Results 14,381-14,400 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 259 together. I am currently representing the Government at the ongoing talks process in Belfast to support the formation of an Executive. Significant progress has been made in the talks, although a number of key issues remain to be resolved. Notwithstanding the challenge of the remaining issues to be resolved, I believe that an agreement can be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion is regarded as a fundamental and universal right for every human being, provided for under Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights. Freedom of religion and belief is one of the priorities of Ireland’s international engagement on human rights. At...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I identified this citizen’s case as an absolute priority when I was appointed to my new role, and I am determined to do everything I can to ensure that he is back in Ireland as soon as possible. The Taoiseach and I have met in recent days with senior officials, including Ireland’s Ambassador to Egypt, to discuss this case, and we have received comprehensive briefing on all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Syria continues to be a matter of grave concern. 13.5 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria including 6.3 million internally displaced people, 1.5 million are living under siege conditions which gives rise to serious protection concerns, and a further 5 million Syrian refugees have fled to neighbouring countries and the wider region. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The European Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights. The foundations of the Rule of Law process are contained in the Treaties and these foundations have been strengthened successively with the establishment of the EU Rule of Law Framework in 2014. The current situation in Hungary was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government’s objectives regarding our undocumented 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 the Government and Ireland’s diplomatic representatives in the US systematically avail of all opportunities to raise...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The migration crisis has been one of the greatest challenges facing the EU for the past two years. Migration has featured on the agenda of almost every European Council in the same period, including the recent June European Council. The EU has responded to the crisis by adopting a range of measures to deal with this mass movement of people. These have included engaging with countries of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I identified this citizen’s case as an absolute priority when I was appointed to my new role, and I am determined to do everything I can to ensure that he is back in Ireland as soon as possible. The Taoiseach and I have met in recent days with senior officials, including Ireland’s Ambassador to Egypt, to discuss this case, and we have received comprehensive briefing on all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government continues to closely follow developments in relation to widespread reports of a campaign of persecution against members of the LGBTI community in Chechnya. As I mentioned in my reply to Parliamentary Question 157 of 11 May 2017, senior officials of my Department met the Russian Ambassador on 5 May to convey the grave concerns of the Government, and of the Irish public, at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Ministerial Council (4 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: Good Friday Agreement (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government’s firm position is that the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements must be implemented in full, and this is reflected in the Programme for Partnership Government. The Agreements, and the principles and values underpinning them, are at the core of the Government’s approach to peace, reconciliation and prosperity on this island. I am currently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Data (4 Jul 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 Division and the Ireland, UK and Americas (IUKA) Division. Both divisions are headed at Second Secretary General level and both have been assigned additional resources. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Israel is not the primary actor in this dispute over electricity supplies to Gaza, which is principally one between the Palestinian Authority and the de facto Hamas authorities in Gaza, who still control the Strip. For some years Hamas has charged customers in Gaza for electricity supplied from Israel, but refused to pass these revenues to the Palestinian Authority, which pays Israel to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department facilitates a range of formal and informal mobility options for staff. These include head-to-head arrangements and the Senior Public Service Mobility Scheme (including Principal Officer mobility). Staff can also take part in the Civil Service Wide Mobility Scheme. There are no current internal transfer requests for officers from my Department to transfer from our offices...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (29 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: My appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, with special responsibility for Brexit, coincided with an important milestone in the Brexit process, coming shortly before the formal launch of the Article 50 negotiations between the EU and the UK on 19 June. At the June General Affairs Council (Art. 50), EU27 Ministers received a short update from Michel Barnier on the launch of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Programmes (29 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: One of the policy principles set out in the Confidence and Supply Arrangement is to strengthen and develop cross border bodies and services in Northern Ireland and implement the Fresh Start Agreement. All of the North South Bodies are continuing to operate effectively, making a considerable contribution towards economic growth right across the island and demonstrating what can be achieved...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (29 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together. The Government’s objectives regarding our undocumented 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 the Government and Ireland’s diplomatic representatives in the US...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (29 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The number of staff employed in the Passport Service is augmented in peak periods in response to seasonal demands. As of today’s date, the Passport Service employs 317 fulltime equivalent staff plus 232 Temporary Clerical Officers. The numbers of staff employed by the Passport Service at the end June 2015 and at end June 2016 are also detailed in the table. Passport Office As at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (29 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Under the terms of the Shorter Working Year scheme, special leave is available for periods of 2,4,6,8, 10 or 13 weeks. The number who participated in the scheme in the past three years is as follows: Year Number 2015 57 2016 36 2017 13 The Shorter Working Year scheme is one of a wide range of family friendly and work life balance schemes in operation across the Civil Service, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Question Heading for question(s) 146 (29 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Under the terms of the Shorter Working Year scheme, special leave is available for periods of 2,4,6,8, 10 or 13 weeks. The number who participated in the scheme in the past three years is as follows: Year Number 2015 57 2016 36 2017 13 The Shorter Working Year scheme is one of a wide range of family friendly and work life balance schemes in operation across the Civil Service, including...