Results 27,101-27,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The conflict in eastern Ukraine - now in its fourth year - has resulted in over 10,000 deaths, forced 1.7 million people to flee their homes and left an estimated 3.5 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Despite numerous commitments to a ceasefire, the security situation in eastern Ukraine remains fragile. Over recent weeks there has been a steady increase in recorded violations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Election Monitoring (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: Presidential and congressional elections took place in Honduras on 26 November 2017. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Honduras has declared that, in the Presidential ballot, the incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernández of the Partido Nacional de Honduras obtained 42.98% of the vote, against 41.38% for Salvador Nasralla, the candidate for the Allianza de Oposición. The third...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. In this context, permission for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports is given only on condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and do not engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I remain extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, as the humanitarian situation has reached crisis point. The war is now in its third year, the political process has stalled, and the fighting is having devastating consequences for civilians, with credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law. Yemen is also facing the world’s fastest-growing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The issue of regulatory alignment arises both in regard to the wider EU-UK relationship, and in the particular circumstances of Ireland. It is clear that, once the UK exits the EU, the question will arise as to how far the UK, which will not be bound by EU law once it departs and which will not be part of the EU decision making process, will wish over time to exercise its own right to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: While the UK’s decision to leave the EU has serious implications for Ireland, we maintain a strong and constructive bilateral relationship with the UK. We are fully committed to developing and enhancing this relationship over the coming years. In addition, in the context of the UK exit from the European Union, we will work to secure the closest possible positive relationship between...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the extension of Israeli settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan, and of the broader difficulties faced by the people in this area, which are certainly a cause for concern. Officials from my Department have recently met with NGOs operating in the Golan, and remain in contact with them. In the occupied Syrian Golan, as in the West Bank, the introduction and settlement of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: As a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government, working with the British Government, is continuing to work intensively to support the effective operation of all of its institutions and to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts is fully protected and respected in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. The Government has spared no effort in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The United States is an important partner for Ireland and the Government’s priority is to ensure that the long standing and warm relationship between Ireland and the US endures, in the interests of Ireland and of Irish citizens on both sides of the Atlantic. With that in mind, and as is the case with all of our bilateral relationships, we engage with the US administration on an ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government is determined to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts is fully protected and respected in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and this has been a headline priority since the UK referendum result. As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government has a solemn responsibility to protect the Agreement in all its parts and the gains of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am aware of the matter to which he refers. A core part of the work of our embassies in the EU is to report on views on Brexit in other member states. These reports are an important source of information, not just for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade but also for other Departments concerned with Brexit. For the past year, it has...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: For the record, I did not say this is not significant. It should not have happened-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The information in this report was meant to inform our Department and other Departments that are involved, as had been happening on a weekly basis. There were 40 such reports compiled weekly. We need to be informed in terms of what is being said about Brexit and in the context of ensuring that our approach is fully appropriate and up to date. This weekly summary should not have been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy keeps saying I have said it is not significant.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I said that this is a weekly briefing. The content of it, of course, is significant.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: It is not a briefing on a significant report.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should not try to change the meaning of what I am saying.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have made it very clear to the Deputy's party leader and I am making it clear again to the Deputy now that this should not have happened. On foot of the importance of Brexit, we have a circulation list that goes beyond what would normally be the case in respect of briefings that would usually be confined to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Our Secretary General is anxious to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: Let us not pretend this is an easy process. I assure the Deputies we will take actions to ensure we do not have a repeat of this, or at least we will do everything we can within our power to ensure it does not happen again.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I do not have an exact timeframe.