Results 34,761-34,780 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I have a written reply but it is not much good to the Deputy, so I will talk off the cuff if that is okay. We have not had any representation on this issue, apart from Deputy Crowe. I am happy to be helpful on this issue, if we can, through our embassy in Cairo. It is a good and active embassy. However, no company, stakeholder or interested party has reached out to us with a concern. A...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: If there is a role for the embassy and diplomatic channels to be used, we will use them. I have a very good relationship with my Egyptian counterpart. Normally, we speak about Israel and Palestine and trying to take action on ceasefires, in which Egypt has significant involvement, particularly where they relate to Gaza. The Deputy has raised this issue in the Chamber and sought a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I do not want to speculate on the legal case or on whether decoupling is possible. There is a large amount of money involved and this is a high-profile legal case on the back of major disruptions that happened as a consequence of a ship going aground and blocking the Suez Canal for a sustained period. There is an offer to work with the Deputy on this issue as appropriate, but I do not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 142 together. I attended the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council, which took place in Luxembourg on Monday, 21 June. The Council held a discussion on the situation in Belarus and we met the opposition leader, Ms Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. As I said in response to an earlier question on Belarus, we decided to impose restrictive measures on 78...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is being enforced and all EU states are, as far as I am aware, complying with it fully. There is a challenge, though, which I raised, as did a number of others. While it is the appropriate action and the EU and EU leaders needed to respond robustly to an outrageous act of aviation piracy, which is how it has been described, cutting off Belarusian airlines and not allowing them into EU...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Meetings (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is too early to make that assessment because we only made the decision at the start of this week. It will take time for those decisions to take effect. The debate within the EU around sanctions is always a delicate one because if sanctions are applied in the wrong way they can be counterproductive. In the case of Belarus, the EU is very united on the need to target its sanctions at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: We have already debated these issues but this is also a very useful question to respond to. Israel’s new coalition Government took office on 13 June. I have written to the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yair Lapid, and I look forward to having a chance to speak with him in due course on a range of issues. The EU High Representative has spoken to Mr. Lapid. I participated in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: To respond to the accusation that as we talk people are dying on the streets of Gaza, that is not fully accurate. I am glad to say we have a ceasefire. Obviously, there was real concern about air strikes in recent days in Gaza. Thank goodness, nobody was fatally injured in those air strikes. There is no country in the EU more vocal on this issue than Ireland and no foreign minister more...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I agree with virtually everything the Deputy has just said. We need a relationship with Israel but we have also got to call out breaches of international law. I can be accused of some things in this House, but I am not sure it is fair to accuse me of not speaking directly and in a strident manner about the Israel-Palestinian conflict. I have been very direct in calling out breaches of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: On 9 January 2020, the Irish and British Governments published a new agreement, New Decade New Approach (NDNA), which was reached together with the political parties in Northern Ireland and restored the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement. The Irish and UK Governments also set out their own respective commitments. The Government has remained focussed on implementing these important...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The recent escalation of violence which took place was deeply concerning. I welcomed the ceasefire which came into effect on 21 May and encourage all efforts to ensure that it holds. Tensions in the region are still high. There is a responsibility on all parties to ensure that the ceasefire is respected and to avoid all unilateral actions which can increase tension. The international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Government continues to advise against all non-essential international travel to and from Ireland. The Government announced on 28 May that subject to the prevailing epidemiological situation, international travel will resume on 19 July. The EU Digital COVID Certificate (EUDCC), previously called the Digital Green Certificate, is intended to facilitate freedom of movement across the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Gender equality is one of the policy priorities of A Better World, Ireland's policy for International Development. Ireland is proud to be among the top OECD DAC donors in targeting gender equality. In 2019, 76% of our ODA contributed to gender equality and we expect this figure to be similar for 2020 and 2021.  The Irish Aid annual report for 2019, published last autumn, had a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The EU faces significant challenges concerning Hungary and respect for Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union foundational values. These challenges involve particularly rule of law but also more recently LGBTQI+ rights. Ireland is a firm supporter of the values enshrined in Article 2 of the Treaty on European Union. As I said earlier, I am particularly concerned about recent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 108 and 152 together. Israel’s new coalition Government took office on 13 June. I have written to Israel’s new Foreign Minister, Yair Lapid and I look forward to having the chance to speak with him in due course on a range of issues.  The EU’s High Representative has spoken to Foreign Minister Lapid. I participated in a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: The repeal of the Presidential Order under section 212 F of the US Immigration and Nationality Act 1952 is solely a matter for US authorities. However, as I have stated before, ease of travel is vital to our economic relationships and for building connections across the Atlantic. We continue our work to ensure that the restrictions will not have any long-term impact on existing channels of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has strongly condemned the coup carried out by the Myanmar military and violence against civilians. The coup is a reversal of the progress made towards democracy and rule of law in Myanmar that has taken years to establish, and does nothing to tackle the public health, security or economic issues faced by the people of Myanmar. I have called upon the Myanmar military to demonstrate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Sanctions (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s position on the US embargo on Cuba is long-standing and clear. Fundamentally, Ireland believes that the embargo serves no constructive purpose and that its lifting would facilitate an opening of Cuba’s economy to the benefit of its people. Ireland, along with our EU partners, has been a consistent supporter of the annual Resolution put forward by Cuba at the UN General...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 121 together. Ireland has been fully engaged on the situation in the Middle East at the UN Security Council. The Security Council met five times on the escalation of the conflict in the month of May. On 16 May I addressed the Council and called for the cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians and humanitarian access, and emphasised the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (24 Jun 2021)

Simon Coveney: Serbia and Montenegro are both currently negotiating Chapters of the Acquis with the EU. Serbia has opened negotiations on 18 Chapters, with two provisionally closed. Montenegro has opened all Chapters and provisionally closed three. The European Commission published its latest Annual Enlargement Package and country reports in October 2020. The country reports for 2020 assessed both...