Results 11,201-11,220 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Perhaps if I could say that next week-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Next week we will publish a document on contingency. We will bring it to the stakeholders group, which is meeting on Thursday and we will publish it after that meeting. I will happily provide briefings in advance of that stakeholders meeting for political parties, if they want that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The extension of the confidence and supply arrangement points to the difference between the approach of Deputy Doherty's party to politics and the approach taken by my party and the main Opposition party, which recognise that the State is vulnerable right now. We do not know what decisions will be made in Westminster in the coming weeks, but we have recognised that the challenge we may face...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----and that is already catered for. The Deputy may smile but the only contribution that Sinn Féin is making, for example to the discussion on Brexit right now, is to call for a border poll to make tensions even more acute in Northern Ireland than they already are. This Sinn Féin contribution is supposed to be constructive towards the national challenge we face right across the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: We have spent a lot of time talking about housing in the context of the confidence and supply talks.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: We have a five year housing plan in train and we are meeting targets. We are delivering on output, which is the core problem. Supply is the problem in the rental market, in the house purchase market and in social and affordable housing. In all those areas we are taking forward our plans and we are delivering increases of supply across every sector. This is as it should be. We should be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Things are changing but I know they need to continue to change quickly. There are far too many families in emergency accommodation. There are far too many children in emergency accommodation, some of which is not as good as it should be in the context of hotel rooms, this year. I recognise this as a former housing Minister and as a Tánaiste. We are working night and day to change...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue because we will be returning to it repeatedly in the coming weeks and months. First, a European Council meeting is taking place today and tomorrow in which there will be a genuine effort by EU leaders and institutions to respond to the request of the British Prime Minister for more reassurance and clarity regarding the backstop, which has been the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes. This is part of a process of preparation that the Government, other member states and the European Commission are undertaking, as well as the preparation we are putting in place domestically. I will be happy to come back to that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am surprised at the Deputy's response. It clearly shows he does not know what he is talking about.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The point of sectoral seminars is that, as we have said on many occasions, we are working together with the European Commission, which has published 70 papers on behalf of all member states of the European Union. The member states are working together in areas of EU competence linked to Brexit. That is how this works. With regard to the areas where we must put domestic preparation in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Brexit is a priority issue for this Government, and the Taoiseach, my cabinet colleagues and I have taken every opportunity to engage with EU partners and the UK to advance Ireland’s priorities. On 10 December, I met with Jeremy Hunt, in Brussels, in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council, prior to Prime Minister May’s decision to postpone the meaningful vote on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Data (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Between January 1 and November 29 this year the Passport Service issued 745,345 passports. Of these, 171,377 were issued to first time applicants and 573,968 were issued to renewal applicants. 458,908 passports were issued to adults and 286,437 passports were issued to children. The Online Passport Renewal Service was launched on 30 March 2017. From January 1 to November 29 this year 193,724...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Comprehensive progress on legacy issues from the Troubles is crucial in order to meet the legitimate needs and expectations of victims and survivors, and to contribute to broader societal reconciliation as an integral part of the Peace Process. The Government will continue to engage in support of that, consistent with our role and responsibilities as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: On 10 December, the UK Government decided to defer the meaningful vote in the House of Commons on the Withdrawal Agreement. The European Council will discuss Brexit developments at its meeting on 13 December, taking account of an update from Prime Minister May. The Government’s position on the backstop remains unchanged. Throughout the negotiations it has been a priority to protect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I attended the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on Monday 10 December. EU Foreign Ministers discussed Western Balkans, EU-African Union cooperation, Iran, Ukraine and Venezuela. Ministers exchanged views on the Western Balkans and took stock of progress in the past year and expectations for the region in 2019.We discussed EU-African Union cooperation, ahead of the inaugural AU-EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Status (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The case referred to by the Deputy is a matter under the responsibility of the Minister for Justice and Equality. I am able to comment only in relation to the broader question of how eligibility to hold an Irish passport is established. All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”), as amended. Under the Act, before a passport...

Death of former Members: Expressions of Sympathy (12 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: It was split 50-50.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is always somebody else's job.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Parliamentary Questions Data (12 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not have a specific section to deal with Parliamentary Questions. Replies are prepared in the first instance by Departmental staff in the business unit dealing with the matter which is the subject of each individual question. From time to time, one of my advisers may input into a reply to specific questions. Questions are not referred to external bodies such as public...