Results 12,621-12,640 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: All construction work in Gaza is severely hampered by Israeli restrictions on types and quantities of materials that are allowed into the Strip. This includes reconstruction of war damaged buildings, including large numbers of houses, and construction of essential infrastructure, such as badly needed water, sewage and electricity utilities. Even those projects which are approved are subject...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Western Balkans Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The European Union continues to work closely with the countries of the Western Balkans to encourage progress on their European path. The stability of the Western Balkans is important for the security of the EU and the region is a priority for the Bulgarian Presidency. A Strategy for the Western Balkans was published in February, and the Taoiseach will attend an EU-Western Balkans Summit in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Good Friday Agreement is the indispensable framework for providing stable, inclusive, power-sharing government for all the people of Northern Ireland and for sustaining our interlocking relationships – within Northern Ireland, on the island of Ireland and between the UK and Ireland. Over the course of many months, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Following on from the March European Council, the EU and UK agreed to five additional formal rounds of negotiations between April and the next European Council in June. These negotiations are focused on all outstanding issues in the draft Withdrawal Agreement, including the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, as well as the future relationship. The UK has agreed that a backstop...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Considerable ongoing efforts are being made by Ireland and our EU partners to resolve, and where possible prevent, conflicts using all the available instruments to foster constructive dialogue and to encourage peaceful, negotiated solutions to political differences. There is no general agreement however on the situations which give rise to the greatest concern globally. Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Engagement on Brexit with EU partners is a central element of my work. This approach has yielded clear results in ensuring that Ireland’s unique issues and concerns have been fully understood by our EU27 partners and have been reflected in the EU’s negotiating position. As the negotiations enter an important phase over the coming weeks and months, continuing such engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Euroscepticism is not new but in recent years it has become more vocal. In the Rome Declaration of March last year, EU Heads of State and Government pledged ‘to listen and respond to the concerns expressed by our citizens’ and to “address the challenges of a rapidly changing world.” Having gone through a series of crises in recent years, including the Eurozone...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (10 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I had a useful bilateral meeting with my Polish counterpart, Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz, in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 19thMarch last. We discussed a number of issues including bilateral relations and Brexit. I continue to have regular engagements with my Foreign Ministerial colleagues from other EU Member States including at the monthly Foreign Affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (10 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since joining the United Nations in 1955, Ireland has been strongly committed to the values and principles of the UN Charter. As a steadfast supporter of the UN, Ireland continues to advocate, through a range of fora, for reform of the UN’s structures and systems to best equip the organisation to respond to the many and interlinked global challenges of the twenty first century....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (10 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The determination of visa requirements is primarily a matter for the Minister for Justice and Equality. I understand however that the existence of a visa requirement is dependent on the citizenship and travel document held by the traveller, and not on their home address.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (10 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The EU’s Chief Negotiator for the Article 50 negotiations, Michel Barnier, attended the All-Island Civic Dialogue in Dundalk on 30 April. Mr Barnier’s visit was yet another demonstration of the EU’s continued steadfast support for Ireland and commitment to addressing our specific concerns in the Brexit negotiations. Mr Barnier delivered the keynote address to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (10 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: In November 2017, I welcomed UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Boris Johnson MP, for his first visit to Ireland since being appointed to the position. A number of areas of mutual foreign policy interest were discussed, including the Middle East and Africa, in addition to the strong British-Irish bilateral relationship and how this relationship can be strengthened in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Data (10 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by my Department. Contingency planning for a no-deal or worst-case outcome, bringing together the detailed work being undertaken by individual Ministers and their Departments on issues within their policy remit, is now well advanced. Its focus is on...

Topical Issue Debate: Middle East Issues (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: First, the Deputy asked what these people can do. I can understand protests but there is some evidence to suggest that not all of the protest has been peaceful. There is an obligation on both sides to ensure that, by and large, teenagers are not whipped up and put in harm's way by getting involved in violent conflict. That does not excuse for one minute the fact that 47 people have been...

Topical Issue Debate: Middle East Issues (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Quite frankly, I do not know whether it would be helpful right now but I am happy to talk to the Deputy about that. My only objective is to find a way to move forward a negotiated peace process that can provide medium to long-term solutions for people in Gaza in order that they can see some hope for the future. That could mean removing a blockade, trying to improve living conditions or...

Topical Issue Debate: Middle East Issues (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue - not for the first time - and I am happy to be here to respond because it is one about which I am also greatly concerned. I have been particularly concerned in recent weeks due to the appalling number of serious injuries and deaths among people engaged in demonstrations. To date, 47 Palestinians are reported to have been killed and 1,500 injured....

Topical Issue Debate: Middle East Issues (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes it is.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Irish citizens who are visiting Washington, D.C., and who would like to visit the White House should of Ireland in Washington, D.C., at least 21 days before the date of their arrival, supplying their full names (as they appear on their passports) and country of citizenship for each person requesting a tour. The maximum number of visitors that can be accommodated in a visit application is 5....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government has consistently affirmed our unwavering commitment to the Good Friday Agreement and determination, as co-guarantor of the Agreement, to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions. To this end, over the course of many months, we have been working tirelessly in partnership with the British Government to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Capital Expenditure Programme (9 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 to 88, inclusive, together. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a capital allocation in the 2018 Revised Estimates of €13 million across its two Votes (Vote 27 - International Co-operation and Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade). Under the National Development Plan 2018 - 2027, the Department will have capital allocations, across its two...