Results 28,461-28,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (29 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The poll to which the deputy refers was published in a recent report entitled ‘Northern Ireland and the UK’s Exit from the EU: What do people think?’. This report was prepared by a number of academics based at Queen’s University Belfast and was funded by the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council through its UK in a Changing Europe Initiative. The report...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Documents (29 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 to 141, inclusive, and 143 together. As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government is determined to ensure that the Agreement in all its parts is fully protected throughout the process of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU. This includes the rights and equality provisions of the Good Friday Agreement which are central to the Peace...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (29 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all of its parts and the gains of the peace process is at the forefront of the Government’s approach to the Brexit negotiations. This includes maintaining EU support for the Peace Process, supporting continued North-South cooperation, and ensuring there is no border infrastructure of any kind on the island of Ireland, and that the rights of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (29 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 145 together. My Department has an annual renewable contract for support and maintenance of a proprietary system developed by a company named Capita IB Solutions (Ireland) Ltd. The contract was put in place in 2012 following a competitive procurement process. The system provides for the online delivery of certain Consular services. This service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (29 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: On Friday 18 May the UN Human Rights Council held a Special Session to consider the recent events in Gaza. The HRC adopted a resolution – which was co-sponsored by Ireland – which includes provision to establish a Commission of Inquiry into these events. The current President of the HRC will now take this forward. Israeli Ministers have responded with public statements...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (29 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am planning to visit Israel and Palestine in early June, as part of a wider visit which also encompasses Jordan and Cyprus. This will be my third visit to the region in the last year. The programme elements of the visit are in the course of being confirmed, and I will be happy to report back to the Oireachtas on my return. I will not on this occasion be visiting Gaza, which I visited...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (29 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Maintaining frequent contact with Mr Barnier and the Article 50 Taskforce continues to be a priority for Ireland. In addition to my personal engagement with Mr Barnier, our Permanent Representative and in Brussels and his team continue to have very regular, almost daily, engagement with the Taskforce. Officials from Dublin also travel regularly to Brussels for meetings with the Taskforce...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (29 May 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 are at the heart of the Good Friday Agreement and are the best means for achieving accountable, representative decision-making for all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Transport (29 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy will be provided by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Mr. Charlie Flanagan TD, in response to an identical question put down to him for answer today.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (30 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: An applicant can track the progress of their passport application by entering the 11 digit application number into the tracker system. The applicant is also required to enter their category of application and the channel through which the application is submitted. The date provided by the tracker is a target date and not a guaranteed date. Information is updated daily and reflects the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (30 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The turnaround timeframe for a passport application will depend on the channel through which the application is-submitted. The Passport Service provides a range of channels to Irish citizens wishing to apply for a passport. These include a postal application system, an online passport application service and in person counter application facilities in Dublin and Cork.The target turnaround...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (30 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council on 28 May was determined before the climax of the violence in Gaza on 14 May, but I requested that the Council should nonetheless discuss these tragic and destabilizing events. Accordingly, it was discussed by Ministers in informal format over lunch.Many Ministers expressed their deep concern at the disproportionate use of force by Israel, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (30 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the report to which the Deputy refers, which is among several papers which have been commissioned by the European Parliament’s Constitutional Affairs Committee to inform its ongoing deliberations on Brexit-related matters. Professor Federico Fabbrini of Dublin City University, the author of the report, also brought it directly to my attention and to that of my officials....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (30 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Engaging with EU partners on the Brexit negotiations is an ongoing priority for the Government and I meet regularly with my counterparts, both individually and at the General Affairs Council (Art. 50). I met with my French counterpart, Minister Le Drian, most recently on 13 May when he visited Dublin. Minister McEntee also met with her French counterpart the following day in Brussels. Brexit...

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising these issues. He is right to ensure that everything that has been promised is properly followed through on. I have also spoken to women who were part of the 209. The stories that I have heard are that meetings have taken place and that the conversations with the HSE and social workers involved have been positive. If there are cases that the Deputy is hearing...

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the women concerned and, in some cases, their partners, the Government's commitment is that the HSE will approach, in an appropriate and sensitive way, those women individually and talk to them in their homes about putting tailor-made packages of support together. That is what we are doing. If people want to have meetings with Department officials or there are concerns about...

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I do not think it will come as a surprise to the Deputy to hear that there is an absolute acceptance in government that we have a crisis that needs a comprehensive response. It is getting it. We have seen massive increases in terms of the financial response from the Government through budgets. We have a very significant and comprehensive plan to deal over time with the homeless crisis....

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is not appropriate to effectively misquote a senior housing official which is what the Deputy has done.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: No. The Deputy is quoting him selectively. I listened to Mr. Brendan Kenny this morning when he made it very clear that it was the local authorities that were making the decisions on the categorisation of homelessness and that it had not been done on the instructions of the Government.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am sorry, but the Deputy quoted-----