Results 4,841-4,860 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Projects (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: A total of 107 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted in evacuating Afghanistan since the crisis broke in mid-August. There are 12 citizens and dependents currently seeking support in exiting Afghanistan. A small number of citizens wish to remain in the country. My Department, including through our Embassy in Abu Dhabi, continues to work with EU Member States and partners...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Common Travel Area (CTA) is made up of Ireland, the United Kingdom, Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. Under the Common Travel Area arrangements Irish and British citizens can move, live, work and study freely within the Common Travel Area. Border controls at British entry points are a matter for the British authorities. The British government advises that Irish citizens do not need...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach, Minister Byrne and I have had no recent bilateral contacts with the Belarusian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladimir Makei. It is important to engage at different levels to stop the weaponisation of migration, and Ireland’s engagement on this issue has been multilateral, through both the UN and EU. Through our membership of the UN Security Council, we co-sponsored a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly condemns the coup carried out by the Myanmar military and its attempts to legitimise the military regime. The coup is a reversal of the progress made towards democracy and rule of law in Myanmar that has taken years to establish. Ireland is actively engaging in our role as an elected member of the Security Council to call on all sides to refrain from violence, and to fully...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has consistently and strongly opposed settlements and will continue to do so. Settlement expansion, demolitions and evictions threaten the viability of a two-state solution. Ireland has expressed serious concern in relation to the recent announcements by Israeli authorities of plans for the construction of more than 3,000 settlement units in the West Bank. On 28 October, Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Strategies (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I launched the “Global Ireland: A Strategy for the Nordic Region to 2025” in June 2021. This Strategy is a whole of Government approach to our engagement with the Nordic region, which encompasses Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The Nordic region is one with which Ireland has long-standing ties and shares similar values in the areas of peace, security and in our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has condemned the unjust detention of political prisoners in Belarus. We are committed to keeping the situation in the country high on the international agenda. It is unacceptable that the current regime detains individuals without due cause or process. Freedom of expression is a core element of civil society space which is a leading foreign policy priority for Ireland. I know...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I have had extensive engagements with my European Union counterparts and with the relevant EU institutions regarding the situation of migrants at the Belarusian border over recent weeks. On Monday, myself and other EU Foreign Affairs Ministers agreed at the Foreign Affairs Council to broaden the listings criteria for a fifth package of sanctions. The EU will now be able to target...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government states that the Government will “Honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict, or in advance of that, when we believe doing so will progress efforts to reach a Two-State solution or protect the integrity of Palestinian territory”. As I have stated previously, in the absence of progress...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that we in Government engage regularly with the British Government, the NI Executive and other key stakeholders to discuss a wide range of issues relating to Northern Ireland, including security matters. In addition to these engagements, officials on the ground in Northern Ireland and in Dublin work with community leaders on issues such as community confidence in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Communications (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory remains a matter of serious concern. The protection and promotion of human rights is an integral part of Ireland's foreign policy and we consistently seek to raise our concerns on human rights issues through the most appropriate and effective channels. It is also an integral part of the EU’s external actions and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: Minister of State for European Affairs Thomas Byrne attended the 2021 Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Ministerial Council meeting (MCM) on the 5-6th October. The Ministerial Council Meeting, which was timed to mark the 60th anniversary of the OECD, saw Ministers agree a New Vision Statement and Global Relations Strategy to guide the work of the organisation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D. visited Dunkirk on 10-11 October to participate in the inauguration of the Irish Terminal at the Port of Dunkirk, which is the base for the new DFDS direct maritime link to Rosslare. The main objectives of the visit were to underline the importance of both the direct routes and the landbridge for Ireland’s trade connectivity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Priorities (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: A total of 107 Irish citizens and their dependents have been assisted in evacuating Afghanistan since the crisis broke in mid-August. This included the deployment of an Emergency Civil Assistance Team, which previously helped to evacuate 26 citizens and residents. My Department, including our Embassies in Abu Dhabi and Ankara, has worked with EU Member States and partners in the region to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: As part of my work on deepening the extensive and important partnership between Ireland and France, I have met my French counterpart, Minister for European and Foreign Affairs, Mr. Jean-Yves Le Drian, on many occasions including at meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. I also met him during the visit of President Macron to Ireland in August of this year. I last had a formal meeting with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 80 and 86 together. I was delighted to have had the opportunity to attend and speak at PDFORRA's Annual Delegate Conference in early October of this year. I used the occasion to address a number of key issues which are important for PDFORRA members. I raised the important issue of inappropriate behaviour in the workplace. I provided the delegates with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The issue of awarding of Military Medals for Gallantry (MMG) and Distinguished Service Medals (DSMs) to a number of personnel who served in Jadotville in September 1961 has been considered on a number of occasions over the years and a range of actions have taken place to give due recognition to the courage and bravery of all the members of “A” Company, 35thInfantry Battalion who...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Defence Forces (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a very significant impact on Defence Forces recruitment, including to the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) and has resulted in a reduction of most collective induction processing and training activities. The pandemic resulted in the enactment of the Emergency Measures in the Public Interest (COVID-19) Act 2020 and the subsequent delays in Defence Forces applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Corps (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Air Corps Maritime Patrol Squadron carries out aerial surveillance of territorial waters using the two CASA CN 235 maritime patrol aircraft. These aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art surveillance and communication equipment which offers aerial assistance to the Naval Service in patrolling the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone. My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ports Policy (18 Nov 2021)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise the Deputy that officials from my Department met with Drogheda Port officials, at their request, earlier this year. At this meeting, the officials from Drogheda Port outlined in broad terms their intentions to develop the port facilities at Bremore which according to the Port authority would entail the full acquisition of my Department's land holding at the Gormanstown...