Results 30,221-30,240 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I met with Michel Barnier on 18 February, in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. We discussed the state of play with regard to the Article 50 process and reviewed political developments in London. We also discussed ongoing contacts between the EU and UK teams on foot of the meeting between Prime Minister May and President Juncker on 4 February when it was agreed that their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Due to the nature of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a significant number of staff are expected to attend conferences relating to their roles and responsibilities. Staff must consult with and receive approval from line managers for attendance at conferences. Approval of payment of fees for conferences is in accordance with standard departmental limits for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has engaged in advertising and/or sponsorship, in some cases co-sponsorship, for a number of conferences held in 2017, 2018 and 2019 to date. The detail is set out in the tables below. Year Conference Aggregate Amount Notes 2017 Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum €4,000 Promotion and marketing costs. The Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum is an annual trade...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: In 2017 one staff member from my Department attended the summit referenced at a cost of €465. No staff members attended in 2018 and my Department did not advertise or provide sponsorship to the summit in either 2017 or 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The opening of the Irish Consulate General offices in Los Angeles, Cardfif and Frankfurt are included in the second phase of the Mission Network expansion taking place as part of 'Global Ireland – Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025'. This will involve the expansion and deepening of Ireland's international presence across priority regions, to provide opportunities to grow our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: All-Island Civic Dialogue (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The fifth plenary session of the All-Island Civic Dialogue took place on Friday 15 February 2019 in Dublin Castle. Over 400 representatives across industry and civic society attended the plenary session and were provided with updates on the Government’s ongoing preparations for Brexit, with an emphasis on the all-island aspects. Panel discussions during the day focused on how citizens...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service offers a range of convenient channels for the submission of passport applications by Irish citizens at home or abroad. These include a postal application system, known as Passport Express, an online passport renewal service, and a counter service for applicants who have immediate travel plans. The Passport Service recently expanded the Online Passport Renewal Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: A commercial bank is not, as a general matter, obliged to provide services to any specific customer. However, it would be disappointing if any civil society organisation engaging in lawful activities in this country was unable to function due to issues in accessing banking services. The operation of a healthy civil society is an essential element of a democracy. In the present case, I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Funding (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is not in receipt of and does not have EU funds channelled though the Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Employment Rights (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 (“the Vienna Convention”) is an international treaty that provides a framework for diplomatic relations between States. The Vienna Convention was ratified by Ireland in 1967 and incorporated into Irish law by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act 1967. The Convention, which enjoys almost universal ratification,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government remains firmly of the view that the only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal from the EU is to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement as endorsed by the European Council and agreed with the UK Government. The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland includes a commitment that "The United Kingdom shall ensure that no diminution of rights, safeguards and equality of opportunity as...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: A group of Arab and European Foreign Ministers met in Dublin on 18 and 19 February at my invitation for a discussion on the current state of the Middle East peace process. As well as the Palestinian Foreign Minister and me, Ministers from Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Jordan, Spain and Sweden were present, as was the Secretary General of the Arab League. The participants were welcomed to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have been very clear many times that we think the expansion of settlements in occupied territory is in breach of international law. We believe it should not be happening, as it undermines the capacity to have a viable two-state solution and makes it more difficult to negotiate. It also undermines the context in which we can achieve a fair settlement and causes unnecessary tension. For...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will do my best, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Regarding those who were invited, I have explained to those in Washington who were putting together a peace plan, to the Israeli ambassador and to an Israeli Minister who telephoned to discuss something else, why I did not think it would be helpful to have Israeli representatives at that meeting. We are trying to have a free and open debate,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----of a Palestinian state-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----in the context of an overall solution.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sectarian Violence (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. The Government is very concerned by the announcement by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland on 14 February of the receipt of significant new material from the PSNI. The ombudsman has indicated that the discovery of the new material will delay the publication of his report into events connected to the actions of loyalist paramilitaries in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sectarian Violence (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will try to this time. This development makes clear once again that the Stormont House Agreement framework is urgently needed in order to provide a comprehensive process for addressing legacy investigations and issues in Northern Ireland, focused on the needs of victims and survivors. It is important that we all work to ensure that the Police Service of Northern Ireland has the trust...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Sectarian Violence (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is why we have an Ombudsman who has made an issue of trying to ensure that accurate information is made available to families. It is also why we must ensure that the independence of the review is robust in terms of how information is brought forward and made available to the PSNI. The core issue is the credibility of the response that is undertaken. We must work with the families to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, it will be difficult for me to respond to all of those questions in two minutes. We have just come from the Brexit stakeholder forum, where we had a detailed discussion on the current state of Brexit negotiations. There will be votes today in Westminster that will essentially put in place a new timetable for the potential ratification of the withdrawal agreement. It...