Results 30,941-30,960 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Naval Vessels (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: In response to a request from the British Embassy, my Department granted permission for a visit by University Royal Naval Unit (URNU) vessels, HMS Explorer, Archer and Example, to visit Dublin, Waterford, Cork and Kinsale from Thursday 11 April to Thursday 18 April 2019. The Ireland-UK Memorandum of Understanding on defence and security co-operation provides for bilateral engagement on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Middle East Peace Process is at a critical impasse and the actions taken by both sides in the conflict can have serious repercussions. Promises made during the recent elections in Israel, including some reportedly threatening to annex lands in the West Bank, are unhelpful and have a damaging impact on the prospects for a positive outcome. Unhelpful election rhetoric is not unique...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case raised by the Deputy, and I am increasingly worried about reports of the deteriorating health of the individual in question. Concerns have been raised by UN human rights experts, the European Parliament, and various human rights organisations, both regarding the fairness of the individual’s trial and reports of poor detention conditions. This case is being...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 95 together. I am aware of the petition that has been circulated to Members of the House regarding a UN binding treaty on business and human rights. The question of a legally binding treaty to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises has been under consideration by the Inter-Governmental Working Group...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. Yesterday, 7 May, I and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland convened the inclusive multi-party talks in Belfast, which the Prime Minister and the Taoiseach announced on 26 April, involving all five main parties and the two...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case raised by the Deputy. The arrest and harassment of the person in question, a human rights defender and activist, is a matter of concern. The person is being tried by an Israeli Military Court on 18 charges, all related to his human rights work and protests against occupation policies and actions. This case has gone on for some time: the latest court hearing was on 7...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Fees (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of this entitlement. Entitlement to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. We are committed to promoting freedom of thought, conscience and religion, as well as the rights of persons belonging to religious minorities. This commitment to promoting freedom of religion and belief is reaffirmed in the Global Island:...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government is aware of and very concerned about the case of Human Rights Activist, Mr. Azimjan Askarov and has communicated these concerns to the Government of Kyrgyzstan. The promotion and protection of Human Rights is a cornerstone of Ireland’s foreign policy. In particular, we work closely with the EU, the UN, the Council of Europe and the OSCE to promote human rights and to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 96 together. My Department is greatly appreciative of the important contribution made by Irish citizens working in humanitarian activities in crisis-hit areas around the world. The Passport Service recognises the unique challenges faced by many of these citizens, and those living and travelling in such difficult environments, when renewing travel...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Council of Europe (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, as a founding member of the Council of Europe in 1949, has always been and continues to be a strong supporter of the Council’s work on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We fully support the work of the youth programme, which helps young people to become engaged and responsible European citizens who advocate human rights and participate fully in democratic life....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: As only limited details have been supplied about the individual in question, it is not possible to provide specific guidance on this case. I can, however, provide some general advice in relation to establishing eligibility to hold an Irish passport. All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Reports of violence in Caracas in recent days are deeply concerning and serve to highlight the urgency of finding a negotiated solution to the already grave humanitarian, social and political crisis in the country. Officials in my Department have been monitoring the situation closely and I would like to take this opportunity to strongly appeal to all sides to show restraint and avoid the use...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Sanctions (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The 1996 Helms Burton Act is a US federal law which reinforces the US's long standing economic embargo against Cuba. Since 1996, European persons or entities have remained potentially affected by the extraterritorial elements in Titles III and IV of the Act, but a 1998 Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and US has waived Title III every six months and, as a result, European...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this question and giving me an opportunity to clarify matters relating to some of the concerns he has outlined. If the Government had not made the decision we have made, Opposition parties would attack us on the basis of delays, indecision, and a betrayal of rural Ireland. We made this decision as soon as we could stand over it. The Minister for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: If the Government was in the business of trying to hide information, it would not have published what it published yesterday. The Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment will take questions on all of these issues for two hours after today's sos. I am sure he will appear before a committee on this issue for many hours over several months and, in particular, on the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am glad we agree on one thing, namely that rural Ireland needs broadband. We have been talking about this for far too long and not delivering it for homes and businesses in what is now referred to as the intervention area. There are 540,000 premises that have no prospect of getting the kind of high-speed broadband that most people in this House would accept that everyone - homes and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is a letter of 14 or 15 pages. That is why the Government spent four hours in its meeting on Tuesday talking through these issues and getting detailed explanations from the Minister, Deputy Bruton, as to the response to some of the concerns raised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I am satisfied that those questions have been answered. This is about laying 147,000 km...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy asked whether the alternatives have been assessed. They have been assessed through this process but also before it. Some people ask why we are committing this amount of money when technology may change over the next 25 years and we may be able to do this through mobile networks, wireless systems and so on. This argument has held up progress in Ireland for decades. If we look at...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (9 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: We are satisfied that through this bidding process, which one should not forget has taken three years, there has been the appropriate due diligence to test the capacity of the remaining bidder to be able to deliver on the scope of this project, which, after all, is about rolling out fibre. It is not rocket science. It is about rolling out fibre into more than 500,000 premises. That is what...