Results 31,421-31,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I absolutely stand over what the Deputy quoted. I have been quite critical of the EU in terms of our inability to be able to agree collectively an approach not just on migration generally but on the need for humanitarian assistance and rescue capacity in the Mediterranean. I know there is a concern about creating pull factors and so on. There is some legitimacy to that concern, but it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Foreign Conflicts (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is part of that group. We said that we would play our part in burden sharing so that we would not have this case-by-case series of phone calls every time there is an NGO or state vessel that has migrants on board, in the hope that different countries will take ten, 20 or 30 refugees here or there. We have been doing that for the last year, quietly taking our share and trying to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 64 together. I do not think anything is inevitable. We do not have the outcome of the election yet so I do not think we should make predictions. I made a statement on this matter in an earlier reply, as the Deputy acknowledged. I underline again that Ireland and the EU will closely monitor the actions of the next Israeli Government in the context...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not accept that it is the strategic goal of the Israeli state. Israeli policy with regard to the West Bank has changed at times. We have been very close to comprehensive peace agreements on a number of occasions where Israeli politics has sought a fair solution based on a two-state solution for both Israelis and Palestinians. The Deputy should not categorise this as a policy that has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I share the Deputy's concern and scepticism. Over the past two years, we have seen a significant deterioration in the relationship between Israeli and Palestinian political leaders. We have also seen a significant deterioration in the relationship between Palestinians and the US. That is regrettable because instead of trying to make progress towards peace, in many ways we have been moving...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I did not raise this issue with Vice President Pence because I had a specific focus at that meeting on Brexit. I would have liked to have raised it but I suspect that I will be meeting representatives from the US next week in New York and I will certainly be raising it there.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy seems to be of the view that protest solves everything. I have been engaged on this issue-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should listen. I have been engaged on this issue in a serious way for two years now. In my first 12 months in office, I visited Palestine and Israel on three separate occasions. I have spoken to Mr. Jared Kushner and Mr. Jason Greenblatt about their approach to this issue on multiple occasions. I have met the previous and current Israeli ambassadors who understand the Irish...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Staff (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for what is a fair question. Managing Brexit negotiations and preparation has been a key priority of the work of my Department in recent years, both at headquarters and overseas, including in the UK, for obvious reasons. Since 2016, additional staff have been assigned to the key divisions at headquarters with responsibility for Brexit matters, including the EU division...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Staff (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy's points are all fair. We have a brilliant team in London and we need it because the relationship between Britain and Ireland is under some strain at the moment because of the challenges of Brexit. We have a really good team in London, led by our ambassador, and they are doing a good job but if they need more people, we will appoint more. That is the truth of it. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 59 together. 17 May last marked the 45th anniversary of the appalling attacks of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in which 33 people were murdered. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charles Flanagan TD, represented the Government at the remembrance ceremony in Dublin. The Government stands in solidarity with all those who lost loved ones or were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Safety (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The safety and security of our people who are serving the State and Irish citizens overseas is a top priority for my Department. Officers and their dependents travel and live for extended periods of time in over ninety locations around the world. There are particular security challenges in some locations and access to timely and reliable information is essential. As part of a suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The recent flare-up of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel along the Lebanese border is very worrying. It is the responsibility of all concerned to show restraint and de-escalate tensions when they arise, and to respect the sovereignty of their neighbours. I am relieved to see that the situation appears to have calmed in recent weeks. Of course, both Lebanon and Syria remain...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Safety (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Irish people continue to travel overseas in greater numbers than ever before and the demand for consular assistance has increased significantly in recent years. In 2018, my Department provided assistance to Irish citizens in over 2,343 serious consular cases. Regrettably this included assistance in over 292 cases where citizens died abroad. A new Consular Strategy 2019-2022 was launched in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The protection and promotion of universal human rights is one of Ireland's core foreign policy issues, and we, along with our European counterparts, consistently raise our concerns with regard to the human rights situation in China. At a bilateral level, Ireland and our partners in the EU discuss these matters during political and official contacts with the Chinese authorities. In April...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Change Policy (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 60 together. The fires burning in the Amazon have highlighted the international importance of the Amazon rainforest, particularly in the context of global action on climate change. It is essential that each country plays its part in this effort. The Taoiseach has highlighted the value Ireland places on this, voicing concerns regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach appointed Deputy John Deasy as Special Envoy to the United States Congress on the Undocumented Irish in June 2017. As the Taoiseach indicated at the time of the appointment, no additional remuneration is paid to the Deputy Deasy in his role as Special Envoy. Deputy Deasy is supported, from a logistical perspective, by my staff in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Deputies are aware of my deep concern about the humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a comprehensive approach to migration. Italy and Malta have been two of the EU states most affected by the current migration crisis. While the social, economic and political stresses arising from the crisis are very considerable, it is essential that humanitarian and legal obligations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The crisis in Yemen is a matter of grave concern, and a solution is urgent. More than four years into the conflict, Yemen is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with almost 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Ireland supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths to bring about a political resolution to the crisis in Yemen, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government states that Ireland will “honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict.” Successive Governments have seen recognition coming in the context of an overall peace agreement. However, in the context of widespread frustration at the lack of political progress towards an agreement, and not least...