Results 32,541-32,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach, my Cabinet colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage with our EU partners, as well as UK counterparts, as appropriate, to advance Ireland’s priorities in matters arising from the UK's withdrawal from the EU, including the EU-UK future partnership negotiations, implementation of the withdrawal agreement and the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. While I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I will try to stick to them as well. I agree with Deputy Howlin. I also had a very good relationship with Keir Starmer when he was a Brexit spokesperson. We spoke regularly about the challenges of Brexit, as I also did with members of the Conservative Party. The dynamic and the numbers within the British Parliament have changed fundamentally since then. The current Government has a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ministerial Meetings (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: To make one thing clear, while some voices in the Conservative party may be questioning the withdrawal agreement, this is an international treaty to which the British Government has signed up. I have certainly not seen the Prime Minister or Michael Gove move away from the commitments made in that agreement. It is hugely important to state that while there may be some views that question the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 53 together. As I stated earlier today, the Middle East peace process is a priority issue for me and for the Government, and I will continue to make every possible effort to engage constructively on this issue, through contacts with the parties, with relevant third states, with our EU partners, and with the UN. I have paid four working visits to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Since the others were given time, I am going to take a little bit of time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: That is fine, but when the questions are grouped together, I should also get a little more time to respond.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I will be quick. Deputy Costello is in a Government that cares about this issue, that has spent an extraordinary amount of time ensuring that Ireland has some influence over key decision-makers in respect of the Middle East peace process and that will continue to prioritise this issue, as we have done in the programme for Government. That is clear. Deputy Boyd Barrett, as usual, is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Withdrawal Agreement concluded between the EU and the UK is a binding international agreement.  The UK Government has made clear its intention to comply with its legal obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement, including through providing for its implementation in UK domestic legislation. Implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Withdrawal Agreement concluded between the EU and the UK is a binding international agreement.  The UK Government has made clear its intention to comply with its legal obligations under the Withdrawal Agreement, including through providing for its implementation in UK domestic legislation. Implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Human Rights Council (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: In her latest report to the UN Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, Ms Agnes Callamard, addressed the issue of targeted killings through armed drones, particularly in light of the proliferation in the use of drones and their expanding capability over the last five years. Her report made a number of recommendations designed to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland upholds measures to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland, and to protect the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it. To achieve this, Northern Ireland will remain in the UK customs territory, but will continue to apply the rules of the Union Customs Code and certain other relevant EU legislation. Article 12 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Official Development Assistance (ODA) is an integral element of Ireland’s foreign policy. A Better World, Ireland’s policy for international development, provides a vision for Ireland’s development cooperation, including the clear commitment of the Government to direct ODA to reaching the furthest behind first.  Successive OECD Development Assistance Committee...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 49 and 60 together. No deal preparations were well advanced for the possibility of a no deal Brexit on 29 March, 31 October, 2019 and 31 January 2020. The additional time afforded by the transition period has allowed Departments to refine this work and re-calibrate it as necessary for the end of the transition period. The end of transition will involve...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On 21 July, the Government agreed a list of fifteen locations for which the advice against non-essential  travel no longer applies. The travel advice for those locations now is to 'take normal precautions,' which is represented by a green bar under the system of country security ratings used by the Department of Foreign Affairs.  The fifteen locations whose security status was...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On 21 July, the Government agreed a list of fifteen locations for which the advice against non-essential  travel no longer applies. The travel advice for those locations now is to 'take normal precautions,' which is represented by a green bar under the system of country security ratings used by the Department of Foreign Affairs.  The fifteen locations are: Cyprus, Estonia,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can advise the Deputy that, with unprecedented numbers of people stranded across the world as a result of COVID19, my Department developed a comprehensive approach to repatriation of citizens who wished to return home, taking account of the best interests of our citizens, including from a public health perspective.  Priority has been given to helping citizens who are normally resident...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the report referenced by the Deputy, which emphasises in particular the urgent need for clarity for stakeholders in Northern Ireland with regard to implementation of the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. We are fully cognisant of the need for all stakeholders in Northern Ireland, and particularly businesses, to have clarity and detail as soon as possible regarding all...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The European Council agreed to establish a special Brexit Adjustment Reserve of €5 billion to counter the adverse consequences in those Member States and sectors that are worst affected. The Brexit Adjustment Reserve will be a Special Instrument outside the ceilings of the new MFF.   The European Commission has been tasked with presenting a proposal for the Brexit Adjustment...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On 21 July, the Government agreed a list of fifteen locations for which the advice against non-essential  travel no longer applies. The travel advice for those locations now is to 'take normal precautions,' which is represented by a green bar under the system of country security ratings used by the Department of Foreign Affairs. The fifteen locations are: Cyprus, Estonia, Finland,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On 20 May, the UK Government published a Command Paper setting out its approach to implementing the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. The European Commission has already set out clearly and in detail the requirements for implementation of the Protocol, in its Technical Note published on 30 April. The UK Command Paper is an outline of the approach the UK Government is taking in respect...