Results 31,081-31,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will update the House on staffing and recruitment. The Revenue Commissioners had accelerated and expanded recruitment and training schedules to meet the previous 12 April deadline for Brexit. They are now on track to have more than 450 additional staff in place by the new 31 October 2019 deadline. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will have approximately 200 staff...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is about Hong Kong, not Singapore.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am glad the Deputy has given me the opportunity to put a statement on the record concerning what has been happening in Hong Kong. The disturbances in Hong Kong last week are a matter of deep concern. However, I welcome that the demonstration which took place on 16 June passed off by and large peacefully. Public demonstration and protest are an important element of any democracy and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland's relationship with China is probably better now than it has ever been. It is also more honest than it has ever been. I have met many Chinese ministers during my time in a number of Departments, including the Chinese foreign minister. In recent months, the Chinese foreign minister attended a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels where he opened up to questions over lunch from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Do you?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I just quoted the statement from the European Union, which came from the highest foreign policy source in the EU. The Deputy chooses to ignore that because it does not suit his argument.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have not said that we pedal softly. That is the Deputy's language. What I said was that in terms of getting a real response from China on issues, I have found it more effective to raise them directly and face to face rather than using megaphone diplomacy. If the outcomes in Hong Kong had been different and there had been a lot of violence as part of an inappropriate response to a huge...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Sanctions (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I know the Deputy has a real concern with and knowledge of Cuba. Ireland and our EU partners have been following developments on the Helms-Burton Act in recent months and the issue has been discussed on several occasions at the EU Council Working Party on Transatlantic Relations, COTRA, at which Ireland has been represented at official level. It was also discussed at yesterday's meeting of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Sanctions (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I hope the Deputy is not suggesting the EU is not trying to find a way forward because I believe it is. From an Irish perspective, we are not currently aware of any Irish entities or individuals being affected by the changes to the Helms-Burton Act. There is an EU blocking statute which prohibits the compliance with any US court judgments relating to Title III or IV or the Helms-Burton Act...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Sanctions (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is important that I respond honestly to the Deputy. We are doing quite a lot. The Deputy has just heard my statement, including on the actions the EU is taking. Ultimately, the reach and power of the US is very significant, particularly in that region. Cuba is very close to the United States. Many companies that may seek to trade with Cuba will also, in all likelihood, be trading into...

Other Questions: Human Rights (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Deputy O'Sullivan, who is keeping me busy today, raises a very worrying development. As she will be aware, the situation in Libya has deteriorated significantly in recent months and is extremely dangerous. She highlighted that, as part of the ongoing conflict, an attack affecting migrants was reported in April at Qasr bin Ghashir. There are conflicting reports on what happened but the...

Other Questions: Human Rights (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Finally, can I just say because it is important-----

Other Questions: Human Rights (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: All EU member states have called on the parties to the conflict in Libya-----

Other Questions: Human Rights (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----to implement a ceasefire immediately. Additional information not given on the floor of the House The EU has also reminded the parties to the conflict to respect international law, including international humanitarian law, and that those who violate it will be held accountable.

Other Questions: Human Rights (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: First, it is not EU policy to send refugees and migrants who have been rescued in the Mediterranean back to Libya. We do not regard that as safe. There was an understanding with the Libyan coastguard before the recent violence broke out in Tripoli but since then the functioning of Libya as a state, and the ability of it to protect migrants in camps, has been fundamentally undermined. The...

Other Questions: Human Rights (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----from both Malta and Italy-----

Other Questions: Human Rights (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----in relation to rescues but this needs a more fundamental solution from the EU.

Other Questions: Human Rights (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have stated in both responses that it is not EU policy to return migrants and refugees who are rescued in the Mediterranean to Libya now and I ask the Deputy to stop stating that it is. We do not control the Libyan coastguard. The Libyan Government is now, for obvious reasons, under some threat of violence around Tripoli. The solutions that were potentially there in the past are not...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The recent political events and violence against protestors in Sudan follows over six months of demonstrations, triggered initially by the spiralling costs of living. On 11 April, it was announced that President Omar al-Bashir had been removed from power and that a transitional military council, TMC, had assumed control in Sudan. Demonstrators, while welcoming the removal of...

Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will try to respond to the question from Deputy Pringle. The African Union has demonstrated robust and principled leadership in response to the crisis since the transitional military council assumed power in Sudan on 11 April. It set 30 June as the deadline for the transfer of power to a civilian authority and on 6 June decided, with immediate effect, to suspend Sudan from participation...