Results 10,541-10,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (6 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is all out of order but I said I would respond briefly to it. We have looked at ways in which we could potentially think about representation in the European Parliament. When a country is an accession country, in the lead-in to joining the European Union, it often has observer status in the European Parliament. We have looked at that issue. I have raised it at Cabinet and elsewhere....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Semi-State Bodies (6 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the situation to which the Deputy refers, and of other issues that have been raised by environmental and indigenous rights defenders in relation to the Cerrejón mine. I should repeat at the outset that queries regarding the ESB and where it sources its coal would be more properly directed to my colleague, the Minister for Communications,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising Expenditure (6 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 78 together. My Department engages in advertising and public awareness campaigns where there is important information that needs to be brought to the attention of citizens.  Social media and online promoted content play a significant role in this connection.  Examples of where my Department has advertised using social media have included...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (6 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, including its backstop provisions, is an integral part of the Withdrawal Agreement. The EU has consistently made clear that the Withdrawal Agreement will not be renegotiated and nothing can be agreed that contradicts or undermines the legal operability of the backstop. In a joint statement with President Juncker Prime Minister May acknowledged...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Supports (6 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Making the case for supporting measures at EU level that recognise Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy is a key pillar of the Government’s response to Brexit. There is a firm understanding at EU level of the unique and disproportionate impact that Brexit will have on Ireland. This has been reflected in a number of concrete measures and commitments to date,...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will leave the line Minister to respond on the substantive transport matters. To clarify the position for the House, it is currently the case that cars driven from Ireland to other parts of the European Union are covered by the EU's motor insurance directive. The directive allows one to drive anywhere within the Single Market while having one's home insurance certificate recognised under...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: One can.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: One can take one's car across but there will need to be proof that insurance cover is in place.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: This prevents no one. Green cards are freely available, as the Deputies opposite know.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I move amendment No. 42:In page 38, between lines 8 and 9, to insert the following: “CHAPTER 8 ExciseAmendment of section 104 of Finance Act 200161. Section 104 of the Finance Act 2001 is amended, in subsection (1)(e), by the insertion of “, other than the United Kingdom,” after “destination”.”.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: The memorandum of understanding is not directly related to this Part but to the entire Bill in many ways. That memorandum of understanding has been ready to sign for some time. It was agreed by senior officials. For understandable reasons, we have decided not to sign it until now but I have approval now from Government to sign it with my counterpart in the British Government. We will do...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Members will see it as soon as it is signed because it is the interpretation of the two Governments of what the common travel area represents.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I think Parliament will be able to judge it but it is not like passing of legislation. It is a memorandum of understanding. We made a deliberate decision not to have a bilateral treaty on the common travel area because changing a bilateral treaty means going through the legislative process, which takes months. We have instead a memorandum of understanding which can be changed much more...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: The provisions will be reciprocal. We have a basis for agreement in multiple sectors to protect and maintain the common travel area, including access to work, healthcare facilities and social welfare. Some of those commitments require primary legislation, while others can be provided through secondary legislation or ministerial orders. We have a commitment that the UK will fulfil its side...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I would like to respond to Deputy Howlin because he did ask me the question directly, following which I sought clarity on it. I will set out my understanding as to why this is not the issue the Deputy thinks it may be, legally. The proposed new section states:The Minister may, with the consent of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, make such order or...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: For the sake of clarity, if a vote is called, I presume the clock will be stopped while the vote is taking place. Is that right, or does it form part of the hour allocated?

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: May I speak to Part 1?

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: To be helpful, I wish to explain to Members the position with regard to Part 1. It is a well-worn phrase but there is no getting away from the fact that Brexit will bring real changes for all of us. This legislation is about how we respond to that in a worst-case scenario. I will briefly outline the purpose of Part 1. Section 1 of Part 1 is standard and provides for the Short Title and...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: We will do so but I just wanted to give an explanation of what Part 1 achieves.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee Stage (5 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am sorry to interrupt but the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, is on his way to deal with the amendments related to health which are in Part 2. Obviously the Deputy can speak to his amendment but I just want to make sure that the House gets the respect of individual Ministers dealing with sections relevant to their Departments.