Results 9,081-9,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Overseas Development Aid Provision (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Official Development Assistance (ODA) is an essential element of Ireland's foreign policy. In line with the Government’s commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the new policy for international development, A Better World - published in February - Ireland's international development programme is focused on reaching the furthest behind first through delivery of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that the Deputy has raised concerns about the length of## time some prisoners in Northern Ireland spend on remand and on bail prior to facing trial. Officials from my Department based in Belfast have engaged with the Northern Ireland Office and the Northern Ireland Department of Justice in relation to this issue. The NI Department of Justice Prison Population report from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Sanctions (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland and our EU partners have long monitored the US embargo on Cuba, which ultimately is a policy issue for the US Administration. Fundamentally, Ireland believes that the US embargo on Cuba serves no constructive purpose and that its lifting would facilitate an opening of Cuba’s economy to the benefit of its people. In addition, we are not persuaded that the continued embargo is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland's position on settlement expansion, related infrastructure development, demolition of Palestinian homes and other buildings, and forced removal of Palestinians from their homes, is extremely clear. All actions which compromise the viability of a future Palestinian state are very damaging. Such unilateral actions further diminish the prospects for successful negotiations and an end to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 78 together. My officials and I remain in close, ongoing contact with representatives of the EU institutions regarding Brexit, as well as other areas of importance to Ireland. I participated in the meeting of the GAC in Article 50 format held on the morning of 15 October, during which Mr. Barnier briefed Ministers on the status of the then...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service, located in my Department, is one unified service composed of three constituent offices located in Mount Street, Dublin, in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin and in South Mall, Cork. The Passport Service operates three passport printing machines, two of which are located in our main production facility in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin and one located in the Passport office in Mount...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The continuing absence of the power-sharing Executive and Assembly in Northern Ireland and the North South Ministerial Council is of grave concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. I have engaged extensively with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland throughout the latest talks process, to encourage the parties to reach an accommodation that will get the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The North South Cooperation that we enjoy today brings tangible benefits to the daily lives of people, across the island of Ireland, particularly to those living in the border region, and contributes to economic opportunity and development. It is also a very practical outworking of the peace process which allows for, and in turn encourages, the normalisation of relationships between people...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government has expressed its deepest sympathy for the enormous suffering of the Armenian people during the terrible events of 1915 which resulted in the tragic deaths of very large numbers of the Armenian population in the Ottoman Empire. No Irish Government has taken a position on the recognition of the events of 1915 as genocide, believing that it is not in a position to adjudicate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reports (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Since March 2011 my Department has sponsored six items of legislation, as set out in the table below. Post-enactment scrutiny was adopted for the duration of the 31st Dáil through Standing Order 141A, effective from 5 November 2013, and was adopted by Standing Order 164A for the 32nd Dáil. In that light, the requirement to report does not apply to the first three pieces of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The question of a legally binding treaty to regulate the activities of transnational corporations and other business enterprises has been under consideration by an open-ended inter-governmental working group on transnational corporations and other business enterprises, which was established on foot of a resolution adopted by the Human Rights Council in 2014. The working group has had...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Representations (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of this case, which is very complex and sensitive. My Department has been in ongoing contact with the family of the citizen, and has provided wide-ranging consular assistance, since the case was first brought to our attention. Our Embassy in Riyadh has had extensive engagement with the local authorities regarding the welfare of the citizen, and will continue to do so. My...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Since joining the United Nations in 1955, Ireland has been consistent in our commitment to the values and principles enshrined in the UN Charter. As a strong supporter of the United Nations, Ireland actively and positively engages in discussions and actions at the UN level to promote and affect reform of the organisation, across a range of priority areas. Ireland remains open-minded to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland greatly values the vital role that the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine plays in gathering information and reporting on the security situation throughout Ukraine. Since its deployment in 2014, Ireland has continued to provide political, technical, and financial support to the Mission towards the ultimate aim of reducing tensions and facilitating dialogue between all sides. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland takes a very active role in supporting human rights defenders, open civil society space and the protection and promotion of fundamental rights and freedoms. As outlined in the response to the previous PQ you mention, I am aware of the difficult situation that exists for human rights defenders in Colombia, and continue to reject the use of threats, including death threats, intimidation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Offices (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Outside of Dublin city my Department has office accommodation in Balbriggan in County Dublin as well as in Cork and Limerick cities. Usage of desks in the Passport Offices in Balbriggan and Cork varies considerably throughout the year, in line with the demand for passports. During the busiest months of March-August all workspaces are fully utilised while during September-February lower...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Enlargement (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland continues to be a strong supporter of enlargement of the European Union. Our support is premised on the basis that it is up to candidate countries to ensure they meet the necessary conditions for Membership. We therefore do not attach a particular timeframe to the admission of specific countries. Accession happens if and when candidate countries meet the conditions. Serbia and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Data (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: A central tenet of my Department's commitment to transparency and accountability is the public disclosure of all non-personal Freedom of Information requests. The policy is to publish all non-personal Freedom of Information requests and the responses on the Department's website. Where records pertaining to the request exist, the associated schedule of records is also published. Records that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Following agreement on 17 October of a revised Withdrawal Agreement, the EU and the UK have committed to begin the formal process of negotiating a future relationship as soon as possible after the UK's withdrawal from the EU. The framework for the future relationship negotiations is set out in the revised Political Declaration. The Declaration sets the course on what I hope will be a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Embassy network continues to play a central role in advancing Ireland’s international trade as part of Team Ireland overseas. Embassies and Consulates around the world provide vital support for Ireland’s state agencies, including by supporting their strategic objectives and activities in overseas markets. In June 2018, the Government launched the Global Ireland initiative,...