Results 11,561-11,580 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: On Focus Ireland's request, of course we want to achieve a limit of no more than six months in emergency accommodation. It is one of the reasons we have expended huge resources on putting family hubs in place as well as the supports in those hubs to help families transition from emergency accommodation, which should and can only be temporary in nature. Many families are being moved through...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I acknowledge that yesterday was a difficult day for many Bord na Móna workers, their families and their communities. Bord na Móna has a responsibility, and is taking steps, to continue to provide good quality and sustainable jobs in the midlands for many years to come. I welcome that Bord na Móna has confirmed it is seeking redundancies on a voluntary basis. It is important...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: As has been repeatedly stated, the Government is fully committed to that longstanding policy of military neutrality, which is characterised by non-participation in military alliances. This commitment was most recently detailed in the White Paper on Defence published in August 2015. This reaffirmed that Ireland’s policy of military neutrality is a core element of Irish foreign policy,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I continue to be deeply concerned about the situation in Nicaragua. The violence, intimidation and arbitrary arrest and detention of those seeking to peacefully protest is wholly unacceptable and I have unreservedly condemned these actions on a number of occasions. The right to freedom of expression and to peaceful demonstration are fundamental to a functioning democracy. I am aware...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The number of full time equivalent staff by grade in my Department as at 30 September 2018 is outlined in the table. Grade Number of Staff Secretary General 1 Second Secretary General 4 Deputy Secretary General 1 Assistant Secretary 23 Counsellor 84 Principal Officer 20 Principal Development Specialist 3.9 Senior Development Specialist 10 Assistant Legal Adviser 8 First Secretary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft Landings (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The regulation of civil aircraft is governed by the Convention on International Civil Aviation (the Chicago Convention). From that Convention and subsequent international treaties, international rights and freedoms of air for civil aircraft, including the right to refuel, are derived. Ireland’s rights and obligations under the Convention have been incorporated into Irish law...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The number of passport applications received in the categories and years requested are outlined below. 2016 2017 2018* Applications received from outside of Ireland 190,905 227,223 191,271*1 January to 30 September All Passport applications must meet the requirements of the Passports Act, 2008 as amended (“the Act”) before they can be processed. In all cases, the Passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Budgets (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 to 80, inclusive, together. The total capital allocation for my Department in 2019 across its two Votes – Vote 27: International Co-operation and Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade – will be €21 million, €17 million of which had been allocated under the National Development Plan 2018-2027. The 2019 allocation will represent an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Minister of State McEntee and I had a bilateral meeting with the French Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau in Luxembourg on Tuesday, 16 October. At the meeting, Minister McEntee and I were briefed by Minister Loiseau on the French Bill on preparedness and contingency planning, which was published on 3 October.I also provided Minister Loiseau with an update on recent Government...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Investigations (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 110 together. The case referred to by the Deputies was discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 15 October. All were in agreement that an investigation into the case is the priority now. Since then Saudi Arabia has confirmed that Mr Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul. We heard further shocking...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of March 2017, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form a new power-sharing Executive.Unfortunately, to date, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the formation of an Executive, despite intensive engagement. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 to 106, inclusive, together. The North South co-operation we enjoy today brings tangible benefits to the daily lives of people in the border region and contributes to economic opportunity and development. It is also a very practical outworking of the peace process which allows for the normalisation of relationships between people across the island, to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: While the UK’s decision to leave the EU has serious implications for Ireland, we maintain a strong and constructive bilateral relationship with the UK government. We are fully committed to developing and enhancing this relationship over the coming years and to working together as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement to support the totality of relationships across these islands....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government engages frequently with the US Administration and US elected representatives, both Republican and Democrat, on all aspects of the US-Ireland relationship and on other issues of mutual concern. The St. Patrick’s Day period in Washington, D.C., provides an excellent opportunity for such substantive engagement, and I can confirm that the Taoiseach met with Senate Majority...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foireann Roinne (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Molaim Ceisteanna Uimh. 111 go 112, cuimsitheach, a fhreagairt le chéile. Cé nach ndéanann mo Roinn inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge a mheas go foirmiúil don chuid is mó de rólanna, ta líon suntasach dár bhfoireann inniúil lena gcuid ghnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Is féidir leis na hoifigigh seo iad féin a chur chun tosaigh...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of March 2017, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form a new power-sharing Executive. Unfortunately, to date, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the formation of an Executive, despite intensive engagement. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am gravely concerned at the ongoing political, economic, social and humanitarian crisis in Venezuela. I am particularly alarmed by the humanitarian needs affecting the country, including severe shortages of food and medicine. Shortages of medicine alone are putting at risk the lives of 3m people with chronic diseases, and the growing number of malaria cases, expected to reach 2m by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to my response to PQ40303 on this issue earlier this month. Then, as now, the Government continues to pursue two key objectives with regard to Irish immigration to the United States; firstly, increased pathways for legal migration by Irish citizens to the US; and secondly, seeking some form of relief for undocumented Irish citizens living in the US. The Taoiseach...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Dialogue has been ongoing between the European Commission and Poland regarding the rule of law since January 2016, when the Commission initiated its rule of law process following changes introduced by the Polish Government to the functioning and composition of Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal. On 20 December 2017, the Commission proposed to the Council to initiate proceedings under...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 184 together. The Government attaches great importance to combatting all forms of discrimination or persecution based on religion or belief, as well as incitement to religious hatred, irrespective of where it occurs or who the victims are. We firmly believe in tolerance, non-discrimination, freedom of expression, freedom of thought, conscience,...