Results 13,541-13,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (25 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, supports the achievement of a two-state solution to the Middle East conflict. This support includes political efforts to encourage a resumption of direct negotiations, which are ultimately the only way to achieve peace. It also includes action on the ground on human rights and justice issues affecting Palestinians under occupation, including settlement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Membership (25 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 62 together. Ireland is a strong supporter of the EU’s policy on enlargement. It is a key driver for stability, security and prosperity in the Western Balkans. We believe that aspirant countries must be judged on the principle of ‘own merits’ and that those wishing to join the Union must give the rule of law, justice and fundamental...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (25 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Member States have the primary responsibility for the correct transposition, application and implementation of EU law. This effective application of EU law is essential to ensure that citizens and businesses enjoy the benefits and meet the obligations established by EU law.The European Commission is responsible for ensuring that EU law is complied with. If the European Commission considers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (25 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Article II of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, to which Ireland has acceded, defines genocide as any of the following acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group, as such: a. Killing members of the group; b. Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group; c....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (24 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Based on the additional Guidelines on the Article 50 negotiations adopted by the European Council on 15 December 2017, work during phase 2 of the negotiations will focus on three distinct areas: completing work on the withdrawal issues and on drafting the Withdrawal Agreement; transitional arrangements and; preparatory work for discussions on the future EU-UK relationship.Ireland has clear...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Staff (24 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Managing our response to Brexit has impacted on the work of many staff at Headquarters and a significant number of those overseas. It is important to emphasise that our approach has not been merely to recruit or assign additional staff, but rather also to prioritise Brexit in the work of the entire Department. There is no State Agency under the aegis of my Department.Additional staff have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (24 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: This case is a cause for concern, in particular as the individual appears to have been sentenced on the basis of his religious beliefs.Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, and attaches great importance to combating all forms of discrimination based on religion or belief and incitement to religious hatred. Ireland consistently raises the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (24 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: The situation with regard to the Brexit negotiations has evolved significantly since the publication of the Government’s comprehensive approach last May and the Government’s preparations have adjusted accordingly. Contingency planning at both a domestic and an EU level is focused on three areas: preparing for a no-deal scenario or so-called “disorderly Brexit”;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (24 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government does not support a policy of “Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions”, or BDS, in relation to Israel. I firmly believe that such an approach is counter-productive, and that it will not help to increase ordinary Israelis' understanding of the sound basis for international concern about the impact of occupation.In relation to the decision taken by Israel to exclude members...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (24 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I attended the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting on Monday 22 January. At this meeting EU Foreign Ministers discussed the post-Cotonou framework for relations between the EU and the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries from 2020; developments in Libya; and the Middle East Peace Process. Ministers also held an informal lunch meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (24 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Israel was admitted as a Member State of the UN in 1949, and the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) recognized Israel as part of the Oslo Accords in 1993, which also set out a path towards a two-state solution. There has understandably been a strong reaction among Palestinians and across the region to the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The EU and its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (24 Jan 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, and over 5.5 million have fled to neighboring countries and the wider region. An end to the violence is urgently needed in order to relieve the suffering of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, supports the achievement of a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that meets Israeli and Palestinian security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, ends the occupation that began in 1967, and resolves all permanent status issues in order to end the conflict. This issue has a personal priority for me since I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are closely monitoring developments in Honduras following elections which took place there on 26 November 2017. I condemn unreservedly the loss of life in the aftermath of those elections and express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims. Freedom of expression and assembly are the cornerstones of any functioning...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am conscious of the need to distinguish in our policies, between third countries in general, and territories that are illegally occupied under international law. This issue arises, for instance, in the case of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory or in occupied Syrian Golan. Ireland and the European Union do not recognise these settlements as legal and do not provide assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together. I am aware of the case to which the Deputies refer, which is a cause for concern, in particular as the individual appears to have been sentenced on the basis of his religious beliefs. Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, and attaches great importance to combating all forms of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Permanent Structured Co-operation (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: The decision by Ireland to participate in Permanent Structured Cooperation, approved by the Government on 21 November 2017 and endorsed by the Dail on 7 December 2017, in full accordance with the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, has absolutely no implications for Ireland’s wider international work on disarmament.Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a mechanism...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Status (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the legal status of the person in question is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality, which is responsible for citizenship and immigration matters. I can confirm that the person’s parents have submitted an application for an Irish passport. However that application is on hold, pending the receipt of guidance from the Department of Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts Data (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: No contracts have been awarded by my Department to the company referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: While this would be for the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade to confirm, it appears to be the case that no member of the Joint Committee in October 2013 travelled to Azerbaijan to observe the elections there. I do understand that an Oireachtas member representing Ireland on the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) was part of a monitoring mission organized by...