Results 181-200 of 449 for going forward speaker:Simon Coveney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (14 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...members of both the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Trade and Defence and the Joint Committee on European Affairs at this session. I very much appreciate their time and engagement as we bring forward this omnibus Bill to address a range of critical issues that may arise in the context of a no-deal Brexit. While there are six weeks to go until Brexit formally happens on 29 March,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the UK from the EU on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (14 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...unlikely, but it is possible. I believe we will find a way to prevent it. I hope the British Parliament can find a way to so do because, essentially, the problem is there, not here. The British Government signed up to a deal which took all perspectives into account, had taken two years to negotiate and involved compromise by all sides. The British Prime Minister defended it and, in my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (5 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Extensive and detailed Brexit preparedness and contingency work continues to be taken forward, co-ordinated by officials in my Department, working closely with the Department of the Taoiseach, across all Government Departments, Agencies and sectors, including the agrifood sector. The agrifood sector is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means it underpins...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (31 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I would like to share in the offering of condolences to the families in Donegal who are going through an unspeakable level of grief and pain today. The thoughts of this House are with Donegal in general, but in particular with the four families concerned and the wide circle of friends who have been impacted in such an extraordinary way. I thank the Deputy for raising that. There are a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 53 and 54 together. The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government.  The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Middle East Peace Process is a matter of deep concern to me, and the Deputy will be aware of the attention I have given to this issue since assuming this office. It is a priority for the Government, and for the Irish people, to do what we can to bring the Israel-Palestine situation to a resolution which is just and equitable for both peoples. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions. I visited Belfast on 9...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (29 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...Questions Nos. 131 and 132 together. I and my Government colleagues regret that it did not prove possible to secure passage of the Irish E3 Visa Bill in December, during the last term of the outgoing US Congress. While this was disappointing news for all who care about the Ireland-US relationship, it is important to acknowledge the strong support received from many quarters for...

Seanad: Government's Brexit Preparedness: Statements (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government condemns in the strongest possible terms Saturday's car bomb in Derry. I spoke to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland yesterday and I offered both our concern and assistance. The police investigation is ongoing to bring to justice those who are behind this act of terrorism. Such violence has been rejected by the people of this island again and again. The group that...

Seanad: Government's Brexit Preparedness: Statements (22 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...times. Most of that is contained in our rulebook around contingency planning, which is evolving and changing all the time. We built on the detail of that last week by bringing four memos to the Government, one of which dealt with access to medicines. As long as Britain retains its access as a member of the EU, between 70% and 80% of all medicines in Ireland will continue to come here...

Government's Brexit Preparedness: Statements (17 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...to some of the concerns outlined by colleagues. In terms of the politics of this Dáil, I thank all parties for their patience and co-operation on what has been a testing period due to Brexit negotiations and the intensification in recent weeks and months of no-deal contingency planning. I have heard colleagues opposite express frustration - both here and elsewhere - that they...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions. Both Governments are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 170 together. The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Pension Provisions (15 Jan 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...United States of national sanctions on Iran. These do not prohibit all financial transfers, but there has been a general chilling effect on the willingness of many European banks to handle funds going to or from Iran. EU sanctions have not been re-imposed. Work is ongoing at EU level, including in discussion with other states, to devise means to allow such transfers to continue without...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Chair for the opportunity to have a discussion with the committee members. I look forward to their questions and comments. My initial statement will be reasonably lengthy but it will give a good overview of some of the issues with which we have been dealing at the Foreign Affairs Council at the European level as I was asked to do. Obviously, I am in the committee's hands, but...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (6 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have been working tirelessly since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of March 2017 to support and facilitate the political parties in their efforts to form a new power-sharing Executive. However, as yet, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the formation of an Executive, despite...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (20 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is important to say that Brexit is not the Government's policy. It has never agreed with it and regrets that the United Kingdom has made the decision through the referendum to leave the European Union. Before that decision was made, this country was planning for how it would need to respond to protect core Irish interests and British-Irish relations in the context of Brexit. Last week...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (20 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The most recent meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference in Dublin on 2 November provided an opportunity for the two Governments to continue our discussions on legacy issues, security co-operation, east-west matters, on which I will go into a bit more detail, and political stability in Northern Ireland. It was co-chaired by myself and David Lidington, and the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 111 together. Since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of March 2017, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form a new power-sharing Executive. Unfortunately, to date, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (20 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141 and 142 together. Since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of March 2017, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form a new power-sharing Executive. Unfortunately, to date, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the...