Results 27,961-27,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The straight answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". I have been open to listening to, discussing and debating with parties in Northern Ireland other than the DUP and Sinn Féin. I will be happy to speak to Green Party representatives in that regard. I speak to the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionist Party and will continue to do so. We have an obligation to listen to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Passport Applications Administration (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to put some facts on the table, as this is an issue for many Deputies who have contacted my office. Between 1 January and 22 March, the Passport Service received more than 222,000 applications, an increase of 7% on the same period last year, which itself saw an increase on the previous year. The service is currently processing more than 70,000 passport...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Passport Applications Administration (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to the additional information contained in my reply. I am more than aware of the problems that we have faced with passports in recent weeks. Passport offices were closed for processing and the machines were turned off for two days because of extreme weather conditions. We could not bring staff in - it was not safe. When the service is processing in or around 70,000...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Passport Applications Administration (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: In an effort to get the process back on track, there was no bank holiday Monday for the staff in the passport offices. They were in working, trying to get the turnaround times back to where we wanted them to be under the target threshold. There is a considerable commitment to making up for the shock to the system that came with the severe weather, which resulted in the passport offices...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 56 and 58 together. That conversation has taken place at various times, including last summer when the all-party talks were in play and later when there was a focus on what were essentially two-party talks that both Governments were trying to facilitate. We have had conversations with the parties at different times about whether an independent chair would...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I do not disagree with any of that. The question is what new structures would be helpful in terms of bringing this process forward and is an independent chair part of that. I do not think the two Governments are in any way precious about that. What we want is to try to respond in a way that helps the parties - by that I mean all parties, not only the big two - to come together to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I think different parties have different views; that is the straight answer to the Deputy's question. I think some parties would need some persuasion that introducing an independent chair at this stage would be helpful because I am not sure that it is right now. What the Governments need to do, and what we will be doing, is discussing how the two Governments, working together, can help to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I also welcome the delegation. I had the pleasure of having lunch with the Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation yesterday. The relationship between Ireland and Singapore is growing stronger every year, and I thank him for being here. I am glad the Deputy raised this question. The treatment of Palestinian minors under the Israeli occupation and military justice system has long been...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: On the Tamimi case, Irish and other EU diplomats attended the hearings in the military court as the case developed. An officer from Ireland's representative office in Ramallah was present in the court last Thursday when sentencing took place. During my visit to the Middle East in January, I raised directly with Israeli authorities my concerns about the detention of minors, as well as the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Goods that have been imported into Ireland that are linked with military equipment are not being used against Palestinians. They are being used by Irish peacekeepers to protect people in the Middle East, whether it is-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----in southern Lebanon or the Golan Heights.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share the Deputy's concerns on the treatment of Palestinian children and we need to raise those questions directly, without fear or favour. However, I do not accept the Deputy's approach, which is to simply try to shut out Israel. There is a context here that is different from many other parts of the world. Israel's history is very complex. There are genuine security issues and concerns...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: However, that does not excuse inappropriate behaviour and the totally inappropriate treatment of Palestinian children in the occupied territories for which Israel has responsibility. Our approach is different here.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: My approach is through dialogue and politics; the Deputy's approach seems to be through-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----protest and little else.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government has consistently conveyed to the US Administration and congressional leaders the priority which Ireland attaches to immigration reform in the United States, while at all times respecting that US immigration policy is a matter solely for the US authorities to formulate and implement. In encouraging our friends in the US towards immigration reform, we have two key objectives:...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am happy to accept that.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will follow up on the issue raised at the end of the Deputy's contribution. It is very important that I do not raise expectations that we can solve this issue easily. I have been in this House for nearly 20 years, as have many others. I and others have been to Washington many times trying to deal with the issue of the undocumented Irish. There have been false dawns over and over again....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 102 together. Dealing with long outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland is of the utmost importance to the Government. The programme for Government highlights this priority with specific reference to implementation of the all-party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. I acknowledge...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share the frustrations that have just been outlined. I am happy to reconstitute the cross-party group. I spent some time with victims of atrocities and their quest for the truth is powerful. Hopefully, we will soon see an opening of a public consultation process in respect of the introduction of new legislation consistent with the Stormont House Agreement in terms of legacy structures,...