Results 27,941-27,960 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Over the course of many months, 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 an Executive. The devolved, power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are the best means for achieving accountable, representative decision-making for all the people of Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The deterioration of the human rights situation in Bahrain has been the subject of a number of Questions in this House recently, and continues to be of considerable concern. As I have previously outlined, despite repeatedly stating its commitment to improving its human rights record, the Bahraini Government appears to be targeting those who express disagreement with or criticism of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Investigations (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Diplomatic relations with Honduras are maintained through our Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and our Embassy in Mexico is not accredited to Honduras.Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade have been closely monitoring developments in Honduras following elections which took place there on 26 November, 2017. Officials have been in contact with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Over the course of many months, 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 an Executive. The devolved, power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are the best means for achieving accountable, representative decision-making for all the people of Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are considerable and well-known sensitivities in relation to the position of the Christian communities in Israel and Palestine, and also to the Holy Places of Christians, Jews and Muslims, especially in and around Jerusalem. Concerns around these issues have led to significant tensions and even violence in recent years, which we have discussed in the Oireachtas. The issues involved can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Syrian Conflict (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, is leading political negotiations to end the conflict based on the 2012 Geneva communique and UN Security Council Resolution 2254. Ireland and the EU fully support this process. The EU provides direct assistance to the UN-led Geneva peace talks and has launched, in co-ordination with the UN, an initiative to develop political dialogue with...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Syrian Conflict (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I was at the UN Security Council when it met a number of weeks ago. The first item on the agenda, raised by Secretary General Guterres, was eastern Ghouta and he made a personal appeal to all of the states represented around that table to implement an immediate ceasefire. He described what is happening there as hell on earth, and I think many of us who have looked at video coverage and...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Syrian Conflict (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is going reasonably well but this is a very competitive race and Norway and Canada are significant competitors. There are three countries going for two places but I think there is a very strong case to be made for Ireland as the only EU country putting its name forward. At that time, the only EU representative on the UN Security Council will be France, as a permanent member, so there is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: First, I welcome the progress made on the draft protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland during the most recent round of negotiations, which concluded on 19 March. This is recorded in an annotated, colour-coded version of the draft withdrawal agreement published by the Commission task force on 19 March, which reflects agreement on some articles of the draft text, including "Common Travel...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am glad I have a copy of the protocol here with me so I can correct the record given the Deputy has just misrepresented the case. It is not true to say that, in the Irish protocol, the only piece in green, which is agreed, is the common travel area, which, by the way, is very welcome. The whole first page is in yellow, which is agreed in principle. The whole second page is in yellow,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has not read it very well.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: We are all agreed on that. However, this is a negotiation which will take time. Each time there is a round of agreement and negotiation, Ireland has made progress on each of its key issues. In December, we made a significant step forward in getting agreement on the backstop and how it would work in terms of maintaining full alignment of the rules of the customs union and Single Market to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is a fair question which recognises that this is a negotiation on which we need to make progress. We have a focus of the British negotiating team and the EU task force on getting a legally operative wording which is true to paragraph 49 agreed in December. Nobody is resiling from that. However, the draft the EU produced, which I happen to agree with as it is a good and loyal...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is important for people to understand how these negotiations are actually working. There is a negotiation to conclude a withdrawal agreement and there is conversation just starting on what a future relationship might look like. That conversation will go on way beyond October. There is no question of there being a free trade agreement signed off on by October. The best we can hope for...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy says that I mentioned October. I also mentioned June and I think June will be a very important gauge for Ireland with regard to whether this is moving in the direction in which we need it to move. If it clearly is not, then we have some decisions to make with the task force. I believe we will have absolute solidarity in that as we have had at every step of the way so far....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UN Missions (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The UN relies on its global reputation as a positive force for good in the world in order to be effective. It is horrific to think that those in great need require protection in some cases from their protectors. According to my latest information, no Irish troops have been implicated in this issue. That does not surprise me, having visited many of our troops abroad, and knowing their...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UN Missions (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share the Deputy's concerns. There are thousands of UN peacekeepers in dozens of countries across the world where civilians, in particular women and children, rely on UN peacekeepers to protect them. If that protection becomes exploitation at times, that cannot be allowed to go unchecked and we need to address it comprehensively. I think the UN is attempting to address this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UN Missions (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: This problem is recognised at the highest level within the UN. There are new approaches, new policies and a new focus on stamping this out. If the UN is to maintain the respect it has built up over many decades, this is an issue that cannot be allowed to fester or continue. Sexual exploitation by UN peacekeepers is totally unacceptable and the focus on it within the UN structures at the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share Deputy Eamon Ryan's frustration and concern as we approach the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which was a transformative agreement for many people in Northern Ireland that laid the foundation for a peace process that has taken hold in the past two decades and resulted in the creation of an invisible border on the island of Ireland, a border we are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share many of the Deputy's concerns. The current impasse in Northern Ireland is very serious. That is why, when the devolved institutions are not functioning, it is important the two Governments work together, build a relationship based on trust and ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of people in Northern Ireland who rely on their sovereign Government, namely, the...