Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Departmental Staff Recruitment

Brendan Smith

116. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if additional staff will be recruited for the Passport Office to try to minimise delays in the processing and issuing of passports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6593/18]

Passport Services

Brendan Smith

121. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the request to establish a passport office in County Monaghan as discussed at the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence is being given further consideration in view of the increased demand in Ulster for Irish passports and the need to provide such services in this region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5309/18]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

44. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to discuss immigration reform with the United States Administration in view of the concerns of the undocumented Irish; if he has new initiatives under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2709/18]

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Brendan Smith

45. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to discuss the need for the British Government to provide access to papers and files pertaining to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974 with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, as requested in motions passed unanimously in Dáil Éireann on three occasions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2710/18]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Smith

39. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent EU Foreign Affairs Council; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53909/17]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Smith

40. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Prime Minister Netanyahu met the EU Foreign Affairs Council; if so, the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53910/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Brendan Smith

41. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of the EU-British agreement on Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53915/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

38. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with civic groups in Northern Ireland regarding the need to have the Northern Ireland Assembly and Executive restored; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53164/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Brendan Smith

58. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had with civic groups in Northern Ireland regarding the Brexit negotiations; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53163/17]

Good Friday Agreement

Brendan Smith

69. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had discussions with his British counterpart on the legislation being enacted or proposed by the British Government regarding its decision to exit the European Union; and if he has satisfied himself that such legislation does not impact on aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. [52941/17]

Good Friday Agreement

Brendan Smith

119. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he is satisfied that legislation being enacted at present or proposed by the British Government in relation to its decision to exit the EU will not impact on aspects of the Good Friday Agreement. [52940/17]

Good Friday Agreement

Brendan Smith

53. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether legislation being enacted or proposed by the British Government will not impact on aspects of the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52502/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Brendan Smith

95. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made to date in Brexit talks in ensuring that there will be no diminution in the working or potential of the Good Friday Agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52291/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Brendan Smith

125. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the meetings he has had with his counterparts regarding the need to definitively conclude all issues relating to the need to avoid a Border on this island prior to the EU-British negotiations moving to the next stage and dealing with trade issues. [51767/17]

Brexit Issues

Brendan Smith

129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the recent proposals outlined by an organisation (details supplied) regarding the establishment of a new customs arrangement between Britain and the EU; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51755/17]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Smith

111. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of the recent EU Council meeting on Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49822/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

112. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to have discussions resumed between the Irish and British Governments and the political parties in Stormont on the need to have the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49823/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Brendan Smith

100. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the status of EU negotiations concerning the British decision to leave the European Union in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48530/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

101. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet the British Government and the parties in Northern Ireland regarding the urgent need to have the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48531/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

103. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had recently with civic society groups in Northern Ireland on the need to have the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48583/17]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

115. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the recent discussions he has had with the authorities in the United States of America on immigration reform; if he has put forward new proposals with particular reference to the undocumented Irish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45607/17]

Israeli Settlements

Brendan Smith

107. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised at the EU Foreign Affairs Council the intensive extension of Israeli settlements in the Golan Heights; if the difficulties in the Golan are given active consideration in the Middle East peace initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43116/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

284. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will report on progress in the talks with the British Government and with the political parties in Stormont in relation to the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive and Northern Ireland Assembly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39355/17]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

285. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the discussions he has had recently with the United States authorities in relation to the undocumented Irish; the visa proposals he has put forward that would assist Irish persons that need to have their status regularised in the United States; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39356/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

300. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the reinstatement of the civic forum is part of the discussions for the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly. [39903/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Brendan Smith

467. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had recent discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and at European level regarding the need to ensure that there will be no return to the borders of the past following Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36784/17]

Brexit Negotiations

Brendan Smith

468. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had discussions recently with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and at European Union level in terms of ensuring that cross-Border travel is fully maintained following Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36785/17]

