Results 8,461-8,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I do not know how many times I have to say it but people do not seem to want to hear . The reason I have opposed as Minister the introduction of the occupied territories Bill is I have clear legal advice from the previous Attorney General, which I believe to be very credible, that we cannot enforce or implement it. People just do not want to accept that, as if to say the legal advice from...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: It is a legal position. I can understand the frustrations over the occupied territories Bill but I have on many occasions explained why we cannot do it. People do not want to accept that for political reasons.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am making the point. The Deputy had his say and I am having mine. On the other issues the Deputy raised in respect of annexation and the Middle East peace process, I have been very vocal at UN level, at EU level and domestically about Ireland's absolute support for a two-state solution. Ireland's leadership within the EU seeks to ensure that the EU provides the necessary deterrent to a...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: There are only two minutes and 35 seconds remaining but I will try to deal with all of the Deputy's questions. On Brexit, I intend to maintain close co-operation with Opposition parties to continue the stakeholders structure that we have had and that has worked very successfully. We hope to have another stakeholders' meeting before the end of this month. I will keep the Deputy and all...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: My apologies, Chairman, I am not clear on the procedures. Do I have a minute to respond?

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I will respond to the accusation that was made about me misleading the Dáil, which I do not think I have done. Let me be very clear and quote from the advice of the Attorney General on the occupied territories Bill which states that: “there is significant legal doubt that it would be permissible for the State to take the unilateral step of prohibiting the import of produce...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The programme also covers communication by the Department of its policies, objectives and activities to citizens at home and abroad. I look forward to people's comments and questions. I congratulate the new spokespeople in this policy area and look forward to working closely with them.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure if we are allowed to hand out copies because of Covid, with us touching the same sheets of paper.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: It will certainly be available online and I will ensure that everyone gets a copy.

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I move the following Revised Estimates: Vote 27 — International Co-operation (Revised) That a sum not exceeding €549,702,000 be granted to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of December, 2020,for certain Official Development Assistance,including certain grants, and for contributions to certain International...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 331, 335, 343, 344, 351 and 352 together. Yemen remains the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, driven by conflict, economic collapse and the breakdown of public institutions and services. 24 million people, 80 per cent of the population, are in need of humanitarian assistance. In both 2019 and 2020 Ireland has provided €5 million in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I am concerned regarding developments relating to the LGBTI+ community in Poland. The principles of equality and non-discrimination are enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. It is important that these principles are protected and promoted throughout the Union. At EU level, the European Parliament has adopted a number of Resolutions relating to LGBTI+ rights...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Working Holiday Agreement (WHA) with Canada gives young people from Ireland and Canada the opportunity to live and work in the other country. The Agreement reflects the excellent relationship we enjoy with Canada and contributes further to that relationship by fostering increased personal, cultural and professional ties between our peoples. The individual referred to by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: Officials from the Embassy of Ireland in Rome were in contact with the brother of the applicant in question in November 2019 and in January and March 2020. An official from the Embassy also spoke directly to the brother of the applicant on the phone on the 3 July 2020 to help him with any questions he had and to outline that new applications and additional supporting documentation are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 341 together. Ireland and our EU partners remain deeply concerned about the credible reports of the treatment of ethnic Uighurs and other minorities in the Xinjiang region, including arbitrary detentions, widespread surveillance, restrictions on freedom of religious belief, and recent media reports on forced sterilisation in the region. We have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Programme for Government (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department, which has responsibility for Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade), is currently examining the detail of the Programme for Government. My Department will prepare a new Statement of Strategy which will encompass the Programme for Government commitments. The cost of the delivery of this Strategy will be met from the Department’s Vote...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I am committed to progressing the values of diversity and inclusion and promoting a fair and equal workplace for our people. My Department works to ensure that our staff and workplace are representative and reflective of the people and society it serves. A number of training programmes to raise awareness and build the capacity of our staff in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Costs (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department generally seeks advice on domestic legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Depending on the subject matter, litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State Solicitor’s Office or the State Claims Agency which engage lawyers to act for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Foreign Births Registration (FBR) team was reassigned to our consular services at the beginning of the current public health emergency to operate a COVID-19 crisis call centre, assisting our citizens abroad. Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation related to three generations and issued by several...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (7 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: The increasing spread and impact of COVID-19 in South Africa is of serious concern. The Government of South Africa adopted early and extraordinary measures in response to the pandemic and Ireland has been closely monitoring the situation, including the human rights implications of COVID-19, through our Embassy in Pretoria. I am aware that the Government of South Africa introduced a...