach has appointed Deputy John Deasy as a Government envoy to the US Congress to work on the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States. While Deputy Deasy will work under my overall direction and that of the Minister of State for the Diaspora and International Development, Ciarán Cannon, TD, there...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Turkey has been a candidate country since 1999. Accession negotiations began in 2005 and, to date, 15 chapters have been opened and one has been provisionally closed. Although EU-Turkey relations are under considerable strain at present, Turkey retains its status as a candidate country. The situation in Turkey, including the future of the EU-Turkey relationship, has been discussed...