Results 14,421-14,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts Data (22 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are no bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (22 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I was representing the Government at the talks in Belfast on Monday 19 June so Ireland was represented at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) by our Permanent Representative to the EU Mr. Declan Kelleher. Agenda items at the FAC included the EU Global Strategy, EU-NATO cooperation, counter-terrorism, the external aspects of migration and Iraq. Over a working lunch Ministers discussed recent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (22 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The ongoing migration crisis is one of the greatest challenges facing the EU, and the Union has put in place a broad range of measures to address it. These have included the relocation of migrants from Italy and Greece across the EU; generous humanitarian assistance to countries hosting large numbers of migrants; and Operation Sophia, the naval operation to address the evil trade of people-...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts Data (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not engaged outside public relations companies for the purposes of public relations advice. My Department has from time to time commissioned companies with a public relations and communications background but this has been for the provision of other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management, particularly in relation to Irish Aid public...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Brexit Negotiations (21 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: My appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, with special responsibility for Brexit, has 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. The immediate focus of my discussions with the responsible officials in my Department was on preparing my attendance at the General...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Staff in my Department by county are listed in the table - numbers are as of 31 May). Location Number of staff – Fulltime and Temporary listed Co. Cork 76 Full time equivalents 50 Temporary Clerical Officers 126 Total Co. Dublin 726.5 Full time equivalents 187 Temporary Clerical Officers 913.5 Total Co. Limerick 68.03 Full time equivalents

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Further to my predecessor’s response to parliamentary question number 50 of 30 May 2017, the procedures in my Department for considering requests for landings by foreign military aircraft focus on ensuring that the information provided with regard to the flights and aircraft demonstrate that they comply with the applicable conditions. The Embassy of the requesting State must confirm in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Immigration Status (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: At the outset, it is important to clarify that the legal status of any non-national in the State is a matter for the Irish immigration authorities, namely the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service and the Garda National Immigration Bureau. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade I am responsible for implementation of the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, which provides, inter alia,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Prisoner Welfare (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government has an ongoing interest in the humanitarian welfare of prisoners in the separated regime. The August 2010 agreement regarding certain matters in the Maghaberry Prison was a mechanism which allowed grievances to be addressed. In 2014, four independent assessors appointed by the then Northern Ireland Minister for Justice published a Stocktake report on implementation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Prison Service (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government remains committed to supporting the implementation of the August 2010 agreement at Maghaberry Prison and my predecessor raised this matter with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, and with the then Northern Ireland Minister for Justice. The 2014 Stocktake report on conditions in the separated regime in Maghaberry makes clear that not all the principles agreed between...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is one of six EU Member States that do not currently have resident missions in Iran. Our bilateral relationship with Iran is sustained and promoted on a concurrent basis through the Ireland’s embassy in Ankara. Ireland is also represented in Iran by an Honorary Consul. The configuration and scale of the State’s diplomatic network is kept under ongoing review by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The position of foreign diplomats in the State is governed primarily by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, incorporated into Irish law by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967. The Convention, which enjoys almost universal ratification, provides for various privileges and immunities for diplomats and diplomatic missions, while also providing for a duty to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, and as set out in the Passports Act 2008, it is only possible to issue Irish passports to Irish citizens. Entitlement to citizenship is in turn subject to the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act, 1956, as amended. Accordingly, the Passport Service is obliged to seek documentary evidence of Irish citizenship by birth, parentage/descent, or naturalisation before a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Staff (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 671 and 673 together. In his response to Question 62 of 30 May 2016, my predecessor Minister Flanagan provided a comprehensive overview of the additional capabilities and resources that have been assigned across my Department to address issues arising from the complex process of the UK exit from the EU. As Minister Flanagan noted in that response, additional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: On 2nd May, the Government published a comprehensive document on Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union.This document sets out the approach of the Government to the forthcoming negotiations, following the successful campaign to have key Irish issues recognised in the EU negotiation position....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 674 and 675 together. Regarding the former aircraft referred to by the Deputy, permission to land was sought in advance by the US Embassy from my Department. The US Embassy confirmed in writing that the purpose of the landing was refuelling, and that the flight was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; and was not engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Pensions Data (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: There are no agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Least Developed Countries Fund was established to support Least Developed Countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as they carry out the preparation and implementation of the required National Adaptation Programmes of Action and National Adaptation Plans. This is in accordance with mandates of the Conference of Parties of the UNFCCC and the 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Funding (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has committed to providing €3 million to the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa over the period 2016-2020. This involves five annual payments of €600,000 to the Trust Fund. Our contribution is earmarked for the Horn of Africa Region, which includes Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda, key partner countries for our development programme. The Trust Fund was launched in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Part of the Government’s work in support of the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement is promoting reconciliation on the island of Ireland. A significant expression of this is the Reconciliation Fund, which is administered by my Department. The Fund’s aim is to enable organisations to pursue projects promoting genuine and lasting reconciliation and building...