Results 29,421-29,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I hope we will get that support in the all-party committee that is working on the issue.

Data Sharing and Governance Bill 2018 [Seanad]: Referral to Select Committee (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I move:That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach pursuant to Standing Orders 84A(3)(a) and 149(1).

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the current political situation in Brazil, including 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, as well as engaging with civil society organisations and EU colleagues. Brazil is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The crisis in Yemen is a source of grave concern, and reports of the imminent threat of famine, of violations of basic human rights, and of significant public health challenges are incredibly worrying. Yemen has experienced over three years of armed conflict which has been the driving force in a devastating, protracted humanitarian crisis. The UN reports that 17.8 million people are currently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (8 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: Foreign Conflicts (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the months since military security operations began in Rakhine State, Myanmar in August 2017, approximately 720,000 refugees, mostly Rohingya, have fled to Bangladesh. The people and government of Bangladesh have demonstrated extraordinary generosity in receiving such a large influx of refugees. I remain very concerned at the ongoing situation in Myanmar and the plight of these refugees...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: As it stands, the political situation in Sri Lanka remains uncertain. President Maithripala Sirisena's decision to replace Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe with a new appointee, Mahinda Rajapaksa, and to suspend the parliament has led to protests across the country. I have been closely monitoring these recent political developments in Sri Lanka, which have received extensive international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: This Government is fully committed to Ireland’s longstanding policy of military neutrality, which is characterised by non-participation in military alliances. Whilst the judgment of Mr. Justice Kearns in the 2003 High Court case of Horgan v Irelanddid include certain observations on the customary international law of neutrality, these were not relevant to the outcome of the case. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: There is no formal policy in my Department with regard to note taking when I or Ministers of State meet business people, leaders or other contacts. The requirement for note taking depends on the particular context and is determined on a case by case basis, taking into account the nature, subject matter, length and location of the meeting. Any notes of meetings, as well as my diary, are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 145, 154 and 156 together. Under Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Ireland works within and alongside the EU and UN to address the persecution of religious minorities wherever it occurs. I am aware of the case of Asia Bibi, a Pakistani woman convicted in 2010 of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland fully supports calls for independent and impartial investigation into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. High Representative Federica Mogherini has issued a statement on behalf of the European Union insisting on the need for ‘continued thorough, credible and transparent investigation, shedding proper clarity on the circumstances of the killing and ensuring full...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148 and 150 together. The Government continues to pursue two key objectives with regard to Irish immigration to the United States; firstly, increased pathways for legal migration by Irish citizens to the US; and secondly, seeking some form of relief for undocumented Irish citizens living in the US. The Taoiseach and I continue to prioritise this issue in all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, together with the EU, continues to reaffirm its unwavering support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, as and when the opportunity presents itself across all local, EU and International platforms. Central to this support is the Eastern Partnership Initiative, which provides a framework for cooperation between the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: Visas, which relate solely to entry into Ireland, are a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. Work permits are a matter for the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. A Palestinian or other person who has secured a Work Permit on the basis of an offer of employment may apply for a work visa to enter the country for that purpose. In relation to providing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Defence Capabilities (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The media reports to which the Deputy’s question refers relate primarily to comments made by the French President in the context of the recent launch by France and eight other European states of a “European Intervention Initiative (EI2)”. The EI2, according to those participating, is envisaged as a rapid deployment force in order to facilitate a European security...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The number of senior positions held by both men and women respectively in my Department at the 30thSeptember 2018 are outlined in the table below: Grade Female Male Secretary General 0 1 Second Secretary General 1 3 Deputy Secretary General 0 1 Assistant Secretary 7 16 Counsellor 31 53 Principal Officer 5 15 Principal Development Specialist 2 2 Totals 46 91 The Deputy may also be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies Data (13 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The NGO Standing Committee on Human Rights was established in 1997 to facilitate formal consultation on human rights aspects of foreign policy on foot of a commitment contained in the 1996 White Paper on Foreign Policy. This was restated in The Global Island, Ireland's current Foreign Policy document, which commits the Government to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue with Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (14 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 (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank all parties in this House for their cautious welcome for the draft text of the withdrawal treaty that was supported last night by the British Cabinet and that we suspect will be supported also by the European Council. This has been a long and at times a very difficult negotiation and I want to pay tribute to the Irish teams of negotiators, and diplomats in particular, who have done...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (15 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: We speak to all political parties in the UK all the time. I have got to know Mr. Keir Starmer, the Labour spokesperson on Brexit, well. He is a very fine person and is on top of the detail. We will continue to have conversations with all political parties. The Government needs to be careful not to pretend it can influence British politics, and it should not try to do so publicly because...