Results 1,781-1,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has consistently raised the human rights situation in Xinjiang both in the UN and through other international fora. Ireland welcomed publication on 31 August of the assessment by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights regarding human rights concerns in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. The report found that several human rights abuses in Xinjiang, including forced...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Naturalisation Applications (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The application to which the deputy has referred is an application for entry onto the Foreign Births Register. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Visits (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Visits to Ireland by foreign Heads of State provide an important opportunity to promote Ireland’s interests internationally and contribute to the development of strong economic, political and cultural links between Ireland and other States. Depending on the timing and nature of such foreign Head of State visits, they can include elements such as an official welcome ceremony, State...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Repatriation Costs (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs provides consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad in line with the Department's Consular Assistance Charter, available atwww.dfa.ie/travel/assistance-abroad/. The Department is limited in the assistance it can provide in the circumstances outlined by the Deputy. If the Deputy could pass on the contact details of the citizen in question, my officials would...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (22 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: Official Engagements (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The UK Nationality and Borders Act provides for the establishment of a scheme under which non-Irish and non-British citizens would need to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) before travelling to the UK. Full details of how the scheme will be implemented still need to be set out through secondary legislation. However, we are deeply concerned at the potential impact of the scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Travel Documents (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: As you will appreciate, US immigration regulation and operations are a matter solely for the relevant US authorities, and the Department of Foreign Affairs is not in a position to intervene in decisions taken in relation to ESTA applications. However, officials from my Department regularly engage with the US Embassy to discuss immigration and visa matters in general terms. I understand...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: It is essential that the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are allowed to function. The Government’s views on this have been clear and consistent. The people of Northern Ireland voted for, and expect, an Assembly and Executive that works for them in these challenging times. I remain in regular contact with the Northern Irish political parties. I urge those who...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 326, 331 and 353 together. It is welcome that, for the first time in six months, the UK has re-engaged in talks with the EU on the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. I am encouraged that the British side has indicated that it wishes to reach a negotiated outcome and it is vital that their officials are now given a clear mandate to make substantive progress....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The number of passport applications made through the Embassies of Ireland in Abu Dhabi, Ankara and Cairo in the years 2020, 2021 and 2022 to date are outlined below in tabular form. The Deputy may wish to be aware that these figures do not necessarily represent the total number of applications made by applicants residing in the respective countries referenced. Applicants may have applied for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Irish representation in the occupied Palestinian territory is provided by Ireland’s Representative Office in Ramallah, which has been open since 2000. The Representative Office promotes relations between the Irish and Palestinian people. The Representative Office works closely with the European Union, United Nations, and other international organisations in the occupied Palestinian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Middle East Peace Process continues to be a key foreign policy priority for Ireland, and I have had extensive engagements with representatives of the Palestinian Authority since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs. The Palestinian Ambassador Head of Mission was present in my meetings with the Palestinian President and Foreign Minister in September and May of this year....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The European Union is active in pursuing the preservation of peace, the reinforcement of international security and the promotion of international cooperation, democracy, the rule of law and the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the world. The Treaty on European Union commits the EU and all of its Member States to contribute to peace, security, sustainable...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Addressing the difficult situation of undocumented Irish emigrants has been a key priority for successive Governments, and is raised by senior members of this Government at every opportunity. The issue was a notable element of the our high-level political engagements over the St Patrick’s Day period this year, notably during the exchange between the Taoiseach and President Biden. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Securing future immigration flows between the US and Ireland remains a key priority for the Irish Government, and we will continue to explore all possible immigration pathways for Irish citizens looking to live and work in the US. The bipartisan reintroduction of the E3 bill earlier this year in both the US Senate and the House of Representatives was a welcome development. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Demand for Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In 2015, prior to Brexit, a total of 6,000 entries were made to the Foreign Births Register. In 2019, a peak number of 19,000 entries were made to the register. The service was also impacted by necessary Covid-19 restrictions in 2020 and 2021 and the unprecedented demand for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland actively engages in European Union, Council of Europe, OSCE and United Nations efforts to combat trafficking in persons. This includes our work across the UN system, including at the UN Security Council, UN General Assembly, and at the UN Human Rights Council. At the UN Security Council the issue of trafficking in persons is considered in the context of certain country-specific...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341, 342 and 344 together. The promotion and protection of human rights is a foreign policy priority for Ireland. As well as bilaterally through our mission network, Ireland contributes strongly to United Nations and European Union efforts to monitor and eliminate human rights violations and abuses. The rights of women, children and vulnerable persons are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Russia’s unprovoked aggression against Ukraine has resulted in a fundamental change in Europe’s security landscape. However, even prior to this, Europe had been facing a series of evolving security challenges from cyber and hybrid threats, to climate change. Against this backdrop, efforts have been underway to further strengthen the European Union’s Common Security and...