Results 29,381-29,400 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: Renovation and building projects for any properties occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the State are discharged by the Office of Public Works.My Department has not engaged the named company to undertake any work outside the State over the past ten years.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. The Irish Government, along with our EU partners, has been closely following reports regarding the treatment of the Uighur community and other minorities in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Ireland aligns with the statement issued by the European External Action Service Spokesperson on 26 October, which reiterates the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the past three years, the Ministers of State at my Department have not met nor had correspondence with the named individual. In the course of the work of my Department, there is regular interaction with prominent Irish citizens, including for example at Irish community or other official functions and correspondence can arise in relation to such events. For example, an invitation issued to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I can confirm to the Deputy that I am fully aware of this difficult and long-running consular case. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been providing extensive and ongoing consular assistance to this citizen and his family since 2011, including through our Embassy in Abu Dhabi which has been engaging continuously with the local Foreign Ministry and other relevant local...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the recent election of Jair Bolsonaro as the next President of Brazil. Officials in my Department in Dublin, at our Embassy in Brasília, and at our Consulate-General in São Paulo have been monitoring political developments closely. It is essential that citizens are able to exercise their democratic right to vote, and I understand that the election took place in a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: On 20 September 2018, I launched the whole-of-Government Getting Ireland Brexit Ready public information and outreach campaign, together with Ministers Humphreys and Creed. Building on work that was already underway across Government Departments and Agencies, the campaign aims to provide information to citizens on the current state of play in the negotiations and wider issues that may affect...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the House will be fully aware, not least through the important work of the Seanad Special Committee on the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, Brexit poses a unique and unprecedented challenge for Ireland. Ireland will be more affected than any other member state by the UK's departure from the EU. While we respect the UK's decision to leave, we certainly regret it....

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: For accuracy, there is no concession here. It should not be sold as that.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (6 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is always dangerous giving me 20 minutes, particularly on this topic where I could stay for the night. I am glad to have the opportunity to speak without reading to try to address some of the issues that have been raised. It is worth saying that the Irish position on the choice of our closest neighbour is one of regret and also a recognition of what I have often described as a "lose,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: Our thoughts and condolences in recent weeks have been with Jamal Khashoggi’s fiancée, family, friends and colleagues, all of whom have been affected by this appalling and outrageous crime. Neither I nor my officials have been in contact with President Erdoðan or other Turkish political leaders in relation to the death of Mr. Khashoggi. However, we are closely following the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Documents (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The North South cooperation we enjoy today brings tangible benefits to the daily lives of people in the border region and contributes to economic opportunity and development. It is also a very practical outworking of the peace process which allows for the normalisation of relationships between people across the island, to mutual benefit. The Government is therefore firmly focused on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s diplomatic network of missions around the world is critical to the achievement of our foreign policy and trade goals such as ensuring the efficient delivery of passport and consular services to our citizens, supporting emigrant organisations and outreach to the diaspora and other networks of influence. Our Embassies and Consulates contribute directly to safeguarding our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: A meeting of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) took place in Dublin on 2 November. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charles Flanagan TD, and I represented the Government. The UK Government was represented by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, David Lidington MP, and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley MP Set up under the Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (7 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of March 2017, 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 a new power-sharing Executive. Unfortunately, to date, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the formation of an Executive, despite intensive...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are quite a few questions there. I will deal with the first question and the commentary on what the Taoiseach had to say at the start of this week. The Taoiseach was not blaming anyone for anything. What he did was point out the reality that at the most pressurised time of year in hospitals we need to ensure we have a full staff compliment. We need to ensure that people who have the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: Let me give the House an absolute assurance that the Minister for Health is taking this very seriously. Mr. Justice Peter Kelly is a serious individual and when he makes a judgment like this the Government listens and acts on it. It is important to outline to the House how recruitment in the HSE actually works. HSE recruitment is managed by the national recruitment service....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will try to address this issue honestly rather than grandstanding, as the Deputy has just done. The issue of preparing for winter requires honest conversations. This is not just the Government's problem. It is everybody's problem.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The HSE, the hospitals, the Department of Health, Government, in terms of policy, financing and budgets, need to work together-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----to ensure that the patient care we expect and that we need to deliver for people in hospitals, particularly through a pressurised winter period, can be as good as it possibly can be. The Taoiseach, in his usual style, was honest and upfront about one of the problems with regard to the Christmas period where there is a challenge around rostering and ensuring that senior team leaders in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is trying to spin that into an attack on consultants and nurses, which it never was and is not.