Results 13,281-13,300 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: First, I intended to say in response to Deputy Calleary that I, too, would like to extend the condolences of the Government to every US citizen in Ireland and of course to the families mourning this afternoon after the extraordinary tragedy of yesterday where 17, predominantly young, people and children lost their lives in yet another shooting. I hope and expect that the House will join me...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: We have a tradition in this House, particularly between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, of supporting and helping each other, regardless of who is in Government, in the context of protecting the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement and of looking after our responsibility towards people North of the Border. If Deputy Martin has an issue with how we are taking on and performing those...

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Not on this issue I am not. In response to Deputy Pearse Doherty’s questions, we have made it clear to the British Government, in the right and appropriate way, that a move to direct rule is not where we want to be and it is not where the British Government wants to be. It is also not where the DUP wants to be, in my view, even though that is what it effectively requested yesterday....

Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is important to say to the House that we want to complete the repair of the banking system and ensure banks are there to support the wider public interest, which is the whole purpose of a functioning banking system within an economy, as set out in the programme for Government. Dealing with non-performing loans is one of the key priorities of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (15 Feb 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 a new Executive, over many months. Fully functioning, devolved, power-sharing Institutions are the only way forward for Northern Ireland, and are urgently required. Yesterday’s developments in Stormont, in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (14 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”), which provides the legal basis for the policies and practices that are applied by the Passport Service. Section 7 of the Act requires that the Minister be satisfied as to an individual’s identity before issuing an Irish passport to that person and authorises the Minister to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Gender Recognition (14 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department performs a wide range of functions in serving Irish citizens, both at home and abroad. These include front-line consular and passport services to citizens and communities. In relation to transgender, Section 11 of the Passports Act 2008, as amended, provides for the issuing of a passport in a new gender and, if applicable, in a new name to applicants producing a Gender...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (14 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department commenced preparations for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in mid-2016, with the appointment of a Data Protection Officer, who holds a professional qualification in data protection. The Data Protection Officer has overseen and delivered a suite of data protection training across the Department, both at home and abroad. At Headquarters, data protection training...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (14 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: A passport application may be submitted at any stage following the issuing of a gender recognition certificate. It is not necessary for a person to wait until their current passport expires. In such cases, a fully completed passport application form is required, together with the applicant’s current passport, gender recognition certificate and birth certificate as re-issued after...

Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will happily take up the invitation to speak a bit about farming. Live export markets are something that the Minister, Deputy Creed, has done much to facilitate. We are seeing a very active live export market now.

Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: There is a particular problem relating to dairy herds. The Department has encouraged the live export of calves to appropriate markets, but ultimately this would be a commercial operation run by the private sector. A number of proposals have been put on the table that are more than viable propositions.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 105 and 107 together. Future EU-UK customs arrangements will be addressed within the context of discussions on the future relationship between the EU and the UK. It is hoped these can start in the spring, depending on the provision by the UK of greater clarity on its objectives, including in regard to customs. In this regard, the EU has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Documents (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission Taskforce presented the draft legal terms for transitional arrangements to the EU27 Member States on 6 February, in advance of its publication on 7 February. The relevant Council bodies in Brussels are currently finalizing this text. The position paper is fully based on the negotiating directives agreed at the General Affairs Council (Article 50) on 29 January,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Photography - 2016 to date My Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular for major events and State occasions. This is a service which my Department provides so that the media can easily and freely avail of photography where their own staff photographers cannot be fully accommodated. Events such as the visit of Prince...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department makes every effort to promote good practice amongst passport holders when planning to travel abroad. We regularly advise applicants of 3 golden rules: - to check the validity of the passports in advance of booking travel; - to apply at least 6 weeks in advance of their travel plans; and - for eligible adults renewing their passport to consider the Online Passport Renewal Service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cross-Border Co-operation (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government welcomed the decision of the European Council on 15 December 2017 that sufficient progress had been made in phase one of the Article 50 negotiations. In phase one,we secured concrete commitments on the protection of North South Cooperation, the All-Island economy, the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the gains of the peace process. We have also secured clear and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the situation referred to by the Deputy, and I remain very concerned about the human rights situation in Bahrain. Despite repeatedly stating its commitment to improving its human rights record, the Bahraini Government appears to be targeting those who express disagreement with or criticism of the Government. A number of worrying developments suggest an increasingly restrictive...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the situation of the Mapuche community in Argentina and the concerns that have been expressed as to their welfare. I am also aware of the historic and continued challenges faced by indigenous populations in many parts of Latin America. I condemn unreservedly any intimidation, violence, or discrimination perpetrated against indigenous peoples and those seeking to defend...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Dealing with long-outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland is of the utmost importance to the Government. The Programme for a Partnership Government highlights this priority, with specific reference to implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin Monaghan bombings. I acknowledge also those across the House who work on a...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The record of this Government and the previous Government on trying to ensure post offices did not close is an awful lot stronger than that of the Government that preceded them. Post offices are a part of rural infrastructure but we also have to work with An Post on different pressures on the overall post office network system. It is difficult for me to comment on a single case unless I...