Results 9,421-9,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Humphreys's Department has issued a report into Brexit-readiness.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Assessing the impact is difficult until we know what type of Brexit we are going to have.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Does the Deputy believe him?

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: That clarifies that, then.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: They are being told.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am grateful for the opportunity to again brief the Dáil on developments on Brexit. There have been significant shifts in British politics over the summer impacting on Brexit but before focusing on developments, it is worth recalling the priorities which have shaped the Government's approach to Brexit negotiations from the outset. These were: the need to protect the Northern Ireland...

Agriculture: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I was not.

Agriculture: Motion [Private Members] (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to have the opportunity to speak in this important debate and I thank Fianna Fáil for bringing forward the motion. The Government will continue to be deeply committed to supporting and developing Ireland's beef sector. I am keenly aware that the past few months have been very challenging for beef farmers and their families following a difficult year for farm incomes in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: UN Security Council (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The expected date of the election for the two available seats in the Western European and Others Group (WEOG) for the UN Security Council term 2021-2022 is approximately nine months away. The campaign is a priority across the whole of Government. The UN is central to Ireland’s foreign policy.  Our effort to secure a seat, which was announced in 2005, reflects this.  I am...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Refusals (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Since March 29 2016, the Passport Service has required all first time passport applicants, aged 18 and above, who are resident in Ireland to submit a copy of their Public Services Card (PSC) with their passport application. This requirement also applies to adult applicants whose most recent passport has expired more than five years previously and to adult applicants whose passport was issued...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together. Ireland, together with our EU partners, respects the territorial integrity of Indonesia and regards the province of West Papua as being part of Indonesia.  I am concerned by the escalation in violence since August in both Papua and West Papua. While access to information has been somewhat constrained, including by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I remain deeply concerned about the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi almost one year ago. In the days and weeks that followed his death, disturbing information came to light that points unequivocally to the fact that Mr Khashoggi was murdered in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul by agents of the Saudi State. In January 2019, the UN Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Sanctions (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have been clear in this House on my concerns about human rights within Saudi Arabia – including the use of the death penalty, and the situation of human rights defenders. I have expressed deep concerns, in this House, in multilateral fora, and directly to Saudi officials, about the way in which the war in Yemen is conducted, by all parties. My Department has also consistently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: My officials and I remain in close contact with the European Commission and Taskforce members on Brexit matters. Together with EU partners, we are regularly briefed by the Commission regarding ongoing talks between the EU and the UK on Brexit. Talks between Task Force and the UK’s Chief Negotiator David Frost have been ongoing since the end of July, becoming more frequent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (18 Sep 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. I continued this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I did not raise this issue with Vice President Pence because I had a specific focus at that meeting on Brexit. I would have liked to have raised it but I suspect that I will be meeting representatives from the US next week in New York and I will certainly be raising it there.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy seems to be of the view that protest solves everything. I have been engaged on this issue-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should listen. I have been engaged on this issue in a serious way for two years now. In my first 12 months in office, I visited Palestine and Israel on three separate occasions. I have spoken to Mr. Jared Kushner and Mr. Jason Greenblatt about their approach to this issue on multiple occasions. I have met the previous and current Israeli ambassadors who understand the Irish...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Staff (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for what is a fair question. Managing Brexit negotiations and preparation has been a key priority of the work of my Department in recent years, both at headquarters and overseas, including in the UK, for obvious reasons. Since 2016, additional staff have been assigned to the key divisions at headquarters with responsibility for Brexit matters, including the EU division...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Brexit Staff (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy's points are all fair. We have a brilliant team in London and we need it because the relationship between Britain and Ireland is under some strain at the moment because of the challenges of Brexit. We have a really good team in London, led by our ambassador, and they are doing a good job but if they need more people, we will appoint more. That is the truth of it. The...