Results 1,601-1,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs is the competent authority to confirm that a signature, seal or stamp is from an Irish public official/body, and does this by issuing a physical apostille or authentication stamp on documents. Full details of this service can be found at www.dfa.ie/travel/our-services/authenticating-documents/. The following table details the number of documents apostilled...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Pension Provisions (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department, having consulted with the NSSO who administer pension benefits on behalf of the Department, have confirmed that the matter was investigated and that the pension of the person concerned was found to be calculated correctly, including all subsequent pension increases. I understand that this information has been shared with the person concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. In order to meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. The application to which the Deputy has referred is for the replacement of an FBR certificate....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department, through the Embassy of Ireland in New Delhi, Consulate General in Mumbai and Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, has been providing assistance to the citizen’s family - notwithstanding the Indian authorities’ position that this is a UK consular case. It is a general principle not to detail the specifics of ongoing consular work....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 307 and 312 together. Adequate staffing of the Passport Service to respond to demand has been a priority for my Department throughout 2022 and is an issue that is kept under constant review. My Department ran 15 competitions in 2021/22 to address staffing needs in the Passport Service. The additional staffing numbers are having a very positive impact on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Websites (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: US immigration regulation and operations are a matter solely for the relevant US authorities. The Department of Foreign Affairs updated its travel advice for Cuba upon receiving confirmation that the United States is now enforcing certain travel restrictions following the designation of Cuba as a State Sponsor of Terrorism by the US Department of State. The result of this decision is that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with section 26 of the Disability Act 2005, my Department has an appointed Access Officer who is responsible for ensuring that help and advice are given to people with disabilities who wish to access our services. My Department makes its customers aware of this service by publishing information about the Access Officer on the Department's website. The Access Officer can be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 311 and 313 together. The current processing time for paper-based passport applications submitted through An Post is 8 weeks. The processing time for these applications has decreased in recent months, as demand for passports has fallen in line with Passport Service forecasting. Out of the total number of paper applications processed by the Passport Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Cleaning In January 2022, following a competitive tender process, a new cleaning services contract covering 11 buildings accommodating the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin, Cork and Limerick was put in place. Accent Facilities Solutions won the contract, and they monitor the needs of each building and assign cleaners as required to meet agreed standards, rather than there being a set...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: As of 1 November 2022, Ireland is contributing 554 personnel to 7 different missions throughout the world. The main overseas missions in which Defence Forces personnel are currently deployed are the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 351 personnel and the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) in Syria with 133 personnel.Ireland also contributes observers and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together. I am informed by the military authorities that it was not possible to collate the required information within the timeframe available. I shall provide the information to the Deputy once it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of anticipated project delivery based on the achievement of the high-level goals as set out in White Paper 2015.A mid term review of the Plan has recently been completed by my Department and the Defence Forces. This updated review sets out the projects to be progressed in the coming 5 years and will be published...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department has offices in Newbridge, Galway, Roscrea and Dublin. These offices are accessible to people with disabilities. As they are not public offices, any access, along with requirements for special assistance for people with disabilities, is organised through a pre-arranged appointment. This information is contained within The Defence Organisation Customer Charter 2021-23.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am informed by my officials that the majority of the site in question is not under the ownership of the Department of Defence, but rather that of a third-party with the Department retaining a holding on the site of approximately 1 Hectare of the overall 10 Hectare site. While no approach has been made by the Local authority in relation to a transfer, my Department has no objection in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Between January 2020 and August of 2021, the Department had separate cleaning contracts for its various buildings. In 2021, under the OGP Framework, the Department consolidated all contracts under one for a three-year period. In August 2021 Accent Solutions became the sole cleaning provider for the Department of Defence. The below table details the periods for which each cleaning contract...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Staff (29 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have no civilian or Garda drivers appointed to me in my capacity as Minister for Defence.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (24 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I spoke about this at some length last night in the Seanad. I have given a clear commitment to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence that I would discuss with the committee the way in which I believe the triple lock mechanism should evolve. I do not believe that it is okay to continue on the basis of relying on a UN Security Council mandate to send Irish troops abroad if that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (24 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: -----was 70% in the dark last night because of the deliberate targeting of civilians-----