Results 11,161-11,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (18 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: In the context of the Government’s ongoing efforts to secure a comprehensive immigration solution for Irish citizens in the US, involving both future pathways for legal immigration and relief for the undocumented Irish, a number of potential Irish reciprocal immigration and visa measures have been considered, including a possible scheme for US citizens to retire in Ireland, and a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (18 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The turnaround time for a passport application will depend on the channel through which the application was submitted. The table below summarises the turnaround times for the Passport Service’s main application channels. Turnaround times for individual missions outside Ireland and the UK are omitted as these will vary for each individual mission and are dependent on local postal...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Chair for the opportunity to have a discussion with the committee members. I look forward to their questions and comments. My initial statement will be reasonably lengthy but it will give a good overview of some of the issues with which we have been dealing at the Foreign Affairs Council at the European level as I was asked to do. Obviously, I am in the committee's hands, but...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will respond to the Deputy's questions in reverse order. On the issue of aid, I refer to the new paper. I am slow to call it "aid" because it is really about development and partnership. I speak a lot about the relationship between the EU and Africa, which in my view, in terms of political infrastructure, is totally inadequate. We need a partnership between Africa and Europe in the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are many questions but they are all valid. On the Middle East peace process, which we have spoken a lot about and which I have spoken with Deputy Crowe about, I refer to the positive contributions that Ireland is making. Last week in the UN, Ambassador Byrne Nason did what can only be described as a phenomenal job in ensuring that Ireland was not only relevant but actually pivotal in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Many questions were asked. I have concerns about Bahrain, as I outlined earlier. The truth is there are many things happening in many parts of the world and we cannot focus on all of them at the same time. I gave members a sense of some of the priority areas, countries and challenges we have been trying to deal with at the Foreign Affairs Council at EU level. On the matter of Iran and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I can come back if the committee wants. That is no problem.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I would like to respond to some of Deputy Crowe's questions on Brexit also.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes, but I wish to make a point on the global compact before we move on to Brexit. I spoke to Deputy Crowe briefly as we walked over to the House for the vote. Many people seem to have the wrong impression about the global compact. It is somehow seen as countries wanting an open door policy on migration. It is nothing of the sort. This is about trying to balance rights and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: If we look at what our EU colleagues have done, in the withdrawal agreement we are now talking about protecting peace funding, protecting the common travel area, which essentially gives Ireland special treatment, protecting the peace process in full, no diminution of rights and guarantees against future Border infrastructure. All these matters require facilitation from other EU countries of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Update on Brexit and Matters Considered at Meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council: Discussion (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will take that on board and members should know they can call me on these issues any time. We are constantly looking for ways to build bridges between North and South and building strong and resilient economic development along that mid-Border region should be a big part of that because that was obviously a big focal point for the Troubles in the past.

Centenary of 1918 General Election: Statements (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Divisive as ever.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The examples which the Deputy has provided are why the Minister of Justice and Equality is speaking to senior gardaí to ensure they have the resources and powers they need to be able to act. An Garda Síochána has shown itself to have the capacity to deal with dangerous feuding criminals. It has done that in Limerick successfully, and it will also be able to do it in Drogheda....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I do not have an exact date but I will revert to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department will begin to name them in January.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will ask the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, to revert to the Deputy directly on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: That matter is under review by the Department of Finance, as is the issue of moneylenders. I suspect, therefore, that the Minister of Finance will revert to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are many challenges as a result of Brexit. Without the UK, the EU will be a weaker Union in many ways, economically and politically. It will also be a very different Union, and Ireland will need to forge new strategic alliances, a process which is well under way.

Centenary of 1918 General Election: Statements (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The general election of 1918 was an extraordinary act of self-determination by the people. It is entirely right and appropriate that we in Dáil Éireann take this time, on the eve of the centenary, to remember and reflect on this most significant act in our journey to independence and nationhood. This week, a century ago, the voice of the people was heard as never before - not...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, a recommendation on the use of Spinraza must be made by the rare diseases technology review committee. My understanding is that the committee is unlikely to make a final recommendation on Spinraza until January. While I know that this is not what the families want to hear, I am just giving the Deputy the most accurate information available to me.