Results 12,921-12,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government has consistently strongly opposed expansion of Israeli settlements, breaches of international law, and human rights violations, and argued for stronger international action on these matters. The specific question of applying a trade ban to exert pressure on Israel over these questions has been raised very frequently in the Oireachtas, and successive Governments and Ministers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Israeli Settlements (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Israel Palestine conflict did not feature on the agenda of the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 March, having been discussed at the January and February meetings. I have corresponded with the Deputy on the question of raising the specific aspect of trade with settlement goods. I have no difficulty with discussing this at European level, but it is a matter of judgement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share the Deputy’s concerns at the reports of the worsening living conditions in the West Bank and Gaza. The reports by UNHCR catalogue a number of human rights concerns that are having a particular effect on children, including settler violence, displacement and forcible transfer, home demolitions and forced evictions, and the arrest and arbitrary detention of children. Many of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of election observers to facilitate, when requested, an appropriate level of Irish participation in international observation missions for elections and constitutional referendums. Irish observers participate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Administration (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service, located in my Department, is one unified service composed of 3 constituent offices located in Mount Street, Dublin; Balbriggan, County Dublin and South Mall, Cork.The distribution of work across the 3 passport offices does not impact on members of the public or in any way or limit the options available to the public in terms of passport application channels. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has responsibility for the operationalisation of a number of actions set out in the National Plan on Business and Human Rights which was launched in November 2017. One of the initial tasks is to establish a Business and Human Rights Implementation Group, to consist of representatives from Government, the business community and civil society....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Secretary General has proposed reforms in the UN’s peace and security architecture, in the UN’s management system and structures, as well as in the UN development system – all with a view to ensuring that the UN is fit for purpose in carrying out its mandate and advancing the achievement globally of the Sustainable Development Goals. Discussions regarding these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: A Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is an integral part of the draft Withdrawal Agreement currently being negotiated between the EU and the UK. It is drafted to give legal effect to the commitments and guarantees provided in the EU-UK Joint Progress report of last December on avoiding a hard border and protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, including North South...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Over the course of many months, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form an Executive. The devolved, power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are the best means for achieving accountable, representative decision-making for all the people of Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Investigations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The EU Ombudsman’s report follows the inquiry she opened last year on the level of public scrutiny of Council legislative work. Her recommendations go to the heart of Council decision making procedures and will require careful consideration, by both the Council of the European Union, to whom the recommendations are addressed, as well as by national Governments. The Ombudsman has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Data (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides consular assistance to any Irish citizen imprisoned overseas who requests our help. Our Embassies and Consulates provide direct assistance in many cases, through consular visits and practical advice and assistance to individual detainees, and our consular assistance team at HQ provides ongoing support and assistance to the families of such...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Following on from extensive briefings by the United Kingdom at senior official level and to EU Foreign Ministers, UK Prime Minister Theresa May addressed the European Council last Thursday. She made a compelling case in support of her government’s assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible for the poisoning of Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Treaties (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The EU’s engagement with NATO is governed by the Lisbon Treaty, including the legally-binding Irish Protocol which expressly states that “The Treaty of Lisbon does not affect or prejudice Ireland’s traditional policy of military neutrality”. EU-NATO cooperation, focused on promoting security and maintaining peace and stability, is developed with full respect for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Over the course of many months, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form an Executive. The devolved, power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are the best means for achieving accountable, representative decision-making for all the people of Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: EU Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Syria at the Foreign Affairs Council on 19 March, following discussions at our informal meeting on 15 February and at the Foreign Affairs Council on 26 February. At the Foreign Affairs Council in February, Ireland added its voice to calls for the immediate and full implementation of the ceasefire demanded by the UN Security Council in resolution...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I travelled to the United States between 20-23 February last, visiting New York and Washington DC, where I engaged in an extensive programme of events which involved UN, Irish community and bilateral elements. My programme at the United Nations was focused around Ireland’s candidacy for election to the UN Security Council in 2020. It included meetings with representatives of the UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is quite clear that Russia’s support for the Assad regime has prolonged the suffering of the Syrian people. Russia has also repeatedly vetoed UN Security Council resolutions on Syria, which has seriously undermined the protection of Syrian civilians. Ireland’s has communicated its concerns directly to the Russian authorities on numerous occasions. In October 2017, I relayed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: A Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland is an integral part of the draft Withdrawal Agreement currently being negotiated between the EU and the UK. It is drafted to give legal effect to the commitments and guarantees provided in the EU-UK Joint Progress report of last December on avoiding a hard border and protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, including North South...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Supports (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Making the case for supporting measures at EU level that recognise where Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy is a key pillar of the Government’s response to Brexit. This was a particular focus of my recent meeting with EU Commissioner, Gunther Oettinger, on 6 March. Commissioner Oettinger also met with the Taoiseach, Minister Donohoe and Minister of State...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: At its meeting on 22-23 March, the European Council adopted Guidelines on the framework of the future EU-UK relationship. These Guidelines restate the Union's determination to have as close as possible a partnership with the UK in the future. However, they also expressly state that the EU’s position has to take into account the repeatedly stated positions of the UK, which limit the...