Results 32,061-32,080 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I attended a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels yesterday, Monday 9 December. The meeting was chaired by the newly-appointed High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Mr. Josep Borrell. Under current affairs, Ministers discussed the agenda for the forthcoming European Council, Libya and Hong Kong. Ministers also touched...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (10 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: 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 injured on that day, and who suffer still as a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am glad we are taking a global perspective this morning. That is always good.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is right. Normally you give out to Deputies for raising local issues, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Certainly, this could not be put in that category. We have been doing an extraordinary amount to expand Ireland's global footprint in the past 18 months or so. We have opened new embassies in Wellington, Santiago, Bogota and Amman in Jordan. We have opened new representative offices in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Budgets (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: This week’s European Council will discuss the MFF (Multiannual Financial Framework) on the basis of a revised proposal put forward by the Finnish Presidency. This is the most recent iteration of the draft proposal by successive Presidencies in these complex negotiations, which are likely to continue well into 2020. The Presidency has proposed an overall level of 1.07% of EU27 GNI for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: Full and effective implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent Agreements, including the 2006 St Andrews Agreement, the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and the 2015 Fresh Start Agreement, is a key priority for the Government, as reflected in the Programme for a Partnership Government. Progress in implementing the provisions of the Fresh Start and Stormont House Agreements and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach appointed Deputy John Deasy as Special Envoy to the United States Congress on the Undocumented Irish in June 2017. In this role, Deputy Deasy reports directly to the Department of An Taoiseach on the outcomes of his visits. He is supported, however, from a logistical perspective, by my staff in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Since 2017, Deputy Deasy has made...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The future relationship between the UK and the EU will be discussed at the European Council on 13 December, but was not an item for discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council. It is expected that the European Council will adopt Conclusions on preparations for the negotiations on the future relationship with the UK post 31 January 2020. While awaiting the outcome of the UK General Election,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade engages in public awareness advertising campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of the public. In that regard, two significant campaigns took place in 2019 and will be ongoing in 2020; the new “Passport Online” campaign and the “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” campaign. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (11 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department primarily uses videography to augment information campaigns that promote Ireland’s economic, political and cultural interests and to engage with the Global Irish community. In 2019, campaigns that included video production and promotion were the Rugby World Cup in Japan, the Global Programme for St. Patrick’s Day and ‘Getting Ireland Brexit Ready.’ ...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I did not hear this morning's interview, but I am sure it was heartbreaking. Any parent's worst nightmare is for a child not to come home in those circumstances. The Government absolutely recognises that we have a major challenge, as so many other countries have, to respond in a substantive way to drug use. The number of deaths linked to cocaine...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government is already very serious about drugs, which is why we are trying to break this enormous challenge into its component parts, including providing more services for homeless people who are affected by addiction, putting in place injection centres for people to inject safely rather than potentially poisoning themselves with overdoses or with dirty needles. These are difficult...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: The truth is that every country in the western world is struggling with these issues, but we will continue to put more resources and change the law where necessary.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this serious issue. Deputy Doherty is not the only Member to raise it. Deputy Michael McGrath has also raised the matter. For the record I will outline how this works. The operator of the national lottery, Premier Lotteries Ireland, PLI, has found that four top prizes were not included for players to win in three of the 178 scratch card games it has...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is important, from a public confidence perspective, that people realise why this is so significant. Since 2015 lottery sales have generated €855 million worth of funding for good causes.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: But many people do not, which is why it is important to outline it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: This funding has provided critical investment in so many areas in communities such as sports, culture, health, youth services and community development. This is why the integrity of this system needs to be protected. The Government is looking at how best to do that. This is why we have an open mind to what the Deputy has suggested today.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: We want to get the regulator and the operator before a committee to answer direct questions. If necessary, we will then ensure an independent investigation to get to the bottom of this in a credible and transparent way. That needs to be done and the Government will ensure it will be.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: Of course any broad assessment of statistics and drawing conclusions from it will hide tragic cases and inequality in certain sectors. It is also worth saying that statistics do not lie. We have made extraordinary progress in this country since 2012. It is important to recognise this. Of course we need to focus on things we have not done yet but if we look at the CSO figures in the survey...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: I absolutely accept that a core responsibility of Government is to ensure there is a safety net for people who, for whatever reason, find themselves without a home, without income and often with many other challenges, from addiction to family break-up to all sorts of individual personal challenges. This is why we work with people such as Brother Kevin, who is a great person and there are...