Results 39,101-39,120 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: On behalf of the Government, I would like to work with the British Government, victims' groups and political parties to ensure we could have an approach to legacy that involved the provision of information, the taking of cases and cross-Border co-operation on the island and in Great Britain in order that we could respond to the concerns expressed by many in the unionist community regarding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 123, 132 and 137 together. I will leave my notes aside and give the Deputy as straight an answer as I have on this.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: We have a bit of time.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: There is more optimism now than there has been for some time that, with a new Prime Minister, Secretary of State, Foreign Secretary and a relatively new look British Cabinet, there may be an honest effort by the current British Government to work with the EU negotiating team, led by Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, to try to address the outstanding issues linked to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (22 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: There were many sides to that dirty war. It was not just one side. Our focus now has to be on trying to be positive about getting to solutions. That is my focus and the Taoiseach's focus. There is not a proposed deal from Prime Minister Sunak. There has been a variety of commentary about Swiss-style arrangements and so forth, much of which is not accurate. Time and space are required...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Phelan. I know the Deputy feels strongly about this issue as he and I have spoken about a number of times. We are using every opportunity we can to raise our concerns directly with the Iranian Government and also in multilateral forums in relation to what is currently happening in Iran. There has been a violent crackdown on protesters and we have seen loss of life in the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: We have supported two new rounds of sanctions over the past number of weeks that have been agreed at an EU level.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: On the question, if I can-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. We agreed as a Government in 2021 to re-establish a diplomatic presence in Tehran. We have been in the German Embassy since then with a chargé d'affaires. We are looking at the appropriateness of opening an embassy again next year. We had an embassy up to 2012. We are watching very closely political developments in Iran before finalising that decision.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Venezuela remains complex and deeply concerning. Political repression continues, and the humanitarian and human rights situations in the country are still of serious concern. Ireland and the EU have continued to call for the release of all political prisoners, for the independence of political parties, for freedom of expression to be respected, and for an end to human rights...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish Citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. Demand for this service increased significantly as a result of the Brexit vote in the UK. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Each year the Passport Service proactively plans for the demand forecasted for the following year. Part of this planning involves a public communications strategy carried out by my Department, with a view to ensuring passport demand is manageable throughout the year. This year the Passport Service communications campaign was deployed at the start of the year with the objective of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I chair the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning which coordinates emergency management policy across Government departments and agencies. The Office of Emergency Planning in my department provides a secretariat function to the Government Task Force. One of the tasks of the Office of Emergency Planning is to convene a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group within 1 hour...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Emergency Planning (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: A National Emergency Coordination Group is convened at the request of a Government department in response to a threatened or ongoing national-level emergency in the area of responsibility of that department. As Minister for Defence, my Department, and specifically the Office of Emergency Planning, has the responsibility to convene the National Emergency Coordination Group in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (15 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, there has been significant recent investments made in improving the infrastructure at the existing Naval Service base with more to come in 2023. To that end, I am satisfied the current infrastructure provision is sufficient to enable the Naval Service carry out it's current operational requirements. The provision of additional infrastructure will be considered in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I remain seriously concerned by the designation by Israel of six Palestinian NGOs as terrorist organisations, including Irish Aid and EU partner organisations, as terrorist entities, and the raids that were carried out against these organisations by Israeli security forces in August. I am aware of images of an Irish flag which circulated on social media following the raid on the premises of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Council of Europe (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together. Ireland assumed the rotating Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe in May at a point of profound crisis on our continent and challenge for the organisation, as it responded to the invasion of Ukraine and consequent expulsion of the Russian Federation as a member state. Within this context, our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that this issue has been raised in a number of reports from UN Rapporteurs and from civil society organisations, of which I have taken careful note. Ireland’s focus is on seeking to change the reality on the ground and to encourage a process that can deliver a two-State solution, which is the Government's priority. I have been forthright in expressing concern...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (23 Nov 2022)

Simon Coveney: Following Russia’s unprovoked, illegal and immoral invasion of Ukraine, a conference was organised by the United States to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on 26 April. This was the first meeting of what became known as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which Ireland, along with a number of other countries, was subsequently invited to join. ...