Results 28,241-28,260 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Questions on Promised Legislation (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is a very fair request. I met the organisations yesterday. It was not the first time I had met the rights commissioners on both sides of the Border. There is a great deal of concern in Northern Ireland in the context of a multitude of rights people enjoy today because of EU membership and the clarity provided, for example, by the Charter of Fundamental Rights. The uncertainty...

Questions on Promised Legislation (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: That sounds like a very difficult case. The Data Protection Bill has reached Committee Stage. It was debated yesterday and will be debated again today. Therefore, there is an opportunity for parties or individuals to raise specific cases to ensure the new legislation will deal some of the issues that have been raised.

Questions on Promised Legislation (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I know Bere Island very well as I travel there every summer. The Government has invested heavily on the island, including in water and electricity infrastructure and a new pier. Millions of euro have been spent because we appreciate and recognise the role of island communities off west Cork, as well as other island communities off the west and north-west coasts. If there are issues with...

Questions on Promised Legislation (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Minister has been speaking to Opposition to spokespersons and to our own Deputies in respect of the tagging and, therefore, I will leave that to him. However, I recognise the difficulties the farming community has had. This has been one of the worst winters and springs that I can remember and the Minister is working hard to ensure that all payments due are released without delay. A...

Questions on Promised Legislation (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: This is a relevant issue but it probably comes under the remit of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs rather than the Minister for Health. I am informed by the Minister for Health that he will liaise with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs and revert to the Deputy on this.

Questions on Promised Legislation (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government is anxious to move on with the public consultation process regarding new guidelines. The public will have a say and we will move as quickly as we can to make sure new comprehensive guidelines are put in place before the end of the year.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since 29 March 2016, the Passport Service has required all first time passport applicants, aged 18 and above, who are resident in Ireland to hold a valid Public Services Card (PSC). This requirement also applies to the small number of adult passport applicants, whose passport was issued before 1 January 2005 and has been reported as lost, stolen or damaged and those whose passport expired...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have noted the public statement from ETA on 20 April and the response of the Spanish authorities. I sincerely hope that the conflict is at an end, and that the people of Spain are never subjected to such violence again.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to my answer to question no. 70, Ref No: 17815/18, on Tuesday, 1 May 2018, which is repeated here. On 20 March last, the European Court of Human Rights issued its judgment on the Government’s application for a revision of the ruling in the 1978 Ireland v UK case. The ruling is being fully considered by the Government. It is important to note that, although the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case raised by the Deputy, and I am concerned by reports of the conduct of this trial, and by the original death sentences imposed. I am also aware that the death sentences of the four men in question were commuted by King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa last week and that life sentences have now been imposed. Ireland condemns the use of the death penalty in all circumstances,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Training (3 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy has not specified a timeframe for this question I can confirm that during the most recent financial years 2016 and 2017 my Department has not spent any money on facilitating departmental staff attendance at social media training conferences or other social media-related external events. From time to time the Department’s eighty missions overseas may incur modest...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (8 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I met with UK Minister for the Cabinet Office, David Lidington, during his visit to Dublin in April. As the Minister for the Cabinet Office often deputises for the Prime Minister, it is appropriate for me to routinely meet Minister Lidington to discuss issues of importance to both Governments. Although the Minister for the Cabinet Office does not have lead responsibility for Brexit,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (8 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 107 together. Following on from the March European Council, the EU and UK agreed to five additional formal rounds of negotiations between April and the next European Council in June. These negotiations are focused on all outstanding issues in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (8 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 108 together. The Taoiseach and I met with Michel Barnier, the EU’s Chief Negotiator for the Article 50 negotiations, on 30 April in advance of his address to the All-Island Civic Dialogue. Our meeting offered an opportunity to take stock of the current state of play in the negotiations on both the future relationship and the draft Withdrawal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (8 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Dealing with long-outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland are of the utmost importance to the Government. The Programme for a Partnership Government highlights this priority, with specific reference to implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. The All-Party motion on the 1974 Dublin-Monaghan...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Northern Ireland (8 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am grateful to Senator Ó Donnghaile for raising this important matter. Last week, I had an opportunity to brief the Dáil on my engagement regarding Mr. Taylor's case. I assure the House that my officials have been engaging with this matter on an ongoing basis. The background to the Tony Taylor case is that he is from Derry and in recent years was a member of a dissident...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Northern Ireland (8 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is important to put this case in context. It is also appropriate in this debate that we call on all dissident republican groups that have not yet done so to renounce violence and commit to exclusively democratic means of pursuing their political aims. I pay tribute to An Garda Síochána for its ongoing work in dealing with the threat posed by dissident republican groups. On the...

Topical Issue Debate: Middle East Issues (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue - not for the first time - and I am happy to be here to respond because it is one about which I am also greatly concerned. I have been particularly concerned in recent weeks due to the appalling number of serious injuries and deaths among people engaged in demonstrations. To date, 47 Palestinians are reported to have been killed and 1,500 injured....

Topical Issue Debate: Middle East Issues (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes it is.

Topical Issue Debate: Middle East Issues (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: First, the Deputy asked what these people can do. I can understand protests but there is some evidence to suggest that not all of the protest has been peaceful. There is an obligation on both sides to ensure that, by and large, teenagers are not whipped up and put in harm's way by getting involved in violent conflict. That does not excuse for one minute the fact that 47 people have been...