Results 28,681-28,700 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is a strong supporter of EU enlargement. As such, we have been pleased to see the renewed focus on enlargement that has been provided by the Bulgarian Presidency’s prioritising of the European perspective of the Western Balkans. We are glad to see that this is set to continue under the Austrian Presidency. We believe that enlargement is a transformative driver for stability and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (27 Jun 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 the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The United States administration has been working for over a year on developing an initiative to restart direct negotiations to reach a final peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The details of the plan have been kept closely confidential, but there are some indications that it may be unveiled soon. The resolution of this conflict remains a high foreign policy priority for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose taking questions 45, 52 and 58 together. The EU’s objective remains that the full legal text of the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement, as well as a detailed political declaration on the framework for the future relationship, be agreed by the October meeting of the European Council. With a view to achieving this goal, negotiations have been continuing between the EU and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: My officials and I maintain intensive contact with the EU Taskforce. My most recent meeting with Michel Barnier took place yesterday, immediately in advance of the General Affairs Council (Art. 50). Such meetings provide an opportunity to take stock of progress in the negotiations and to communicate Ireland’s priorities, including in relation to agriculture, with a view to shaping the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Maintaining frequent contact with EU partners has been a priority for Ireland throughout the Article 50 negotiations process. I discuss Brexit collectively with my EU27 counterparts on a monthly basis at the General Affairs Council (Article 50), most recently yesterday. Since the last meeting of the European Council in March, I have met with my counterparts from Sweden, Croatia, Cyprus,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings is a priority for the Government, as highlighted in the Programme for a Partnership Government. The All-Party motion on the 1974 Dublin Monaghan bombings that was adopted by the Dáil on 25 May 2016 has, like those adopted in 2008 and 2011, been conveyed to the British Government. These...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Sanctions (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The question of boycotts and sanctions has been discussed on many occasions in the Oireachtas.The Government does not support boycotts on Israel. I believe that such actions would be ineffective and counterproductive. They would impact indiscriminately on Israelis, including those who agree with our views on the resolution of the conflict, as well as potentially isolating Israelis from the...

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

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers and my officials in the Belfast Secretariat monitor this and other cases as part of their ongoing work on prison issues generally in Northern Ireland. Senior officials from the Secretariat have twice visited the person in custody in Maghaberry prison, at his request. I have previously raised the case with the Secretary of State for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Papal Visit (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government has warmly welcomed the Pope’s forthcoming visit to Ireland, which it regards as a major event with a high degree of public participation and a strong international profile. As the primary focus of the Papal visit will be to attend the World Meeting of Families, the Catholic Church, together with the World Meeting of Families, are the key stakeholders and in this...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 74 together.I was appalled by the images which recently emerged of immigrant children being separated from their parents at the southern US border and held in detention by the US authorities. I made my, and the Government’s, view of this policy very clear when I spoke on June 20 last week in the course of the Dáil debate on this issue. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service already has a system for reminding passport holders that their passport is due for renewal. Passport holders must first enter their passport details on https://www.eforms.gov.ie/en/reminder/passport/ and they will be sent a reminder three months prior to the expiry date of the passport.Passport renewals for all categories of applicants seeking to renew a passport in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The report issued by Human Rights Watch is a careful and sober account of the violence on the Gaza border in recent months. It is largely in line with the analysis I received at the time from my Department, on which I based my public statements and my contributions in the Dáil on this awful situation. I stated clearly that the lethal force used by Israeli forces was not justified by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: As I have previously stated, in this House and elsewhere, I am extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, which is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis. Three years of war have had devastating consequences for civilians, with allegations of violations of human rights, international humanitarian law, and significant loss of life. Three quarters of the population are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Online Passport Application service is the cheapest and most convenient way for an adult to renew a passport as it can be done online anywhere in the world, 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and removes the requirement for forms, witnesses or printed photos. Since its launch, over 200,000 applications for passport renewals have been received online. For online applicants, the target...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Treaties (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: Respect for the fundamental values on which the European Union is founded and which are set out in the Treaty, including respect for the rule of law and freedom of expression, are crucial underpinnings for all the EU Member States. There have been concerns over the civic space available for NGOs to continue to operate in Hungary. The Taoiseach, when he met with Prime Minister Orban on 4...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The bilateral relationship between Ireland and Cuba has been a historically warm one and the very successful visit of President Higgins to Cuba in February 2017 marked a new high point in the relationship. The Memorandum of Cooperation to which the Deputy refers was signed in the sidelines of that visit and it provides a solid foundation upon which to expand our relations with Cuba. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Austrian Presidency takes place at an important time for our Union as we continue to face key challenges. We will work with the Austrian Presidency to address these challenges including in relation to securing economic prosperity and competitiveness, the negotiations on the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the negotiations on the Multiannual Financial Framework...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service has a dedicated Communications Units to respond to queries from passport applicants. This Unit can be contacted by telephone, email or by web chat. The Passport Service is currently in its peak season for passport demand with the vast majority of applications being received between February and August each year. Accordingly, the Communications Unit has been dealing with a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (27 Jun 2018)

Simon Coveney: While the UK’s decision to leave the EU has serious implications for Ireland, we maintain a strong and constructive bilateral relationship with the UK. We are fully committed to developing and enhancing this relationship over the coming years. Additionally, we will work to secure the closest possible positive relationship between the UK and the European Union.The Good Friday...