Results 6,941-6,960 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers, and the reports are a cause for serious concern. We note that the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has raised the case with the UAE authorities, and we encourage the UAE to engage fully with the UN's efforts. My Department will continue to closely monitor this case, and we await the outcome of the UN engagement.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly condemns the coup carried out by the Myanmar military on 1 February and the unlawful and arbitrary detention of political leaders including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. We call for the results of the November 2020 democratic elections to be respected and the legitimate civilian Government restored. The coup is a reversal of progress made...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland strongly supports the strengthening of the multilateral human rights framework to protect both human rights, and human rights defenders, across the globe. Membership of the United Nations is central to Ireland’s engagement on human rights. Ireland is committed to ensuring that the UN is capable of continuous reform to adapt to emerging as well as to traditional global...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question no. 397. Efforts continue on the Middle East Peace Process. On 15 February the Envoys of the Middle East Quartet met virtually to discuss developments and the situation on the ground. The Envoys agreed to meet on a regular basis to continue their engagement. At the briefing by the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East on 26 February,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 116 together. The International Criminal Court was established as the first permanent international court to end impunity for the perpetrators of international crimes. The Court was established in 2002 with the entry into force of the Rome Statute. By its very existence, the Court promotes and upholds not only the rule of law but also provides a means...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian crisis. Over six years of conflict have left over 24 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Ireland is deeply concerned at the ongoing conduct of this conflict. I spoke this morning with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Martin Griffiths, about the situation. There have been numerous reports of acts which are contrary to international law,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Conflict regrettably continues to be prevalent throughout the world, in spite of the call made by the UN Secretary-General to all warring parties to pull back from hostilities during the current pandemic. It is the most significant driver of humanitarian crises. The number and complexity of these crises globally has increased in recent years, as evidenced by a UN estimate that a record 239...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 120 together. UN peacekeeping is one of the most collaborative, effective and visible tools of the UN in the promotion and maintenance of peace and security across the globe. There are currently 12 UN peacekeeping operations worldwide, with over 95,000 uniformed personnel from over 120 countries. It is a global effort to which Ireland is fully...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland recognises the value of EU accession as a transformative driver for stability and peace in the Western Balkans. We have always been, and will remain, a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union, provided that candidate countries meet the necessary conditions for membership. In this regard, we welcome the reform agenda underway in the countries of the Western Balkans and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and the EU are monitoring developments in the region closely. The cessation of hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains intact under the November 2020 agreement. This is welcome, but important issues have yet to be addressed, including the full exchange of Prisoners of War, the removal from the region of foreign fighters, and the issue of the final status of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: On 1 January this year the transition period provided for in the Withdrawal Agreement ended. For almost nine weeks now, the UK has been outside the EU Single Market and Customs Union and the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA) has applied to our trade and cooperation with the UK. The Government has been assisting businesses as they adapt to the new trading environment, including the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Having survived an attempted poisoning on Russian soil, Mr. Navalny chose to return home of his own free will. His imprisonment raises serious questions around the rule of law and the protection of fundamental rights. I am deeply concerned by the mass detentions and scenes of police violence during peaceful protests, linked to his arrest and imprisonment, across Russia in January and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: Whilst the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies, as defined in the Framework for Major Emergency Management, they provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. In this regard, the full spectrum of Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (3 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: On 9 January 2020, the Irish and British Governments published a new agreement for Northern Ireland, New Decade, New Approach, which was reached together with the political parties. Alongside the agreement, the Irish and UK Governments set out their own separate, unilateral commitments. Although Covid 19 has been the understandable focus in the year since the NDNA was reached, nevertheless...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (3 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The requested data is in the tables below. Permissions Granted for Military Aircraft Landings at Shannon Airport Country November 2020 December 2020 January 2021 Bahrain 1 France 1 2 Netherlands 1 2 Switzerland ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (3 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 358, 370 and 373 together. I am deeply dismayed at the repeated demolition by Israeli authorities of structures belonging to Palestinian families in the community of Humsa Al Bqai’a, also known as Khirbet Humsa, in the northern Jordan Valley. These demolitions have included humanitarian, residential, livelihood and sanitation facilities. International...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (3 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Foreign Births Service is currently paused while Ireland is at Level 5 restrictions of the National Framework for Living with COVID-19. Approximately 27,000 applications are awaiting processing. These are being held securely until the FBR service Is resume at Level 3 of the Framework. FBR, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (3 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) currently operates in a number of locations in Ireland and in over 90 locations overseas. The policy of the Department is to operate competitive tendering as standard procedure. In order to achieve best value for money, a Central Procurement Section operates to co-ordinate all contracting activity and to promote best practice in procurement through...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (3 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: The appointment of specialist Cultural Officers in priority locations worldwide has been identified in the Government’s Global Ireland 2025 strategy as a key action to widen and deepen our global cultural presence and engagement. An initial three positions in Berlin, New York and London were filled last year in a close partnership between my Department and the Department of Tourism,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (3 Mar 2021)

Simon Coveney: This is a complex case involving an Irish citizen who has been prevented from leaving China since March 2019. My Department has been providing ongoing consular assistance to the citizen since that time through our Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, our Embassy in Beijing and our Consulate General in Shanghai, while he and his legal teams work on the legal, commercial and financial issues...