Results 29,041-29,060 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Resolutions (25 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 127 together. Ireland, along with our EU partners, has been a consistent supporter of the annual resolution put forward by Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly regarding the US economic blockade of Cuba. We have voted in support of this resolution on all of the 26 previous occasions that it has been put forward by Cuba. Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (25 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will appreciate, my officials are currently in discussion with officials in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) regarding the Department’s 2019 Estimates provisions for the Department’s two Votes, Vote 27 – International Co-operation and Vote 28 – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. These discussions will obviously take account...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (25 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the recent protests in Nicaragua and of the case of the Belgian-Nicaraguan medical student who was detained, to which the Deputy refers. The right to freedom of expression and to peaceful demonstration are fundamental to a functioning democracy. I wholeheartedly condemn the use of violence and intimidation, and the arbitrary detention of citizens attempting to peacefully express...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Supports (25 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have recently launched a national public information and outreach campaign aimed at Getting Ireland Brexit Ready. This campaign aims to provide information to citizens on the current state of play of the negotiations, the work going on across Government to prepare for Brexit, as well as the comprehensive range of financial and other supports that are available for business and other key...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (25 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I met with Michel Barnier on 18 September in Brussels and discussed progress in the negotiations between the EU and UK on the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. Mr Barnier confirmed once again his view that without a backstop there can be no Withdrawal Agreement. He briefed me on his assessment that it is time to ‘de-dramatise’ the Protocol...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Documents (25 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The UK Government White Paper of 12 July on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union remains the stated position of the UK Government on the framework which is to be agreed alongside the legal text of the Withdrawal Agreement. The EU’s negotiating approach remains as set out in the European Council Guidelines of April 2017 and March 2018. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (26 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I met with Michel Barnier on 18 September in Brussels and discussed progress in the negotiations between the EU and UK on the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. Mr Barnier confirmed once again his view that without a backstop there can be no Withdrawal Agreement. He briefed me on his assessment that it is time to ‘de-dramatise’ the Protocol...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (26 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110 and 111 together. The Government’s contingency planning for Brexit was initiated well in advance of the UK referendum in June 2016 and since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June 2017 I have overseen a sustained intensification of these efforts. As part of these efforts, the Government is organising “Getting Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (26 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: Following the informal European Council Summit in Salzburg on 20 September, the President of the European Council, Donald Tusk, restated the EU’s position that there will be no Withdrawal Agreement without a solid, operational and legally-binding Irish backstop. EU Leaders at the Summit reaffirmed their full support for Michel Barnier in his negotiations, including his efforts to...

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

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case of Mr Thirumurugan Gandhi, and of his arrest in August. The promotion and protection of human rights is an integral part of Ireland’s foreign policy. Ireland works closely with Human Rights Defenders to protect the work they do and to promote the value of civil society space. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights sets out that every person has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (27 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are six staff in the Press Section of the Communications Unit in my Department. There are a further four officers engaged in the area of public outreach and five officers covering web and digital issues. Two additional officers in the Unit are dedicated to Brexit and European Union-related communications. These staff are overseen by a Head and a Deputy Head of Communications. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Relations Contracts Data (27 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not recruited any public relations companies in 2018, nor incurred expenditure on external public relations. While my Department has from time to time commissioned companies with a public relations and communications background, this has been done with a view to the provision of other professional services such as project management, logistics and event management,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Supports (27 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have recently launched a national public information and outreach campaign aimed at Getting Ireland Brexit Ready. This campaign aims to provide information to citizens on the current state of play of the negotiations, the work going on across Government to prepare for Brexit, as well as the comprehensive range of financial and other supports that are available for business and other key...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Criminal Court (27 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is not currently a member of the UN Security Council, and is therefore not in a position to formally offer support on the question of referring Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. However, as the Deputy notes, the findings of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar (IIFFM) make for harrowing reading. The report corroborates many of the eyewitness...

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

Simon Coveney: When I visited Ramallah last January, I extended an invitation to President Abbas to visit Ireland again, ten years after his last visit. I was delighted that he took up this invitation last weekend, and was pleased to be able to welcome him to Ireland. The Taoiseach and I had a substantive and useful meeting with President Abbas at Farmleigh on 22 September, following on from his meeting...

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

Simon Coveney: I am engaging closely and on an ongoing basis with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, as both Governments continue to work together as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, to address the continuing absence of the power-sharing Executive and Assembly in Northern Ireland, as well as the North-South Ministerial Council. I met with Secretary of State Bradley most...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s candidature for election to the United Nations Security Council is a central foreign policy priority. Our candidature, for election in the Western Europe and Others Group, was first announced in 2005. We are one of three candidates for the two available seats in this group, at an election in June 2020. The other two candidates are Canada and Norway. Along with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department is unable to advise in relation to entry requirements for travel to other countries as such requirements are a matter for the immigration authorities of the individual country and subject to change at short notice. Our general advice is to consult the Italian Embassy in Ireland or the Italian Immigration authorities who will be able to provide advice on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Communications Unit of my Department provides support to me in my capacity as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and to my Minister of State colleagues at the Department and at wider Government and State levels on all issues affecting Irish interests that have an international communications/ public diplomacy dimension. It is also tasked with strengthening the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is not currently a member of the UN Security Council, and is therefore not in a position to formally offer support on the question of referring Myanmar to the International Criminal Court. I note that while the UN Security Council has discussed the situation, and has visited Myanmar in May of this year, no resolution to refer Myanmar to the International Criminal Court has been...