Results 10,661-10,680 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: As part of Ireland’s foreign policy we are working to alleviate instances of war, starvation, ethnic cleansing and human rights abuses, and to enhance international peace and security. We do this in direct contact with other countries or multilaterally through our involvement in global and regional organisations, including the EU and the UN. Together with our EU and UN partners,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Yemen is currently the world's worst humanitarian situation, with the UN warning that the severity of need on the ground is deepening. Nearly four years of conflict and catastrophic economic decline are driving the country to the brink of famine. Approximately 14.3 million people are now classified as being in acute need of humanitarian aid, with around 3.2 million people requiring treatment...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Serious natural disasters that have affected Haiti over the past number of years have had a devastating impact on the country and have led to widespread need among the population. While recovery efforts to the 2010 earthquake have continued, subsequent natural events, such as Hurricane Matthew in 2016, as well as political and economic factors, have contributed to a continuing difficult...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 to 58, inclusive, together.   The last number of years have been marked by a period of reflection and debate on the future direction of the European Union. This has included addressing challenges including populism and racism. The 'Leaders' Agenda', endorsed by the European Council in 2017, is a work programme that seeks...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: All EU Member State are bound by the acquis communautaire under the Treaties. The EU has opened formal negotiations with two countries in the Western Balkans: Montenegro and Serbia. Both of these countries opened new negotiating chapters at their respective Accession Conferences in Brussels in December 2018. Montenegro now has 32 of 35 opened chapters, while, for Serbia, that number is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The recruitment and use of child soldiers during conflict remains a serious problem globally. Tens of thousands of children are recruited and used as soldiers in conflicts around the world. Since 2002, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has issued an annual report on children and armed conflict which lists all armed groups – both state and non-state – that recruit and...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is no longer necessary.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is not how the EU works.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Order for Second Stage (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." Last Friday, when the Government published this no-deal Brexit legislation, I remarked that, as an Oireachtas Member for 21 years, I found myself having the curious feeling of hoping this was one law which would do no more than sit on the shelf. People knew what I meant. It is in part an expression of the overall sense of sadness...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government published the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019 on 22 February 2019, in line with the schedule announced in January. It is made up of 15 Parts relating to matters within the remits of 9 Ministers. Prior to its publication, Cabinet met on 3, 15, 22 and 29 January to discuss the provisions of the proposed Bill. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Anti-Racism Measures (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 101 and 102 together. Ireland strongly condemns all manifestations of racism, xenophobia, and related intolerance, including anti-Semitism. We attach great importance to combating all forms of persecution and discrimination based on race, religion or belief, and incitement to racism and religious hatred. Ireland is strongly committed to the promotion and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The UK is leaving the EU and some things are going to change. However, British citizens in Ireland are not required to take any action to protect their status and rights associated with the Common Travel Area (CTA), a long-standing arrangement between the UK and Ireland which means British citizens can move freely to live, work, and study in Ireland on the same basis as Irish citizens and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has primary responsibility for the regulation of civil aircraft. Civil aircraft are prohibited from carrying weapons or munitions of war through Irish airspace and airports unless an exemption has been obtained in advance from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. In considering requests made by commercial carriers, the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The promotion and protection of human rights internationally is a foreign policy priority for Ireland, as set out in The Global Island, Ireland's Foreign Policy document. Multilateral engagement, both in a national capacity and through the EU, is fundamental for adhering to this objective. Ireland works closely with our EU and UN partners in the multilateral fora to monitor compliance with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is committed to promoting freedom of thought, conscience and religion or belief, as well as the rights of persons belonging to minorities. We strongly condemn all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where it occurs or who the victims are. We attach great importance to combating discrimination based on religion or belief, and incitement to religious...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I met with Michel Barnier on 18 February, in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. We discussed the state of play with regard to the Article 50 process and reviewed political developments in London. We also discussed ongoing contacts between the EU and UK teams on foot of the meeting between Prime Minister May and President Juncker on 4 February when it was agreed that their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Due to the nature of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, a significant number of staff are expected to attend conferences relating to their roles and responsibilities. Staff must consult with and receive approval from line managers for attendance at conferences. Approval of payment of fees for conferences is in accordance with standard departmental limits for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has engaged in advertising and/or sponsorship, in some cases co-sponsorship, for a number of conferences held in 2017, 2018 and 2019 to date. The detail is set out in the tables below. Year Conference Aggregate Amount Notes 2017 Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum €4,000 Promotion and marketing costs. The Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum is an annual trade...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (26 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: In 2017 one staff member from my Department attended the summit referenced at a cost of €465. No staff members attended in 2018 and my Department did not advertise or provide sponsorship to the summit in either 2017 or 2018.