Results 13,181-13,200 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since the launch of the Article 50 negotiations last year, Ireland has received continued support from our EU partners on addressing the unique challenges for the island of Ireland posed by Brexit. This steadfast support and solidarity has been demonstrated through the adoption of the various EU negotiating positions which have consistently identified the need to address these unique...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Syria continues to be one of utmost concern. The conflict, which is now in its seventh year, has cost an estimated half a million lives. Over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including close to 3 million people trapped in besieged and hard-to-reach areas. Over 6 million people are displaced internally, and a further 5.5 million have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Eastern Partnership Initiative provides a framework for cooperation between the EU and six countries in the EU’s Eastern Neighbourhood, including Ukraine, Georgia and Armenia. The aims of the Eastern Partnership are to promote peace and stability in the region and to enhance economic and political integration between the participating countries and the EU. The model of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The EU’s position on Israel’s occupation of Palestine is clear and known to the Israeli government. In December EU Foreign Ministers had the opportunity to reiterate this during an informal breakfast meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu of Israel before the Foreign Affairs Council.The EU side used the meeting to underline to PM Netanyahu our key concerns about the Middle East...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The recent discovery of gas deposits in the eastern Mediterranean may make a contribution to efforts to enhance Europe’s gas security of supply through diversification of routes and sources. The proposed EastMed pipeline project, which would connect East Mediterranean resources to Greece via Cyprus and Crete, could contribute to the aim of creating a single European market for gas and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers and my officials in the Belfast Secretariat monitor this and other cases as part of their ongoing work on prison issues generally in Northern Ireland. The person concerned was detained in March 2016 when the release licence granted to him under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement was revoked by the then Secretary of State for Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30 and 31 together. A Communications Unit was established within my Department in February 2015 on the initiative of the Secretary General of my Department and with the approval of the Department’s Management Board and of my predecessor as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The purpose of the Unit is to: Provide support to me in my capacity as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government has always been clear that our preference is to resolve the Irish-specific issues through the wider future relationship agreement between the EU and the UK, a view we share with the UK government. We also stand ready to consider proposals from the UK on specific solutions. At the same time, it is necessary to have legal certainty on the backstop as part of the Withdrawal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (8 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government, working with the British Government, has spared no effort in supporting and facilitating talks on the formation of an Executive, over many months. Recent developments in Stormont are of serious concern to all of us who want to see the establishment of a functioning, power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland, and the other...

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank all speakers for their contributions, some of which have been helpful, in particular, Deputy Brendan Howlin's. It was a reminder of the consequences of not having devolved government in Northern Ireland for everyday life in the provision of health care and education and dealing with many other challenges. If a severe weather event was to cause devastation in Northern Ireland, we...

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I accept that is contradictory, but in the British Prime Minister's official speech last Friday which was welcome she did not resile from option C, as they saw it - the backstop or fallback position. I made a commentary on the A and B options which she reiterated. She essentially repeated some of what had been published in a British paper last summer when it was looking at two options - a...

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. With regard to the Good Friday Agreement and the Executive, the way it will be done is through human interaction where people will start to trust each other and agree to compromise. Some of the earlier commentary in interpreting what had happened in the past nine months was not accurate. I have no quarrel with Fianna Fáil on the North. Fianna...

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is what she said.

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is not.

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: We are not at the end of the negotiations.

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should try to be accurate on an issue as important as this.

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is misleading the House-----

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: On an issue such as this-----

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: There have been virtually-----

Northern Ireland: Statements (7 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----no media briefings on talks-----