Results 28,281-28,300 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I wish to be very clear that we take our lead from the British Prime Minister, Mrs. Theresa May. She has made commitments on behalf of Britain and on which she will follow through. There is a lot of noise in the political system at Westminster where various people are commenting on the issue, but the Prime Minister represents the British Government in the negotiations------

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes, she does. Although there is political debate on the approach that should be taken, she has committed to protect the Good Friday Agreement in full, ensure there will be no Border infrastructure of any kind on the island of Ireland and no related checks and controls and have a backstop in the withdrawal agreement that will be legally operable in terms of text and which will remain unless...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: United Nations (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy may remember, the 9/11 attacks occurred during that period. I remember it very clearly because Ireland had quite an influential position in advocating for the protection of civilians and a human rights approach post-9/11 when the war on terrorism began in Aghanistan. Ireland chaired the UN Security Council at the time, which was a very pivotal position for a small country such...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: United Nations (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I would support such reform, for which we have advocated. I spoke on the issue at the UN General Assembly last September. The UN Security Council is dysfunctional in making decisions when one of the five permanent members has a vested interest. We have repeatedly seen one of the five permanent members using the veto to protect itself, its allies or vested interests. Innocent civilians are...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: United Nations (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: We will focus on areas where we have credibility. Ireland, for example, along with Kenya, was very involved in chairing the committee that eventually got the sustainable development goals across the line. Ireland has credibility in Africa on the development agenda. We have a lot of credibility in peacekeeping and post-conflict management-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: United Nations (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes, and conflict prevention. We are doing a lot of work within the UN structures in areas such as gender-based violence. These are areas where small countries matter and have a say and can put new thinking and alliances together. That is the kind of thing we would like to do. The one thing we will definitely do is be a strong, independent voice. We will not be in anyone's pocket, which...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: International Agreements (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The straight answer is that it is very complicated now. I had a long dinner with my French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, on Sunday night in Farmleigh and we spent a lot of time talking about this because France is trying to give leadership in this area to try to keep this deal alive, despite the current difficulties. The Deputy will have seen my statement of 8 May on behalf of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: International Agreements (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: First, it is important to put on the record why the US is going in a different direction. The US sees this deal as one that also needs to deliver a more responsible approach from Iran in terms of its regional influence. It is also concerned about the stockpiling of ballistic missiles. The US is looking at a broader series of issues and linking the continuation of this deal with some of...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: International Agreements (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The problem is that the US does not accept that this agreement is being adhered to by Iran. We do not agree but that is the US position.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: International Agreements (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes, and I am not suggesting that this is a good situation. The US is the most powerful country in the world and is by far the biggest influence on global trade, global financial movements and so on. When the US decides to impose sanctions, that impacts on everyone else, particularly in the western world. There is not a single big multinational operating in Europe that does not have...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: International Agreements (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes, they were unsuccessful and now we need to work together to see what we can do collectively in the absence of US support while also talking to the US to see if we can facilitate the maintenance of the deal without its support.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy asks reasonable questions. 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 future relationship....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: This is not the first time I have heard pessimism in this House on the negotiations, with suggestions that this is going nowhere and that we are going to have a hard border. We have a cast-iron commitment from the British Government that there will be no border infrastructure of any kind and no checks or controls. What we do not have from the British is a plan to deliver on that. The EU...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should at least acknowledge the progress that has been made.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: She keeps quoting a business survey conducted last November, but it is very clear from a much more recent survey conducted by IBEC that there has been a dramatic increase in the level of preparedness across businesses in Ireland. It is not where it needs to be yet and we are going to help businesses to get there. Very few people in Ireland are putting their heads in the sand on Brexit....

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: We have made it very clear that there will be no withdrawal agreement without a backstop on the Border issue. I think that is accepted by the British Government. If there is no withdrawal agreement, there will be no formal agreement on transition and no agreement in a range of other areas. Much of the text of the draft withdrawal agreement that the European Union has provided is agreed to...

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I think what I am saying is relevant because the context in which I am speaking is the conversations that have taken place with Michael Barnier, but it is the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's call.

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: We are going through a very delicate and serious period of negotiation. I do not say lightly that there will be no withdrawal treaty without a backstop. That is the position of the EU side because that is what the United Kingdom has signed up to. If we are not going to follow through on what we have committed to in the negotiations, we have to ask where are we going. Ireland needs a...

Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: My apologies. Questions Nos. 29, 33, 37 and 48 are being taken together.