Results 10,441-10,460 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: No.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am not. The Minister, Deputy Regina Doherty, will be dealing with those sections.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will be back.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I respect the ruling of the Chair and acknowledge that the Government and Ministers have no role in deciding whether amendments are discussed. In this legislation we are trying to protect and maintain the arrangements in place. This is emergency legislation to try to protect the status quo, where possible, whether it is for students, buses, ports, pilotage or anything else. It is not about...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will close the debate as we cannot formally discuss the amendment. I am just trying to be of help to the House.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Act provides for further safeguards, with a number of mandatory grounds for refusal. As the House knows, each and every extradition request is dealt with by the High Court on a case by case basis. All aspects of a request are considered carefully before an extradition order is either granted or refused. As part of that consideration, the court will consider human rights and fundamental...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have not met Fredericó yet, but it sounds like that he is a real addition to Ireland and the Houses. I will have to come back to the Senator on the fingerprint question. I did not fully hear the question to the other Minister, but I will ensure the Senator receives a briefing note on it. The Bill is linked with a memorandum of understanding we have with the United Kingdom in...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have quite a long response, which, while technical, I will read into the record because it is important that Senators receive a full response. I will not support amendments Nos. 23 to 25, inclusive, but I will explain why. The provisions in sections 95 and 96 are inserted for the purpose of correcting a legislative lacuna in the legal basis for non-refoulementconsiderations....

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: In all cases, whether it is for children or adults, the test is the potential threats to them of returning them back to a state, either from where they came or to where it is being proposed to return them. If the non-refoulementtest is not passed, which is pretty comprehensive as I have outlined, regardless of whether the person is an adult or a child or in any other category, the point is...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have a long written note here, but I do not need to read it all. We have discussed these issues. As a country, we would like to be able to do something on this unilaterally, but we cannot do so. This is an EU competence, which is covered by an EU directive. If there is to be some accommodation here to prevent the need for proof of international motor insurance, which can be provided for...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I take that point and I understand the politics of it. Even were this amendment to be pushed and passed, I would need to bring it back to the Dáil and take it out again because I cannot have an item of legislation that is directly contradictory to a European directive. There is a way of potentially solving this issue. I will give a commitment to the House that we will speak to the...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: The previous amendment, which was ruled out of order as it posed a charge on the Exchequer, effectively required the Government to set up a Brexit stabilisation fund. This amendment asks that the Minister for Finance would report back to the Oireachtas within one month of the passing of this legislation on the establishment of a Brexit stabilisation fund. This is about reporting on...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: First, many of the support packages for businesses to adapt to Brexit are already in place and are already being drawn down. For example, there was a very significant support package from Enterprise Ireland to help the Carbery Group diversify away from an over-reliance on the UK market for cheese to adapt to be able to focus on other markets for a portion of its output. If the Senator notes...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Before I address the amendment, I will address that point because Deputy Howlin raised it with me on Second and Committee Stages. We asked the hard questions on that. This comes back to what this legislation is doing. It is not about empowering Ministers to introduce new legislation in new areas of policy. It is about effectively protecting existing arrangements and rights. As a result...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Motion for Earlier Signature (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will not delay the House but I would like to thank everybody for facilitating the passage of this Bill. It is quite complex legislation because of the multitude of different areas it deals with. I believe I can say on behalf of this House that we all hope this legislation will never be needed.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Motion for Earlier Signature (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: If it is needed, we will have to work together in this Parliament across parties, Government and Opposition to ensure we protect our own people and our country in the context of what will be enormous challenges. In particular, we will have to protect the fragile North-South relationships on this island in that scenario. In the context of this legislation, I am glad that this House and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together. My Department is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and administers a number of funding schemes including under Ireland's official overseas development programme, Irish Aid. As part of Ireland’s development programme, funding is provided through the Development...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Child Abuse Reports (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has issued a standing invitation to the holders of all United Nations special procedure mandates, to undertake visits to Ireland. In this regard, my Department organised an extensive programme for the visit of the Special Rapporteur on the Sale and Sexual Exploitation of Children, Ms Maud de Boer-Buquiccio, from 14-18 May 2018, in cooperation with relevant Government Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111 to 113, inclusive, together. Brexit is a priority issue for this Government, and the Taoiseach, my cabinet colleagues and I take every opportunity to engage with EU partners and the UK to advance Ireland’s priorities. I remain in ongoing contact with my UK counterparts. I met with David Lidington in Dublin on 28 February, and again during...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I met with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Karen Bradley, in London, on 6 March. I made clear to the Secretary of State the Government's deep concern at the statement she had made earlier that day, regarding deaths caused by British soldiers and police during the Troubles, which had caused intense hurt and distress to families who lost loved ones in dreadful circumstances. I...