Results 29,161-29,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (4 Oct 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 adopted by the Dáil on 25 May 2016 has, like those adopted in 2008 and 2011, been conveyed to the British Government. These motions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 30 together. As stated in this House and elsewhere, I remain extremely concerned about the situation in Yemen, the suffering of civilians there, and the humanitarian crisis which the war has triggered. Yemen is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with over twenty million people in need of assistance due to drought and the disruptions...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions Application (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Government colleagues and I have been working closely with an Irish based plant to deal with issues related to US imposed sanctions on named Russian individuals and companies in the last number of months. While the rationale for the sanctions in question is fully understood, they have unfortunately and inadvertently had the effect of jeopardising a major employer in Ireland and, if a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Environmental Programme (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I strongly welcome the recent release of the important report on Single Use Plastics by the United Nations Environment Programme. This report is the first comprehensive global assessment of government action, and includes a helpful ten-step roadmap for governments in addressing plastic waste. I am particularly pleased that the report singles Ireland out as an example of best practice, as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: At the Human Rights Council in September 2017, Ireland was part of a small core group of countries that drove forward the adoption by consensus of a Resolution establishing a Group of Eminent Experts (GEE) on Yemen. The mandate of this group was to carry out investigations into all alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by all warring parties in Yemen. The GEE...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of reports of increasing harassment and detention of members of the Baha’i community in Yemen on account of their faith. I am also aware of the specific case referred to by the Deputy, of a Baha’i individual who has been sentenced to death by the Houthi de facto authorities. While we do not have all the details of the case, I am concerned that this person appears to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: On 12 September 2018, the European Parliament, under A7 of the Treaty on European Union, adopted a reasoned proposal to the Council, inviting the Council to determine whether there is a clear risk of a serious breach by Hungary of the values on which the European Union is founded. The President of the European Parliament formally communicated this proposal to the President of the Council of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 44 together. Dealing with outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the Troubles is of the utmost importance to the Government. The Programme for a Partnership Government commits to building on the progress made to establish the comprehensive institutional framework for dealing with the past that is provided for under the 2014 Stormont House...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has been a committed supporter of the Colombian peace process for many years. We have provided more than €10 million in funding to Colombia since 2007 to protect human rights, prevent conflict, build peace, and support livelihoods for rural populations, including women. A particular focus for funding last year was supporting the implementation of the Peace Agreements, as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Inter-Departmental Committee on the Irish Abroad, works to facilitate a whole of Government response to issues affecting Irish people abroad, as well as those who seek to return to Ireland to work or study. On foot of the work of this Committee, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade commissioned the independent economic report on difficulties experienced by Irish people returning...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39, 41 and 45 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. Co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Visits (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: It was announced by the White House on Friday 31 August that the US President proposed to visit Ireland in November as part of his trip to Europe to commemorate the end of the First World War. As the Deputy will be aware, this visit has since been postponed, with the US Administration citing scheduling reasons. Discussions on the proposed, and subsequently postponed, visit took place between...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Under the Treaties, it is for the European Council acting by a qualified majority, taking into account the elections to the European Parliament and after having held the appropriate consultations, to propose to the European Parliament a candidate for President of the Commission. As a member of the European Council, the Taoiseach will participate actively in these discussions.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government continues to pursue two key objectives with regard to supporting Irish communities in the United States; increased pathways for legal migration by Irish citizens to the US and relief for the plight of undocumented Irish citizens living in the US. The Taoiseach discussed the issue with President Trump in the Oval Office last March and also in his...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I was delighted to welcome President Abbas to Ireland last month, following on from my invitation to him when I visited Ramallah in January. His visit came ten years after his last visit in 2008 and gave us a valuable opportunity to discuss a number of issues relating to the Middle East Peace Process and our bilateral relations with Palestine. After the official welcome at the Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I deeply regret the US decision to cease funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA). I made my views clear in my public statementon 1 September and reiterated them during my speech before the UN General Assembly last week, where I stated that I greatly regretted recent cuts to UNRWA’s funding by the US, and called on those in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The turnaround timeframe for a passport application will depend, in the first instance, on the channel through which the application was 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, in person counter application facilities in Dublin and Cork and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I reiterate my unreserved condemnation of the violence perpetrated against civilians that has characterised the Syrian conflict to date. The conflict, which is now in its eighth year, has cost the lives of well over 400,000 people. Over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, over 6 million people are internally displaced, and a further 5.6 million people have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have reported on the visit of President Abbas and discussions with him in an earlier Reply today. Ireland has consistently acted at EU level to ensure that the European Union retains a focus on the Israel-Palestine issue, in parallel to our engagement on other conflicts and crises across the Middle East region, and elsewhere. I am concerned to note that the prospects for an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Brexit is a priority issue for this Government, and the Taoiseach, my cabinet colleagues and I have taken every opportunity to engage with all relevant stakeholders to advance Ireland’s priorities. I, as well as officials from my Department, remain in ongoing contact with representatives from EU Member States, the Commission and Task Force, and the UK. It is important to...