Results 9,641-9,660 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (3 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach and I have prioritised the issue of Irish immigration in the US since taking office. We will continue our efforts in this regard until we secure progress – both in terms of future legal immigration opportunities for Irish citizens, and also in securing a pathway for those Irish who are undocumented in order to regularise their status.  Special...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: At the June EU Foreign Affairs Council, Foreign Ministers discussed the EU Global Strategy, CFSP Effectiveness and Sudan. Minister of State for European Affairs, Helen McEntee TD, participated in the meeting. Ministers also had a productive exchange of views on regional issues with the Jordanian Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, including the Middle East Peace Process, the Gulf, Iran and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Maritime Jurisdiction (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: Except in three places, on the east coast the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea and the other maritime zones of the State is measured is the 'normal' baseline, being the low-water line along the coast of the mainland and of offshore islands, and the low-water line on any low-tide elevation located within 12 nautical miles of the mainland or of any off-shore island. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Bodies (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The nomination of the Irish Commissioner to serve as a member of the next College of Commissioners will be taken by the Taoiseach and Government in due course. The European Council will propose a candidate for President of the Commission who will then be elected by the European Parliament. I would expect the new President of the Commission to begin working with Member States who will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Programmes (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the recent report by the Digital Forensics Research Lab (DFRLab), a reputable organisation, part of the Atlantic Council, an independent US based Think Tank. The report concerns possible evidence of a disinformation campaign partly aimed at exacerbating divisions in Northern Ireland and is an issue which the relevant security services here will be appraising. Protecting...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The issue of confiscation or demolition of donor-funded structures, included those funded by the EU, is of great concern to me. The demolition of Palestinian homes, and demolition or seizure of related structures such as water tanks, wells, solar panels, schools and animal housing, are cruel and unjust actions. The only possible conclusion we can draw from the systematic nature of these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Reconciliation Fund has been in operation since 1982 and awards grants to organisations working to build better relations within and between traditions in Northern Ireland, between North and South, and between Ireland and Britain. The annual budget for the Fund was €2.7 million in 2018. In May 2018, on the 20th Anniversary of the referendums on the Good Friday Agreement, I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland established diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1996 and opened an Embassy in Hanoi in 2005. Vietnam is accredited to Ireland on a non-resident basis through its Embassy in London. Vietnam has been an Irish Aid key partner country since 2005 and the bilateral relationship has been underpinned and strengthened by this development cooperation programme which focuses on ethnic minority...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The recent report by the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions, Agnes Callamard, into the death of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi makes for horrific and shocking reading. An Interactive Dialogue with Ms. Callamard took place at the UN Human Rights Council on 26 June, covering all issues within her mandate. Ireland supported an EU statement at that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have been made aware of the article in question regarding surveillance technology being supplied to assist with the development of facial recognition software in Serbia. The internal security of any State is a national competence. Ireland considers it important that in safeguarding internal security, States take account of fundamental rights. In this instance, the merits of facial...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Projects (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: There are no such live projects scheduled to be completed in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Information (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation). My Department has published a wide range of policy documents and strategies since 2016 and these are routinely posted to our website, so that citizens and stakeholders are kept informed about the work of my Department. Some of the key policy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Working Holiday Visas (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: In 2008, Ireland and the US signed a Memorandum of Understanding on an Intern Work and Travel Pilot Programme (a.k.a. the Working Holiday Agreement) that enables Irish and US citizens to work and travel in each other's country for up to 12 months. The agreement reflects not only the close historical and cultural links between Ireland and the US, but also the vibrancy of the modern economic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Libya has deteriorated significantly in recent months, with an outbreak of conflict which has put civilians, including migrants and refugees in danger. I am concerned by persistent reports of desperate conditions and mistreatment of migrants and refugees in detention centres. Recent reports of an outbreak of tuberculosis in some detention centres, with a number of people...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: Growing tensions between the United States and Iran which have escalated in recent months and weeks, are a worrying development. Following US withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA) last year, the EU conveyed our great regret at the decision to the US Government. The EU believes that there is no credible alternative to the JCPOA, which was a significant diplomatic achievement. We remain...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is of grave concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. Inclusive multi-party talks are continuing in Belfast involving all five main parties and the two Governments, with a view to reaching agreement which would secure the operation of all the institutions of the Good Friday Agreement at the earliest...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, genereally 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 application the Deputy has enquired...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government has overseen and co-ordinated a sustained intensification of Brexit preparedness. As part of these efforts, my Department organised “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” public information events in Cork, Galway, Monaghan, Dublin, Limerick and Donegal throughout autumn 2018 to inform and advise citizens and businesses about Brexit preparedness and the range of support...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: I met bilaterally with Portuguese Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Augusto Santos Silva when he visited Dublin in April 2018 and we are both regular attendees at meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council, which has responsibility for the EU’s external affairs. While I have no plans to have another bilateral meeting with Minister Santos Silva in the immediate future, I will continue...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (2 Jul 2019)

Simon Coveney: The new Consulates General in Frankfurt and Los Angeles will open later this year with the first staff arriving at the end of August and the formal openings taking place a short time later once the office set-up is complete. Working closely with the Embassy in Berlin, the new Consulate General in Frankfurt will focus on strengthening Ireland’s relationship with Germany, both...