Results 13,601-13,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: A process is in place to provide for a review mechanism that will involve the assessment of section 39 organisations to ensure, where appropriate, the State can make the necessary decisions outside the FEMPI legislation which does not apply to section 39 organisations to guarantee continued service provision into the future. Others will be familiar with the case of Marymount Hospice in Cork,...

Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Certainty needs to be brought to the budgeting of many of these essential health care services and potentially services outside the health care sector too. The Government is committed to doing so as quickly as possible.

Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure which part of my response the Deputy had in mind when he said it was "disappointing". Was he referring to what I had said about the case of Molly, disability services generally, the significant increases provided for or the efforts being made to resolve the section 39 issue? The Government has engaged with the trade unions. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, met...

Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Martin for raising this issue in a sensitive manner. I want to personally welcome the apology that was made yesterday by the acting Garda Commissioner to Joanne Hayes and her family. As Tánaiste, I also want to join the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Taoiseach in apologising on behalf of the State. I was thinking yesterday, as I am sure others were, of where...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Engagements between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the forthcoming capital review are at an early stage and therefore it would not be appropriate for me to comment on these negotiations at this time. My Department’s priorities for 2018 include the ongoing implementation of the passport reform process as its online services are further expanded...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department examines all formal complaints made to its Human Resources Unit no matter what category they fall under. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s processes for dealing with bullying, sexual harassment and related complaints are outlined in the 2015 “Dignity at Work” policy – an anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: The debate on the future of Europe and what direction our Union should take has been gaining pace in recent months. The European Commission published a White Paper in March 2017 on the issue and followed it up with a series of Reflection Papers on EU finances, harnessing globalisation, defence, the social dimension and completion of economic and monetary union. In the meantime, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I met with the EU’s Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier in advance of the General Affairs Council (Article 50) in Brussels on 12 December and took the opportunity to thank him and his team for their excellent work in securing a positive outcome for Ireland and for the EU27 as a whole during phase 1 of the EU-UK negotiations, as reflected in the joint progress report of 8 December. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the incidents to which the Deputy refers. The climate of violence and intimidation which exists for social leaders and human rights activists in marginalised rural areas of Colombia like Urabá continues to be a matter of great concern to the Government. I wish to express my sincere sympathies and condolences to the families of the victims and to the communities...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department is responsible for two votes - Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade) and Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and administers a number of funding schemes including under Ireland's official overseas development programme, Irish Aid. My Department has no particular scheme to fund programmes or projects seeking either the repeal of the eighth amendment or its retention. It is not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Communications (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: A number of messages I receive at my personal email address make reference to Brexit in some sense. However, the last substantive email on Brexit I have identified which was sent to or from my personal account involved late drafting changes to a Brexit speech delivered in Cambridge on 9 September 2017. This speech was later publicly made available on my Department's website.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: As outlined in the Department’s previous parliamentary question on this matter, all passport applications are subject to the provision of the Passports Act, 2008 which provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him or her. Each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Properties (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not own or control any vacant property or land. Any properties or land occupied by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the State are rented and discharged by the Office of Public Works.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 142 and 162 together. The overall human rights situation in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including the treatment of children in detention, remains a matter of concern. Ireland has repeatedly drawn attention to concerns regarding the treatment of Palestinian prisoners. We have paid particular attention over recent years to issues...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 143 and 145 together. Last week I undertook a four-day working visit to the Middle East, where I met with my counterparts as well as a range of other contacts in Cairo, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Ramallah and Gaza. In Cairo, I discussed with Foreign Minister Shoukry issues including our bilateral relationship, enhancing our trade, human rights, the Middle...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Parliament Elections (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Neither my Department nor I have received correspondence from Mr Tusk or his offices regarding possible changes to the European constituencies before the 2019 European Parliament elections. Changes to the European Parliament constituencies would require consideration by my colleague, the Minister for Housing Planning and Local Government, from the perspective of electoral administration and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Jan 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. However, devolved power-sharing government can only operate on the basis of an agreement reached between the two largest parties, while the other parties represented in the Assembly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is seeking election to a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in June 2020 for the 2021-2022 term. Ireland’s candidacy was announced in 2005. The UN provides the foundation of an orderly, rules-based international system, which is essential for a small and globally trading country like Ireland. We have a responsibility to participate to the fullest extent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: On 7 December 2018, the European Commission announced that it was referring Hungary to the Court of Justice of the European Union in relation to three ongoing infringement proceedings. The first, also involving Poland and the Czech Republic, relates to the mandatory relocation issue and the failure to take refugees in accordance with the September 2015 Justice and Home Affairs Council...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (16 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Dialogue has been ongoing between the European Commission and Poland regarding the Rule of Law since January 2016. The Commission on 20 December 2017 adopted three complementary measures (i) a proposal to the Council under Art. 7(1) TEU on the risk of a serious breach by a Member State of EU values (ii) a 4th rule of law recommendation identifying concrete actions Poland should take...