Results 8,641-8,660 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cybersecurity Policy (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: I note the newspaper article referred to by the Deputy. It is an opinion piece, containing the personal views of the author. I do not propose to comment on the various elements that are raised. The Government keeps all matters of national security under constant review and raises issues where necessary with the relevant State, including Russia.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Covid-19 Pandemic (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport is working to ensure all relevant guidance and protocols from public health authorities are fully taken into account at all airports, including Shannon, and I defer to them on this question.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade may issue a civil letter of freedom (Certificat de Coutume/Nulla Osta) to an Irish citizen for the purposes of a marriage abroad. This is not an Irish requirement, but a requirement of the country where an applicant might want to get married. All applicants should check with the registry office where they are getting married in order to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Conventions (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The need for effective human rights due diligence mechanisms is one of the issues under consideration by the Business and Human Rights Implementation Group. It is looking at a variety of options, including mandatory measures, in line with similar provisions in other countries. I will await the outcome of the Implementation Group's deliberations on this issue before moving forward with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: My Department continues to provide advice and assistance to Irish citizens abroad and in the context of COVID-19, has been helping citizens to return home where possible. The Deputy will be aware that the person referenced in his Question has since been repatriated. The Department and our network of Missions will continue to monitor developments closely in relation to COVID-19, and to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Protected Disclosures (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has received no Protected Disclosures since the legislation was introduced in 2014. My Department is committed to fostering a culture that encourages and supports staff to speak up on any issue that could impede the Department’s ability to carry out its functions to the standard expected. There are a number of mechanisms in place to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: Planning for the impacts of Brexit has been underway for some time now. The vast majority of preparedness work undertaken in 2018 and 2019 remains relevant. The additional time afforded by the Transition Period (to 31 December 2020) enables Departments and Agencies to refine and update this work. The ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement in January 2020 ensures that Agreement,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland ensures that the Good Friday Agreement and the gains of the Peace Process are protected, including by avoiding a hard border on this island, and safeguarding the integrity of the Single Market and Ireland’s place in it. The Protocol will apply from the end of the transition period, whatever the outcome of the negotiations on the future EU-UK...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The rule of law, democracy and respect for fundamental rights are core principles of the EU. It is precisely during a time of crisis such as this that all EU Member States should stick to these shared values. The first annual Rule of Law Report is one of the major initiatives of the Commission’s Work Programme for 2020. It is part of the comprehensive European rule of law...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The situation of the Rohingya community remains precarious and of significant concern. Over 740,000 predominantly Rohingya refuges now reside in Bangladesh, having fled neighbouring Rakhine State, Myanmar, following the escalation of military operations there in 2017. There are significant numbers of people also displaced internally in Rakhine and the situation remains unstable with ongoing...

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The level playing field conditions obviously apply in terms of GB and Northern Ireland. In the context of the protocol where there effectively is no request for any form of border infrastructure or checks between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland that means food production in Northern Ireland must operate to the same standards as those in the Republic of Ireland. Otherwise one is...

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: As somebody who has spent a lot of time with fishermen and farmers and those working in both sectors in the broader food industry, I agree that these are two vulnerable sectors if we cannot get the kind of Brexit deal we are looking for. There is no question about that. That is why, when we put contingency plans in place for a no-deal Brexit, these sectors were a big focus for us, along...

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: I can answer those questions directly because the answer is "Yes". That is what the withdrawal agreement was all about. It is what the Irish protocol and the legislation we passed here, and the British Government passed in Westminster, was about too, in respect of protecting the common travel area, and ensuring we protect access for students North and South into each other's universities...

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: There is a misunderstanding in the question. We are not facing the prospect of a hard border again. A no-deal Brexit in this round means a no-trade deal Brexit. We have a deal that prevents a hard border. It is called the withdrawal agreement and the Irish protocol that is in it. We also have a British Government that, as late as last week, confirmed that it will implement the protocol...

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: I will get to the last question. Even though it has nothing to do with Brexit I will answer it because I want to be totally upfront about it. On the first issue, if this is about a race to the bottom and, as was raised earlier, if it is an attempt by the British Government to undercut EU standards to create competitive advantage while looking to get barrier-free access into the Single...

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: The only thing I would say to that is that the Deputy should not confuse diplomacy with weakness. We have got the results we have been looking for, by and large, through these Brexit negotiations. In terms of the Irish protocol, the protections of the Good Friday Agreement, the absolute assurance we have now in law to prevent Border infrastructure re-emerging on the island of Ireland,...

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: By the way, of course we will have a democratic debate on any decision we take on Brexit because it is so fundamental-----

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: -----just as we did previously also. I do not know how many times I have stood up here and answered questions on Brexit and preparedness and I will be willing to do so in the future if I am lucky enough to hold office. Of course we will do that. That is what engaging with Brexit stakeholders is all about, to try to inform these decisions in as broad and as democratic a way as possible.

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: What was the question?

Brexit: Statements (7 May 2020)

Simon Coveney: Sorry. I have spoken to Michael Gove on this issue. I have told him that I cannot understand their reluctance to accept this. In my view, as someone who is involved in the process, it was understood and it was a non-issue, quite frankly. It has now become an issue and I can only assume it is because politics have been created around this issue. We have to find a way to diffuse it and...