Results 221-240 of 450 for going forward speaker:Simon Coveney

European Communities (Brexit) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...nature of the relationship between Ireland and Britain, from an economic perspective in particular but also in many other aspects, the idea that any significant change in that relationship is not going to require a fundamental level of planning and contingency work is hopefully resulting in the kind of unity and purpose between parties, in the context of what we need to do to protect our...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I welcome the opportunity to update the House on the state of play regarding the Brexit negotiations. As Senators will have seen, we had a very productive time yesterday in Dundalk with the Taoiseach and the EU's chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, at the fourth plenary meeting of the all-island civic dialogue. I will say a little more about that later. Before doing so, however, I wish to...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...my saying that. We literally work with that team on a daily basis to try to figure out these issues. I do not see this as Ireland versus Britain. We need to work with the United Kingdom to try to find a way forward to ensure that at the end of this process, we maintain the closest possible relationship with it that we can. Britain is going to be outside the EU, but will still be tied...

Irish Aid Programme: Motion (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...to international development, which draws on the roles and strengths of all Government Departments. The world has changed over the past decade and a new approach and fresh thinking are needed for the way forward. That is why I announced in October last year that the Government will produce a new White Paper on international development this year. This paper will build on our existing...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Middle East Issues (17 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...a balanced view on Irish-British relations coming from Sinn Féin, and not for the first time. With regard to the issue of substance the Senator has raised, I made two statements on behalf of the Government, on 31 March and on 9 April, on the recent violence on the Israel-Gaza border. I called on all parties to show restraint, in particular on the use of force by Israel against...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...have been to Washington many times trying to deal with the issue of the undocumented Irish. There have been false dawns over and over again. We have been quietly working to try to find a way forward that could create a reciprocal arrangement whereby we would facilitate US citizens who may want to retire or come to Ireland and on the other side, we would get access to visas for Irish...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Syrian Conflict (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is going reasonably well but this is a very competitive race and Norway and Canada are significant competitors. There are three countries going for two places but I think there is a very strong case to be made for Ireland as the only EU country putting its name forward. At that time, the only EU representative on the UN Security Council will be France, as a permanent member, so there is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (22 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...agree, it nonetheless raises a number of important points. The report highlights the challenges posed for the border if the UK leaves the Single Market and Customs Union. It also calls on the UK Government to bring forward proposals on how to maintain an invisible border, and seeks clarity on a number of other important areas. The Government has always been clear that technology is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...all its parts and the gains of the peace process, including on avoiding a hard border, and on maintaining the Common Travel Area, must be given legal effect in the draft Withdrawal Agreement. Going forward, I and my officials will continue to set forward Ireland’s position in the negotiations at EU level through the General Affairs Council (Art. 50) and the relevant preparatory...

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. With regard to the Good Friday Agreement and the Executive, the way it will be done is through human interaction where people will start to trust each other and agree to compromise. Some of the earlier commentary in interpreting what had happened in the past nine months was not accurate. I have no quarrel with Fianna Fáil on the North. Fianna...

Seanad: Foreign Affairs: Statements (Resumed) (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...relationship with the EU, but also recognising that the UK will face hard choices given constraints between some of the UK aims and the consequences of withdrawing from the European Union. We look forward to the UK presenting its position officially across the negotiating table in Brussels and considering it together with the Commission and the other EU member states. Ireland is...

Leaders' Questions (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...assurance that, actually, we are almost where we need to be in terms of spending hundreds of millions of euro of taxpayers' money to make sure that rural Ireland gets the broadband it needs. We are going to see this through. It has been complex and difficult, but we were only months away from approving a preferred bidder before September. That has essentially been fast-forwarded now and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Military Neutrality (30 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...that civil servants have done something inappropriate here because I do not believe they have. I will answer the question I have been asked to answer. I welcome the opportunity to reaffirm this Government's full commitment to Ireland's long-standing policy of military neutrality, which is characterised by non-participation in military alliances. Article 29 of the Constitution provides a...

Seanad: Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018: Second Stage (30 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...and Dr. Barghouthi, who I have had the opportunity to meet and talk to on a number of occasions. I would also like to pay tribute to the considerable work, and the sincere commitment, which has gone into developing this Bill from a number of different sources. From my discussions with Senator Black, I know that it has been put forward in a spirit of wishing to contribute to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Middle East Peace Process (25 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: ...directly to the US of its ambitions for a new peace initiative. We have tried to make clear that the EU as a whole, including Ireland, needs to see certain things in that new initiative if we are going to be able to support it. There is considerable political dialogue and engagement. I absolutely accept that when someone is looking from the outside in, it looks like this is going...

Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am unsure whether it would be conducive to the House moving forward together if Opposition parties are going to start trying to force the pace on something. What we are trying to do - the Taoiseach has given great leadership on this - is recognise the fact that there are differences of opinion. These are deeply held and linked to people's personal circumstances and experience. Many in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government, working with the British Government, has spared no effort in supporting and facilitating talks on the formation of a new Executive, over many months. However, devolved power-sharing government can only operate on the basis of an agreement reached between the two largest parties, while the other parties represented in the Assembly...

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I do not mean this as a slap-down but, frankly, it would be helpful if people were not declaring victories on anything. This issue is going to divide households across the country and people should talk in a respectful tone about both sides of the argument in an effort to advance a consensus across the country that can result in a successful referendum. Of course the Government will...

Northern Ireland: Statements (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am very pleased to open these statements on Northern Ireland on behalf of the Government and I look forward to the debate. I know the intention is to have regular quarterly statements on Northern Ireland in the House, a development I very much welcome and support. The peace process is at a critical phase on a number of fronts. It is important that we regularly consider the issues in...

Permanent Structured Cooperation: Motion (7 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: ...was subject to a Government decision and Dáil approval and this is why Ireland did not sign the notification at the Foreign Affairs Council last month, when many other countries did. It is particularly important that Ireland would move forward at the same time as our other EU partners, including in the security and defence domain, so as to protect our interests and values at a...