Results 29,061-29,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Project Ireland 2040 Expenditure (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not held any seminar to date on Project Ireland 2040 and, given the nature of the Department’s funding under this Programme, is unlikely to organise any seminars in the future.

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

Simon Coveney: My Department has not incurred expenditure on third party public relations or communications advice in 2018. My Department engages in online advertising and public awareness campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens. In 2018 these have taken place to raise awareness of the Online Passport Renewals Service, a ‘Citizens Dialogue...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Bilateral relations with Portugal are managed by our Embassy in Lisbon. Ireland enjoys a strong and positive relationship with Portugal. With the launch of ‘Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025’, the Government is committed to doubling the scope and impact of Ireland’s global footprint in the period ahead, while also continuously reviewing the scale...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The appointment of officials of the Commission is solely a matter for the Commission itself and Member States have no role in this process.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the context of “Global Ireland” the Department is currently managing the opening of 13 new Irish Embassies and Consulates General. A project team has been appointed to manage the expansion and extensive planning is underway to ensure the initiative makes the most efficient use of the Department’s human and financial resources. The first phase of the expansion was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Foreign Ministers of all EU Member States meet on a regular basis at the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. These meetings provide me with an invaluable opportunity to engage with all of my counterparts, including Minister Kotzias, and to discuss a broad range of issues. At present, no specific bilateral meetings are planned with my Greek counterpart. This year, there has been a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 159 together. The Government is acutely conscious of the potential impact on Northern Ireland of the UK decision to leave the European Union. The means by which these obligations can be upheld by the UK requires further discussion between the EU and the UK. As in all other areas of the EU-UK negotiations, the operation of EU law will need to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Status (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Based on the documentary evidence supplied in support of the application in question, it is not necessary for the applicant to have their birth entered on the Foreign Births Register as they were born abroad to an Irish-born parent. The applicant in question is automatically an Irish citizen and is eligible to apply for an Irish passport. This has also been communicated directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Status (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Based on the documentary evidence supplied in support of the application in question, it is not necessary for the applicant to have their birth entered on the Foreign Births Register as they were born abroad to an Irish-born parent. The applicant in question is automatically an Irish citizen and is eligible to apply for an Irish passport. This has also been communicated directly to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (2 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The UK Government White Paper of 12 July, following the UK cabinet discussions at Chequers, 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...

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

Simon Coveney: My Department participated in the National Ploughing Championships 2018 in order to increase public understanding of the ways in which the Department and Ireland’s diplomatic missions abroad engage with our international partners and wider audiences so as to advance the interests of Ireland and Irish citizens by supporting overseas trade, assisting Irish companies and State agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The number of irregular arrivals to the European Union have fallen by over 90% this year since their peak in 2015. But, while the overall number of deaths at sea in the Mediterranean has dropped significantly, any death at sea is tragic. Ireland supports efforts made by the European Union and its Member States to put a stop to the unnecessary deaths in the Mediterranean. Ireland has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (3 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The demolition by Israel of structures belonging to inhabitants of occupied territory, including both Palestinian Territory and the Golan, is in almost all cases illegal under international law. This includes structures provided by the EU or its Member States as humanitarian relief, in the form of emergency shelters for people or animals, schools, and structures for water and power supply,...

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

Simon Coveney: The Report of the Independent International Fact-Finding Mission (IIFFM) on Myanmar makes for harrowing reading. Ireland has strongly supported the mandate of the IIFFM since it was established in March 2017 and I offer my thanks to them for their work and for this report. The findings of the IIFFM corroborate many of the eyewitness accounts which have emerged from Myanmar in recent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (3 Oct 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 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for his question. I know he has a personal interest in this issue, as do I. There are several parallel strands of activity in regard to the Middle East peace process which inform Government policy on the Middle East generally. On the political front, over the past year the US Administration has been actively exploring the possibility of relaunching the process to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has asked a number of questions to which I will try to give direct answers. As I said, many Members of this House are interested in this issue. I ask that they contact me with any thoughts and initiatives they may have in this area because anything done in this area impacts on our ability to be in some way influential. I do not want to overstate how influential Ireland might be....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: In our consideration of the particular Bill we have since spoken to the European Commission which has confirmed my concerns, on which I hope Fianna Fáil will reflect. I do not believe any responsible party in the Dáil or the Seanad should supporting legislation that we know is not legally sound. I am as passionate as anyone in this House about the need to create pressure and a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The official position of the European Commission is clear. One can find a lawyer somewhere who will give an alternative view. The Deputy is aware of what it is like to be in government. The official positions of the Attorney General and the European Commission are clear. We should not be advancing legislation, albeit for understandable political reasons, when we know that is not legally...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Human Rights (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The national plan on business and human rights which was launched by me last November sets out a number of key commitments to ensure policy coherence across government. The first is to commission a study to conduct a comprehensive baseline assessment of the legislative and regulatory framework pertaining to business and human rights as it currently applies in Ireland. Work on the study is...