Results 9,461-9,480 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Does Deputy Chambers wish to ask a supplementary?

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I would like to make a few points. First, and I said this earlier, Ireland will not support any deal that involves us acquiescing to the reintroduction of Border infrastructure on the island. That cannot be the compromise that gets the deal across the line because essentially what we would be doing is moving away from regulatory alignment as the way of solving this problem towards trying to...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: No.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will clarify it.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: These are very fair questions and questions we need to answered. Let me explain what happened here. We made a conscious decision with the European Commission that we would not finalise what would essentially be an emergency management plan in a no-deal scenario in terms of facilitating trade on this island if Northern Ireland is outside the customs union, the Single Market and the European...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Anglo-Irish Relations (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The UK’s decision to leave the European Union is one of enormous strategic, economic and political consequence. We respect this decision, and we have been consistent in all interactions with the UK Government making clear that our preferred outcome is a deal on the basis of the withdrawal agreement. We are of course open to realistic, legally binding and workable alternatives but in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Anglo-Irish Relations (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for his question. We had a very good engagement on that issue. Both sides recognised that the EU post-Brexit will be very different. We are simply not going to see British Ministers as often because they will not be around the EU negotiating tables with us. Even with the Good Friday Agreement structures, there was an acceptance on both sides that we needed to go...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Issues (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38 and 41 together. Avoiding the return of a hard border on this island is a Government priority in all circumstances. This is why the backstop continues to be a critical component of the withdrawal agreement, unless and until an alternative is found. Ratifying the withdrawal agreement remains the only viable solution on the table that avoids any...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 59 together. 17 May last marked the 45th anniversary of the appalling attacks of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings in which 33 people were murdered. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charles Flanagan TD, represented the Government at the remembrance ceremony in Dublin. The Government stands in solidarity with all those who lost loved ones or were...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Safety (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The safety and security of our people who are serving the State and Irish citizens overseas is a top priority for my Department. Officers and their dependents travel and live for extended periods of time in over ninety locations around the world. There are particular security challenges in some locations and access to timely and reliable information is essential. As part of a suite of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The recent flare-up of hostilities between Hezbollah and Israel along the Lebanese border is very worrying. It is the responsibility of all concerned to show restraint and de-escalate tensions when they arise, and to respect the sovereignty of their neighbours. I am relieved to see that the situation appears to have calmed in recent weeks. Of course, both Lebanon and Syria remain...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Safety (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Irish people continue to travel overseas in greater numbers than ever before and the demand for consular assistance has increased significantly in recent years. In 2018, my Department provided assistance to Irish citizens in over 2,343 serious consular cases. Regrettably this included assistance in over 292 cases where citizens died abroad. A new Consular Strategy 2019-2022 was launched in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The protection and promotion of universal human rights is one of Ireland's core foreign policy issues, and we, along with our European counterparts, consistently raise our concerns with regard to the human rights situation in China. At a bilateral level, Ireland and our partners in the EU discuss these matters during political and official contacts with the Chinese authorities. In April...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Change Policy (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 60 together. The fires burning in the Amazon have highlighted the international importance of the Amazon rainforest, particularly in the context of global action on climate change. It is essential that each country plays its part in this effort. The Taoiseach has highlighted the value Ireland places on this, voicing concerns regarding the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach appointed Deputy John Deasy as Special Envoy to the United States Congress on the Undocumented Irish in June 2017. As the Taoiseach indicated at the time of the appointment, no additional remuneration is paid to the Deputy Deasy in his role as Special Envoy. Deputy Deasy is supported, from a logistical perspective, by my staff in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Deputies are aware of my deep concern about the humanitarian situation in the Mediterranean and the need for a comprehensive approach to migration. Italy and Malta have been two of the EU states most affected by the current migration crisis. While the social, economic and political stresses arising from the crisis are very considerable, it is essential that humanitarian and legal obligations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The crisis in Yemen is a matter of grave concern, and a solution is urgent. More than four years into the conflict, Yemen is the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with almost 80% of the population in need of humanitarian assistance. Ireland supports the efforts of the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths to bring about a political resolution to the crisis in Yemen, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Programme for Government states that Ireland will “honour our commitment to recognise the State of Palestine as part of a lasting settlement of the conflict.” Successive Governments have seen recognition coming in the context of an overall peace agreement. However, in the context of widespread frustration at the lack of political progress towards an agreement, and not least...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (17 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the matter to which the Deputy refers, and of the issues that have been raised regarding the Cerrejón mine by environmental and indigenous rights activists in La Guajira. I remain concerned at reports of the activities of the mine having a detrimental impact on the environment and on local communities. As I have stated previously, matters related to the ESB fall under...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (17 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...