Results 10,741-10,760 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is a different issue and I mentioned that earlier. I take the point in terms of some citizens going beyond where the Government wants to go at this stage. I have heard those debates in Northern Ireland, where nationalism has a new confidence and it wants more radical solutions in some cases. That has to be part of the debate but that is all the more reason we need an Executive and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Very.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Neither the DUP nor the UUP was represented at the all-Ireland dialogue on Brexit. The Alliance Party and the Green Party were represented.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: Impact of Brexit on the Good Friday Agreement: Discussion (Resumed) (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: We have work to do, as has everyone around this table. I am glad that Ms Begley asked about the A5 project in order that I can put the issue firmly to bed. The Government will make money available for the project when it is ready to proceed. We have not pulled funding from it. In many ways, it was a saving that was offered to us because the project would not be ready to draw down funds...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: These are double standards.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Today they are trying to pull down this Parliament, too, at a time when it is doing crucial work in the national interest, both in the area of healthcare reform and 36 days before Brexit. There is only one party in this House that has no confidence and there is a good reason nobody wants to work with it in government.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: As time is short, I will make just two points. The first is that I have worked with Deputy Harris around the Cabinet table for a number of years now. In many ways, he has the most difficult job in government. I have seen him fight for patients and those who need the health service to work. I have seen him deliver at budget time. Ireland is now spending more on healthcare than ever...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is its sixth no-confidence motion in less than three years. Instead of trying to work within the political system to make policy changes and progress and get real things done, Sinn Féin releases its keyboard warriors, placards and billboards with Ministers' faces on them. Let us look at what Sinn Féin is actually doing in a way that is consistent with its accusations. It...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: As a Tánaiste from Cork, I thought it was appropriate to say a few words and, of course, to offer my sympathy to Donal Creed's family, many of whom I know very well. I also wish to honour him today because that is what this is really about. Not many of us in this House can represent constituents for almost a quarter of a century. That is what Donal Creed did in two different...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Okay Sinn Féin or Labour - given the day that is in it, I did not want to give the others too much recognition. There are very few people in politics, particularly those in politics for 24 years, who leave politics with absolute respect and who still do not have anybody speaking badly about them. He was one of those unique figures. In many ways he was from the politics of a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Embassy in South Africa provided financial support for a closing event for a conference on post-conflict reconciliation organised by Stellenbosch University in December 2018. The closing event, at which the Embassy supported the participation of a speaker from Northern Ireland, was planned to honour the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and mark the 20th anniversary of South...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Language (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has been proactive in implementing the three action points assigned to it in the Government's 2018-2022 Action Plan for the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. We have engaged extensively with the Trasna Na dTonnta Twitter campaign (including in the latest round of activities as run over the period 4th-8th February 2019) and supported the Cultúr Club diaspora...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions. Secretary of State...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: All passports applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The 2008 Act provides, among other things, in section 7(1) that I must be satisfied that a person is an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. Irish citizenship is governed by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, which is under the responsibility of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Passport printing and the personalisation of each passport requires highly specialised machinery, auxiliary equipment and a temperature-controlled environment. The Passport Service operates three passport printing machines, two of which are located in our main production facility in Balbriggan, Co. Dublin and one located in the Passport Office in Mount Street, Dublin. All applications...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Fees (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service does not provide a reduced fee to any category of adult applicant for a passport, whether for the renewal of a passport or for a first time application. A reduced fee is applied on applications for passports for minors in recognition of the fact that a minor’s passport is valid for only five years. Most adult passports will be issued for a period of ten years. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: From the beginning of the Brexit process, the Government has been clear about our wish to pursue the closest possible relationship with the UK following its departure from the EU, including on matters related to security. The Political Declaration on the framework for the future relationship agreed in November states that: “The future relationship will provide for comprehensive,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Express service provides an option for citizens to submit their passport application through the network of more than one thousand post offices across the State. All types of Passport Application, both renewal and first time applications, can be made via the Passport Express Service. The Passport Service is committed to continue to offer a range of application channels,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North South Inter-Parliamentary Association (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The operation of the North South Inter-Parliamentary Association is a matter, in this jurisdiction, for the Houses of the Oireachtas. The establishment of a North South parliamentary forum was envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrew's Agreement. Following an agreement by working groups of both the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly on 4 July 2012, the inaugural...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts Data (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a "Nil" response as it does not have any contracts with a value in excess of €10 million. The total capital allocation for my Department across its two Votes – Vote 27: International Co-operation and Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade - is relatively modest compared to most other Government Departments. In the years covered by the...