EU Meetings

Brendan Smith

469. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent Foreign Affairs Council meeting; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36786/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

513. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had discussions with the US authorities regarding the appointment of a special envoy to Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38552/17]

Diplomatic Representation

Brendan Smith

514. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has had discussions with the US authorities regarding the appointment of an ambassador to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38553/17]

Consular Services Provision

Brendan Smith

530. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he plans to open an embassy in Georgia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38913/17]

Consular Services Provision

Brendan Smith

531. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when he plans to open an embassy in Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38914/17]

Consular Services Provision

Brendan Smith

532. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to extend the diplomatic network; the new consulates or embassies that will open in 2017 and 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38915/17]

Middle East Issues

Brendan Smith

388. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the decision to reduce electricity supply to the Gaza strip, which the United Nations Office for the Co-rdination of Humanitarian Affairs, OCHA, has warned will have disastrous consequences for the welfare of Gaza's residents; if he has raised this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34893/17]

Diplomatic Representation

Brendan Smith

415. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to reopen an embassy in Iran; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36283/17]

Middle East Peace Process

Brendan Smith

370. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on the decision to reduce electricity supply to the Gaza Strip which OCHA has warned will have disastrous consequences for the welfare of Gaza’s residents; if he has raised this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34075/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

372. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in Stormont on the urgent need to have the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34506/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

373. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to have further engagement with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties in Stormont during July 2017 on the urgent need to have the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34507/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

374. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to meet with representatives of civic society organisations in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34508/17]

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Brendan Smith

375. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has raised with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland or the British Foreign Secretary the need for the British Government to respond positively to the unanimous requests of Dáil Éireann to provide access to papers and files pertaining to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of 1974; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34509/17]

EU Migration Crisis

Brendan Smith

129. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the new steps the EU will take to safeguard the human rights of migrants in Libya; if official EU inspections of the human rights conditions in detention centres will take place; if proper systems of registering persons held in detention centres will be implemented in view of the concerns raised regarding the treatment of migrants in Libya at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 19 June 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32027/17]

EU Migration Crisis

Brendan Smith

130. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his views on whether it is right for the EU to continue to fund the Libyan coast guard service following reports of the Libyan coast guard physically abusing migrants at sea in view of the evidence of appalling humanitarian conditions in the detention centres to which migrants are returned by the Libyan coast guard and the concerns raised regarding the treatment of migrants in Libya at the EU Foreign Affairs Council on 19 June 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32028/17]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

142. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the position regarding discussions with the US authorities on immigration reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30713/17]

Undocumented Irish in the USA

Brendan Smith

143. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to have further discussions with the US authorities at political and official level on the need to progress immigration reform in view of the concerns of many Irish citizens living in the United States of America who are anxious to have their status regularised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30714/17]

EU Meetings

Brendan Smith

95. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the issues discussed at the recent Foreign Affairs Council; the outcome of such discussions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29348/17]

EU Meetings

Brendan Smith

96. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the conditions and treatment of migrants in detention centres in Libya was raised at the recent Foreign Affairs Council; the outcome of such discussions; the proposals there are to deal with these matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29382/17]

Dublin-Monaghan Bombings

Brendan Smith

331. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will ensure that the need for the British Government to release the papers and files pertaining to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974 is a priority issue in discussions that will be held at Government level following the British general election; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25668/17]

European Council Meetings

Brendan Smith

167. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if the persecution of Christians has been discussed at any recent European Foreign Affairs Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19073/17]

Humanitarian Aid

Brendan Smith

168. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if consideration is being given to the establishment of a major civil society hub here for overseas development and the humanitarian assistance sector, in view of the fact many non-governmental organisations are based in London at present and EU funding is of critical importance in their work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19074/17]

Northern Ireland

Brendan Smith

169. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the outcome of his discussions to date with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland and with the political parties represented in the Northern Ireland Assembly regarding the need to have the Northern Ireland Executive restored; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19082/17]