Results 12,861-12,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Goods that have been imported into Ireland that are linked with military equipment are not being used against Palestinians. They are being used by Irish peacekeepers to protect people in the Middle East, whether it is-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----in southern Lebanon or the Golan Heights.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share the Deputy's concerns on the treatment of Palestinian children and we need to raise those questions directly, without fear or favour. However, I do not accept the Deputy's approach, which is to simply try to shut out Israel. There is a context here that is different from many other parts of the world. Israel's history is very complex. There are genuine security issues and concerns...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: However, that does not excuse inappropriate behaviour and the totally inappropriate treatment of Palestinian children in the occupied territories for which Israel has responsibility. Our approach is different here.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: My approach is through dialogue and politics; the Deputy's approach seems to be through-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----protest and little else.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government has consistently conveyed to the US Administration and congressional leaders the priority which Ireland attaches to immigration reform in the United States, while at all times respecting that US immigration policy is a matter solely for the US authorities to formulate and implement. In encouraging our friends in the US towards immigration reform, we have two key objectives:...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am happy to accept that.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I do not disagree with any of that. The question is what new structures would be helpful in terms of bringing this process forward and is an independent chair part of that. I do not think the two Governments are in any way precious about that. What we want is to try to respond in a way that helps the parties - by that I mean all parties, not only the big two - to come together to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I think different parties have different views; that is the straight answer to the Deputy's question. I think some parties would need some persuasion that introducing an independent chair at this stage would be helpful because I am not sure that it is right now. What the Governments need to do, and what we will be doing, is discussing how the two Governments, working together, can help to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I also welcome the delegation. I had the pleasure of having lunch with the Deputy Prime Minister and his delegation yesterday. The relationship between Ireland and Singapore is growing stronger every year, and I thank him for being here. I am glad the Deputy raised this question. The treatment of Palestinian minors under the Israeli occupation and military justice system has long been...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Passport Applications Administration (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to put some facts on the table, as this is an issue for many Deputies who have contacted my office. Between 1 January and 22 March, the Passport Service received more than 222,000 applications, an increase of 7% on the same period last year, which itself saw an increase on the previous year. The service is currently processing more than 70,000 passport...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Passport Applications Administration (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I refer the Deputy to the additional information contained in my reply. I am more than aware of the problems that we have faced with passports in recent weeks. Passport offices were closed for processing and the machines were turned off for two days because of extreme weather conditions. We could not bring staff in - it was not safe. When the service is processing in or around 70,000...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Passport Applications Administration (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: In an effort to get the process back on track, there was no bank holiday Monday for the staff in the passport offices. They were in working, trying to get the turnaround times back to where we wanted them to be under the target threshold. There is a considerable commitment to making up for the shock to the system that came with the severe weather, which resulted in the passport offices...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 56 and 58 together. That conversation has taken place at various times, including last summer when the all-party talks were in play and later when there was a focus on what were essentially two-party talks that both Governments were trying to facilitate. We have had conversations with the parties at different times about whether an independent chair would...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share Deputy Eamon Ryan's frustration and concern as we approach the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, which was a transformative agreement for many people in Northern Ireland that laid the foundation for a peace process that has taken hold in the past two decades and resulted in the creation of an invisible border on the island of Ireland, a border we are...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share many of the Deputy's concerns. The current impasse in Northern Ireland is very serious. That is why, when the devolved institutions are not functioning, it is important the two Governments work together, build a relationship based on trust and ensure that decisions are made in the best interests of people in Northern Ireland who rely on their sovereign Government, namely, the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The straight answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". I have been open to listening to, discussing and debating with parties in Northern Ireland other than the DUP and Sinn Féin. I will be happy to speak to Green Party representatives in that regard. I speak to the SDLP, the Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionist Party and will continue to do so. We have an obligation to listen to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy says that I mentioned October. I also mentioned June and I think June will be a very important gauge for Ireland with regard to whether this is moving in the direction in which we need it to move. If it clearly is not, then we have some decisions to make with the task force. I believe we will have absolute solidarity in that as we have had at every step of the way so far....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: UN Missions (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The UN relies on its global reputation as a positive force for good in the world in order to be effective. It is horrific to think that those in great need require protection in some cases from their protectors. According to my latest information, no Irish troops have been implicated in this issue. That does not surprise me, having visited many of our troops abroad, and knowing their...