Results 3,241-3,260 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Next week, the 17thMay will mark the 48th anniversary of the appalling attacks of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in which 33 people were murdered,  the largest loss of life on a single day in the Troubles.  The Government stands in solidarity with all those who lost loved ones or were injured on that day, and who suffer still as a result of these bombings. The implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government will continue to work closely with the British government and with the parties in Northern Ireland in support of the devolved power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent implementing Agreements. I am in frequent contact with the British Government. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I will attend the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday 16 May. EU Member States are continuing to coordinate our response to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine closely. This will be the sixth time that the Foreign Affairs Council has convened since the invasion of Ukraine just over two months ago and the discussion will assess the effectiveness of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The murder of Sgt Joe Campbell in Cushendall, Co. Antrim on 25 February 1977 was a tragedy and my thoughts are with the Campbell family who have campaigned tirelessly for over 40 years, seeking to establish truth and justice for their loved one. In February, I met with Paula Rainey, daughter of Sgt Campbell, and a cross community group to hear their views and concerns in relation to a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is committed to ensuring that foundational European values, including the rule of law, are upheld across the EU. Accordingly, we remain very concerned about ongoing challenges relating to adherence to rule of law standards in Hungary. The EU has engaged a multifaceted response to challenges to the rule of law within the EU and its Member States. This includes the Article 7 Treaty on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, I meet regularly with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland to discuss security co-operation in the framework of the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference. The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference is an important institution of the Good Friday Agreement, bringing together the British and Irish Governments under Strand Three of the Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The New Decade, New Approach agreement reached in January 2020 was a significant shared achievement in restoring the power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement to full operation. As we have set out in the Programme for Government, we will work to ensure that the New Decade, New Approach agreement is implemented in full.  For our part, the Government published a series of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 131 and 147 together. The Passport Service is proactively managing the current demand for passports and has put in place resources and structures to address the estimated significant increase in demand for passports in 2022 in this essential citizen service. Since March of this year, the Passport Service has reduced the processing time for first time...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Due to Covid-19 restrictions, and the reassignment of Foreign Birth Registration staff to assist in the provision of essential passport services, the Foreign Birth Registration Service was paused for nearly 15 months across the 2020-2021 period. The resourcing of the Passport Service to respond to current demand for passports and Foreign Birth Registration is a priority for my Department,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I have remained and continue to remain in regular contact with the parties in Northern Ireland and in close contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland following the Assembly elections. It is important to acknowledge and congratulate those who have been elected, and everyone that contested the election. The people of Northern Ireland have come out in sizeable numbers to take part...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Global Ireland aims to see Ireland’s global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence. Specifically, the Global Ireland programme envisages the opening of 26 new Missions. Since the launch of Global Ireland in June 2018, 14 missions have now opened.  A Government decision in 2021 approved the opening of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government will continue to work closely with the British government and with the parties in Northern Ireland in support of the devolved power-sharing institutions in Northern Ireland and the full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent implementing Agreements. It is now for the political parties to come together to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 134 together. The EU has already adopted five sanctions packages in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and is currently discussing a sixth package of sanctions. Together, these are the most extensive sanctions in the history of the EU. The aim of these sanctions is to deprive the Russian government, and the supporters and enablers of this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: On 5 April, the European Council authorised the disbursement of €150 million in loans and grants to Moldova in the coming months to support its financial stability and substantive reform agenda. Also on 5 April, Germany, France, and Romania hosted EU Member States, including Ireland, as well as other international partners at the Moldova Support Conference “Bridge of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: National Security Committee (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Foreign Affairs, I do not have a direct engagement with the National Security Committee. The Committee is chaired by the Secretary General to the Government and is comprises senior level official representatives from the Departments of Justice, Defence, Foreign Affairs, Environment, Communications and Climate and of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is referring to a case which recently concluded in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. As indicated to the House previously, Ireland's traditional policy of military neutrality is not inconsistent with military aircraft of other states being allowed under the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, to land in Ireland under certain circumstances. Foreign military...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: The promotion and protection of human rights is a key foreign policy priority for Ireland within our commitment to a strong and fair rules-based multilateral order with the United Nations (UN) at its core. Our current term on the UN Security Council for 2021-2022 actively reflects that commitment while mainstreaming human rights across all areas of the Security Council agenda. Since the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Electricity Supply Board (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will appreciate, matters relating specifically to the import and export of coal, and policy in this regard, do not fall under the remit of the Department of Foreign Affairs. However, I am aware that issues have been raised by NGOs around the operation of the Cerrejon mine, and my Department has been following developments closely. Ireland takes a very active role in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: I value the role Amnesty International and other civil society organisations play in relation to the Middle East. The Amnesty International report shines a clear spotlight on the illegal and unacceptable treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli state. Ireland’s position on these matters is – and will continue to be – based on international law including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (10 May 2022)

Simon Coveney: Discussions on reform of the Security Council take place in the General Assembly, through the ongoing Intergovernmental Negotiations framework for Security Council reform.   Ireland has long been active in these negotiations and has been consistently clear on the need to increase the size of the Security Council; to address geographic under-representation, particularly for Africa; and to...