Results 9,121-9,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue which has understandably been a topic of debate this week and last, given the horrific intimidation and brutal kidnapping, assault and torture of Kevin Lunney. I reiterate the support of the Government and the House for Kevin and his family and, indeed, all who work in the broader Quinn group. I too was a little surprised that Deputy Micheál...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: We now have an armed support unit in Cavan. On the calls of Fianna Fáil and others for a cross-Border task force, the joint agency task force was established by the Fresh Start agreement signed and negotiated by the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, who was then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. It is now being implemented and is led by senior officers of An Garda Síochána,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is appropriate that I begin by mentioning that one of my brothers works in RTÉ and has been involved in the restructuring plans that have been publicised today. It is important for me to say that for the record. In my view, public service broadcasting is more important than it has ever been. Independent objective reporting of domestic and international affairs is absolutely...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (7 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The approach of the Government in relation to Irish unity is of course guided by Article 3 of the Constitution, as amended by the people in 1998. The principle of consent and the possibility of change in the constitutional status of Northern Ireland are fundamental elements of the Good Friday Agreement, endorsed by the people of this island North and South. My Department is aware...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am grateful for the opportunity to update Members of the Seanad this evening. Since I was last here we have witnessed some important and positive developments in the Brexit process. On 17 October, the European Union and United Kingdom agreed a revised withdrawal agreement and political declaration on future EU-UK relationship. As I have said before in this House, we were content with the...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: We have to be conscious that the outcome of Brexit remains uncertain. As a Government, country and Parliament, we are still trying to plan for multiple potential outcomes. No deal is now far less likely, but it is certainly still a possibility. The intensive work on no-deal Brexit planning remains very much banked and ready to be used if necessary. We are now focusing on what we had...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have said on numerous occasions during this process that I regret that one of the consequences of the Brexit discussions has been a real straining in the relationship between unionism and the Government. We are anxious to try to repair that relationship. We also want to continue to maintain a strong relationship with nationalists in Northern Ireland and, indeed, all political parties...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is a major priority for me. The outgoing Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Julian Smith, has played an important and constructive role in working with me in trying to do that. We are trying to do that, however, against a background that is nearly making it impossible. I refer to the pressures of Brexit and the polarisation that has emerged from the Brexit outcomes and...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: They should feel that they can talk about that without being accused of having ulterior motives, being too aggressive or being linked to the violence of the past. That goes for both sides. It is not helpful to call for a border poll right now. That has increased pressure on what is a pressurised political environment. I have said that and I think my perspective is understood. We have to...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Regarding British-Irish relations, I have said previously, and I am not the only person here that this applies to, that in many ways I am a product of Anglo-Irish or British-Irish relations. I refer to where I have been to university, my family make-up and where my brother and my sister have developed their careers in British cities.That is the case for so many Irish families. There is a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (6 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs both in HQ and in our Embassies abroad are continuously engaged on Brexit related matters. I receive briefings from and meet with these officials on the wide range of Brexit issues on a regular basis. My officials and I also remain in on-going contact with representatives from other EU Member States and the EU Institutions on a range of EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (5 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I speak regularly with all my EU counterparts. We have always said that an extension is better than a no deal outcome and we welcome the fact that EU 27 leaders unanimously agreed to extend the deadline of the Article 50 process to 31 January 2020. However, if the Agreement is ratified before then, the UK may exit the EU earlier. We hope that the extra time provided by the extension will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (5 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: 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 jurisdictions. Due to the complex nature of Foreign Births Registration, it takes on average between 6 to 12 months to process an application. With regard to the specific applications the Deputy has enquired about, I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (5 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together. The Government remains firmly of the view that ratifying the Withdrawal Agreement agreed between the European Union and the United Kingdom on 17 October remains the best way to ensure an orderly withdrawal. A no deal outcome is in no one’s interests. Once the Withdrawal Agreement is ratified, the provisions in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (5 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 106 together. The Government takes very seriously any potential threat to the peace and stability on this island, and we have noted with concern the recent comments by the PSNI Chief Constable, Simon Byrne, that, in the context of the UK exit from the European Union, “there are a small number of people in both the loyalist and nationalist...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department is in the process of migrating its computer devices from the Windows 7 operating system to Windows 10. Currently there are 1,320 Windows 7 machines in use. This number will be greatly reduced in the coming months as the process of replacing machines advances.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department is in the process of migrating computer devices from the Windows 7 operating system to Windows 10. For technical reasons this migration may not be fully complete by January 2020. In this context, Windows 7 machines will continue to receive security updates despite changes in the licensing model. The licensing costs associated with a limited number of security upgrades are not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Information and Communications Technology (5 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department deploys a comprehensive Security Incident and Event Management system along with a robust incident response plan to deal with malware incidents, regardless of operating system. The Department also works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre to identify and understand risks and to inform effective mitigation.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (5 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, holds personal information in respect of passport applicants for the purpose of processing applications for passport by such individuals. The Passport Service’s legal basis for processing personal data is provided for by Section 8(1) of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. As a Data Controller, the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (5 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: At the end of September 2019, my Department employed 1611 Civil Servants, of whom 1455 were full-time staff and 156 were part-time staff. I can confirm that no Civil Servant in my Department is paid at or below the minimum wage rate of pay.