Results 14,441-14,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The Department is responsible for two Votes – Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). The work of our embassy and consulate network around the world continues to be important in Ireland’s economic recovery and the restoration of our international reputation. Our Embassies’ work in support of Ireland’s interests includes: -...

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

Simon Coveney: The cost of operating the Passport Service in 2016 was €31.6 million. Revenue from passport book and card fees in the same period amounted to €46.9m. Any properties occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the State are rented and maintained by the Office of Public Works. As of 1 January 2017, 301.7 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff permanently employed by my...

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

Simon Coveney: There are currently more than 65 million people displaced from their homes worldwide, a greater number than at any time since the Second World War. More than 21 million are refugees and more than half of all refugees are children. A further 41 million people are internally displaced inside their own countries. Ireland partners with two of the UN agencies most closely involved in addressing...

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

Simon Coveney: The Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s overseas aid programme and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. My Department is committed to the provision of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the most effective way, providing humanitarian assistance and contributing to the fight to end global poverty and hunger, including through working with multilateral...

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

Simon Coveney: This Government is strongly committed to Ireland’s aid programme, and to its place at the heart of our foreign policy. We are proud of its international reputation, with its sharp focus on reducing poverty, eradicating hunger and responding effectively to humanitarian crises. The geographic focus of the programme is on Sub-Saharan Africa, where we work with the poorest communities,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. I am also aware of the allegations of police harassment against him. I condemn any such actions. Three decades of civil war in Sri Lanka, which ended in 2009, caused the internal displacement of tens of thousands of Sri Lankans, many of whom are members of the Tamil population. This remains an issue to the present day. Given our own...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Equal Opportunities Employment (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise the Deputy that part 5 of the Disability Act 2005 sets out the legal obligations of public service bodies - to promote and support the employment of people with disabilities - to comply with any statutory Code of Practice - to meet a target of 3% of employees with disabilities - to report every year on achievement of these obligations The National Disability Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: Incidences of violence and intimidation against local communities in the Department of Putumayo and elsewhere in Colombia, as well as the presence of armed groups in such communities, is a matter of great concern. I condemn unreservedly any intimidation, violence, or discrimination perpetrated against those seeking to defend their rights, whether in Colombia or elsewhere. As well as...

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

Simon Coveney: Regarding the 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 aircraft was unarmed; carried no arms, ammunition or explosives; and was not engaged in intelligence-gathering. The Embassy also confirmed in writing that the flight in...

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

Simon Coveney: 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 intelligence-gathering; that the flight in question did not form part of a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the person in question, and of reports of both her most recent interrogation and previous interrogations, and of the travel ban imposed on her last year that prevented her from attending the Human Rights Council in Geneva. The deterioration of the human rights situation in Bahrain has been the subject of several Questions in this House recently, and continues to be of...

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

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not made any payments to the company concerned.There are no bodies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: White Paper on the Future of Europe (20 Jun 2017)

Simon Coveney: On 1 March the European Commission published a White Paper on the Future of Europe. As well as setting out the main achievements of the EU over the past six decades, the White Paper addresses the challenges that Europe is facing and presents five scenarios for how the Union could evolve by 2025, depending on how it chooses to respond. The Commission is now in the process of publishing a...

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

Simon Coveney: Eircodes are used by my Department in the passport application process. The Passport Service has upgraded its processes to allow for the capture and use of Eircodes. Since 2015, modified passport application forms have been introduced which include an Eircode field in the address section. Backend systems have accordingly been redesigned. Online applications also support Eircode. In addition...

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

Simon Coveney: The developing situation between Qatar and its neighbours is a matter of concern. First and foremost, it is an internal GCC matter, although it also involves other countries in the region and has wider international implications. Ireland, like all EU Member States, has interests in the crisis in so far as it has the potential to impact on citizens, commerce and regional stability. My...

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

Simon Coveney: The result of the UK general election does not change the Government’s commitment to ensuring the best possible outcome for Ireland in the upcoming Brexit negotiations. On 2 May, the Government published a comprehensive document, setting out in detail its approach to the forthcoming negotiations on the withdrawal of the UK from the EU under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union....

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

Simon Coveney: Israel is not the primary actor in this dispute over electricity supplies to Gaza, which is primarily 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 supply...

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

Simon Coveney: The Government of Ireland Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) is administered by Irish Abroad Unit of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in partnership with Ireland’s embassies and consulates abroad. It has a budget in 2017 of €11.595 million. The Emigrant Support Programme is a tangible expression of the Government’s support of, commitment to, and interest in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies Code of Conduct (20 Jun 2017)

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

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 700 together. The EU’s response to the 2030 Agenda with its new and broader vision of development encompassing also peace and migration, has seen a number of new directions for EU development cooperation. The EU has been responding to the migration crisis and to the long term challenge of demography and job creation in Africa. In June last...