Results 10,261-10,280 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. She had many questions but I will deal with those relating to Cork University Hospital, CUH, a facility I know well. This morning, the number of patients waiting on trolleys in Cork University Hospital was 55 and the Health Service Executive, HSE, trolley system reported 431 patients waiting on trolleys nationally. This is an increase on the same...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I know Cork University Hospital well and I know many people working there. I accept that today there is huge stress on the system in the hospital and the management is responding to that as best it can. There are two issues. The first is today's pressure, which is difficult for the staff on site. They are working together to deal with that. The medium-term issue here is about capacity,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: What we are doing is working out a plan with the European Commission, because it involves both the European Commission and the Irish Government, to try to ensure that we fulfil our dual responsibilities as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and as a committed member of the European Union and its Single Market and customs union. That is a complex challenge, and we always said it would...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----but to present this as the Irish Government having a plan that it goes to Brussels with to look for approval for is not accurate. The British Government also has a responsibility here, as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. We will need to continue to work out a plan with the European Commission if the British Government does not follow through on its commitment to solve...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is still the way to deal with this but in the absence of the British Government following through on that commitment, we will continue to work with the European Commission to put what is a difficult plan in place that will protect the Good Friday Agreement but also protect the EU Single Market. As soon as that work is complete, of course, we will share it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: We need to be very careful in what we say here because accuracy is important. We need to be sure that we do not turn this into a political or party political issue. The Government is not hiding anything from anybody. There is not a plan.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for asking his question and for giving me an opportunity to update the House on this matter. I agree with Michel Barnier and others when they say that, as the days pass, a no-deal Brexit looks like a real possibility. Of course, we hope that will not be the case but the country needs to be ready if it is. The Government is very much focused on working with all other...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76, 101 and 102 together. The Government remains focused on securing the Withdrawal Agreement, which would ensure an orderly UK withdrawal which protects the Good Friday Agreement, includng by providing a guarantee on avoiding a hard border. Ratification of the Withdrawal Agreement will enable both sides to negotiate a future relationship agreement, with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I share the concern of the UN Secretary-General regarding the unravelling of key international arms control agreements.  As I said in my address to the Conference on Disarmament in February 2019, the urgency of the issues we are confronted with cannot be understated. We face the possibility of a new arms race; the development of new weapons that could lower the threshold for use of...

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

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers. The Deputy will understand that I cannot go into details about options under consideration and contacts ongoing outside of Government in relation to this case. These are very sensitive matters in a zone of active conflict. Speculating about options in public is not in the interests of Irish citizens, or of the partner organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Registration of Births (2 Apr 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. The establishment of the new Foreign Births Registration team at the beginning of this year has introduced a short delay in the processing of applications. Due to the complex nature of Foreign Births...

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

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers.  I have already stated publicly that appropriate consular assistance is provided to all Irish citizens abroad where this is possible.  We will do what can and should be done to assist Irish citizens in distress or danger overseas. In this case, this will include facilitating a return to Ireland, not least in view of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (2 Apr 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. Applications requiring clarification or further documents take longer to process. With regard to the specific applications the Deputy has enquired about, I can confirm that the Foreign Births...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. I was pleased to have the opportunity to meet with the family of Councillor Pasty Kelly on 27 March last during their visit to Leinster House. I am conscious of the pain and suffering that the Kelly family have endured as a result of the terrible murder of Councillor Kelly in 1974, which has been compounded by the successive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Expenditure (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: Since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June 2017, I have overseen and co-ordinated a sustained intensification of Brexit preparedness. As part of these efforts, the Government has organised “Getting Ireland Brexit Ready” public information events around Ireland to inform and advise about Brexit preparedness and the range of support measures and...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 90 together. In response to the decision of the United States Government on 18 March to recognise the Golan heights as sovereign Israeli territory, I made the following public statement on the same day: “Ireland regards the Golan Heights as Syrian territory under Israeli occupation. The Government has no plans to alter that position. Annexation...

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

Simon Coveney: The work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Embassy and Consulate network around the world continues to be important to Ireland’s economic development.  The total network, of currently some 79 Embassies and Consulates and 7 Multilateral Missions, promotes Ireland’s political, economic and cultural interests and values, provides services to our citizens,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (2 Apr 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department currently has passport processing facilities in Dublin, Ballbriggan and Cork.  The Department operates two public offices in Dublin and in Cork.  Work is ongoing with the Office of Public Works to expand the existing facility in Balbriggan, in addition to improvements to the office accommodation in Cork. The Department is currently working with the Office of Public...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The staffing levels of many units in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and its missions overseas have been augmented in response to Brexit.  My Department has strengthened the capacity of the Passport Service by recruiting over 80 permanent staff to respond to the general increase in passport applications.  Those staff are located in the Passport Service offices in...