Results 5,361-5,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: It is essential that we make progress in addressing the legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. Our position is that the Stormont House Agreement, which was agreed by the two Governments and political parties, provides the framework to address the legacy of the Troubles. Where there are genuine concerns regarding its implementation, or proposals to further strengthen it in different areas, we...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The EU-Israel Action Plan was agreed in 2005 and promotes the integration of Israel into European policies and programmes. It is in force until January 2022. The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations leads on this issue and I have not had engagement  to date at EU level with regard to the expiration of the EU-Israel Action...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has taken note of the recent trilateral security deal concluded by the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia, known as AUKUS.    The announcement identified that the first major initiative of AUKUS will be to develop a nuclear-powered submarine fleet for Australia.  At the outset, it will be important to ensure that no proliferation risks or unhelpful...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The framework of the Stormont House Agreement, agreed by both Governments and the parties in Northern Ireland, provided for a set of institutions to deal comprehensively and fairly with the legacy of the Troubles. This framework included an Independent Commission on Information Retrieval (ICIR) for truth recovery, to be available to victims and survivors across the UK and Ireland. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply disturbed by the ongoing repression of the people of Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko’s regime has committed and continues to commit serious violations against its own people. The human rights situation in Belarus is appalling. There are over 650 political prisoners in the country, with reported use of torture and sexual assault of detainees. State violence...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Assistance to Irish business and the generation and growth of trade are some of the key areas of focus for our existing diplomatic missions and are a major consideration in any plans we have to establish future missions. My Department plays a key role in the Team Ireland approach, which sees Government Departments and State Agencies working closely with other Irish Stakeholders to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) comprises the Antarctic Treaty (1959), the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals 1972 (CCAS) and the Madrid Protocol on Environmental Protection 1991. To date, fifty-four States have acceded to the Antarctic Treaty, made up of Consultative and Non Consultative...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 64 together. The EU and UK continue to engage regularly on matters covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, including through the committee structures established under the Agreement. The eighth meeting of the Specialised Committee on Citizens’ Rights took place on 16 September to monitor the implementation and application of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I met with Speaker of the House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi on Thursday 23rd September, during my official visit to Washington, DC. The engagement was a very useful follow-up to her meeting with the Taoiseach in March, as well as my previous engagement with Speaker Pelosi in September 2020. The discussion focused mainly on developments with the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of a recent initiative by the Independent Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide. The Independent Expert Panel proposal provides a new definition of the crime of ecocide, which seeks to serve as the basis for consideration for an amendment of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). This amendment, if accepted by the States Parties to the Rome...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Sanctions (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the European Citizens’ Initiative to which the Deputy refers. Following its registration, the European Commission has six months in which to consider the initiative and any potential proposals arising from it. Ireland has previously raised at EU level the question of whether goods from occupied territories, including from settlements in the occupied Palestinian...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The achievements of the peace process must never be taken for granted and we will continue to work to protect and uphold the Good Friday Agreement in all circumstances, to protect the stability of the institutions and to support the ongoing work of peace and deeper reconciliation. The Irish and British Governments are co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement and peace process and as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: High-level visits between Ireland and the United States of America are an intrinsic part of the close relationship between our two countries, and allow us to strengthen our ties even further. Having just returned from the United States where I visited New York and Washington, I can attest to the importance of high-level visits in developing and nurturing the people-to-people links that are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August, there has been close international cooperation and coordination on evacuation efforts.  As part of that, I approved the short-term deployment of an Emergency Civil Assistance Team (ECAT), which succeeded in enabling 26 Irish citizens and residents to evacuate safely on 24-26 August. Since then, my Department has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has repeatedly recalled to Israel the applicability of international human rights standards and international humanitarian law in respect of detainees, in particular obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention. Since taking a seat on the UN Security Council in January, Ireland has taken the opportunity to highlight human rights and humanitarian issues in regard to the situation in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I remain extremely concerned about the situation of women and girls in Afghanistan and continue to highlight the issue at the United Nations and with the European Union. On 16 August, at an emergency Security Council meeting, Ireland reiterated calls on the Taliban to comply with international humanitarian and human rights law, particularly in respect of women and girls.  On...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (30 Sep 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 set out in my reply to the Deputy’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: I remain gravely concerned by the ongoing human rights situation in the occupied Palestinian territory and particularly the impact on children and their access to education. Ireland has repeatedly emphasised that the rights of children to protection, safety, and well-being must be upheld at all times. I fully endorse the statement of 9 September 2021 by European Commissioner for Crisis...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: As co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, is it vital that the Irish and British Governments work together in support of the institutions in Northern Ireland. I remain in regular contact with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Brandon Lewis, in this regard. In January 2021, together with the Secretary of State, I co-chaired by videoconference the first New Decade, New...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (30 Sep 2021)

Simon Coveney: The most recent meeting of the General Affairs Council took place on 21 September 2021 in Brussels. Minister of State for European Affairs, Thomas Byrne T.D., represented Ireland at the meeting. The principal item for discussion was the preparation of the agenda for the European Council meeting on 21-22 October. At that meeting, leaders will discuss the Covid-19 pandemic, digital issues...