Results 9,761-9,780 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Sanctions (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I hope the Deputy is not suggesting the EU is not trying to find a way forward because I believe it is. From an Irish perspective, we are not currently aware of any Irish entities or individuals being affected by the changes to the Helms-Burton Act. There is an EU blocking statute which prohibits the compliance with any US court judgments relating to Title III or IV or the Helms-Burton Act...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Sanctions (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is important that I respond honestly to the Deputy. We are doing quite a lot. The Deputy has just heard my statement, including on the actions the EU is taking. Ultimately, the reach and power of the US is very significant, particularly in that region. Cuba is very close to the United States. Many companies that may seek to trade with Cuba will also, in all likelihood, be trading into...

Other Questions: Human Rights (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Deputy O'Sullivan, who is keeping me busy today, raises a very worrying development. As she will be aware, the situation in Libya has deteriorated significantly in recent months and is extremely dangerous. She highlighted that, as part of the ongoing conflict, an attack affecting migrants was reported in April at Qasr bin Ghashir. There are conflicting reports on what happened but the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is about Hong Kong, not Singapore.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am glad the Deputy has given me the opportunity to put a statement on the record concerning what has been happening in Hong Kong. The disturbances in Hong Kong last week are a matter of deep concern. However, I welcome that the demonstration which took place on 16 June passed off by and large peacefully. Public demonstration and protest are an important element of any democracy and the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland's relationship with China is probably better now than it has ever been. It is also more honest than it has ever been. I have met many Chinese ministers during my time in a number of Departments, including the Chinese foreign minister. In recent months, the Chinese foreign minister attended a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels where he opened up to questions over lunch from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Do you?

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I just quoted the statement from the European Union, which came from the highest foreign policy source in the EU. The Deputy chooses to ignore that because it does not suit his argument.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Foreign Policy (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have not said that we pedal softly. That is the Deputy's language. What I said was that in terms of getting a real response from China on issues, I have found it more effective to raise them directly and face to face rather than using megaphone diplomacy. If the outcomes in Hong Kong had been different and there had been a lot of violence as part of an inappropriate response to a huge...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Trade Sanctions (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I know the Deputy has a real concern with and knowledge of Cuba. Ireland and our EU partners have been following developments on the Helms-Burton Act in recent months and the issue has been discussed on several occasions at the EU Council Working Party on Transatlantic Relations, COTRA, at which Ireland has been represented at official level. It was also discussed at yesterday's meeting of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Colombian Peace Process (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Perhaps the Deputy will send me the details relating to Ms Romero. I did not hear her evidence to the committee but if the Deputy shares that evidence and any other information he has with me, we will seek to raise it through our new embassy in Bogotá, which I hope to be able to visit before the end of the year. The Deputy has raised the Cerrejón mine previously. I am aware of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I could give the Deputy a long written answer, which she will receive in any event, but instead I will speak directly on the matter. While in many ways the public debate on Brexit has lessened somewhat since the middle of April and the putting in place of an extension to the end of October, the Government has not taken its focus away from the issue. Everybody is waiting to see who the next...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Let me be crystal clear on this: the Government's position has not changed and it will not change because there is about to be a change of British Prime Minister. This has never been about personalities. It has always been about evidence, facts and trying to deal with the complexity of the decision of a country and economy the size of the UK to leave the European Union, of which it has been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Brexit Preparations (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will update the House on staffing and recruitment. The Revenue Commissioners had accelerated and expanded recruitment and training schedules to meet the previous 12 April deadline for Brexit. They are now on track to have more than 450 additional staff in place by the new 31 October 2019 deadline. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine will have approximately 200 staff...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: It was in the weeks subsequent to the Nicola Sturgeon meeting with the Taoiseach that we got a letter from Fiona Hyslop confirming that they were going to proceed with enforcement within a week, and that is what triggered the quite high profile disagreement on this issue which I am glad to say is now being dealt with through diplomacy rather than anything else.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission is aware of the issue. The most important thing is that we have worked to de-escalate tension on this issue. This should not be dealt with through threats of enforcement. It should be dealt with through two friendly neighbours talking to each other. We have a different interpretation of the law on this issue and the fishing entitlements that go with that around...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Colombian Peace Process (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Crowe for raising this issue. I know he has an interest in Colombia, as do I. I am aware of the difficult situation that exists for human rights defenders, social leaders and former combatants in Colombia, and of the worrying levels of violence, threats and intimidation carried out against these groups. Our new resident embassy in Bogotá has been engaging with civil...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Colombian Peace Process (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Two and a half years after the signing of the Colombian peace agreement between the government and FARC, substantial progress has been achieved and it is important to recognise that. Colombia has had the most peaceful elections in decades, the demobilisation of FARC and the beginning of its transition to a political party. That is saving many lives. According to a recent independent...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this question because it is important to clarify it. It has been a high profile issue in the media in the last couple of weeks. I have been very direct in my response to it, as has the Minister, Deputy Michael Creed. I know that Deputy Gallagher has raised concerns about it and that he understands the fishing industry's concerns well. The exclusive economic...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rockall Island Ownership (18 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will make sure that the Deputy gets the technical answer in writing. This issue was first raised with Ireland by Scotland in 2017. It was raised with me by my counterpart in the Scottish Government, Fiona Hyslop, last September when she indicated that the Scottish Government had made a decision that it would be enforcing the rules as it understood them in the 12-mile limit around Rockall,...