Results 13,761-13,780 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Catalan Referendum (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware that judicial proceedings are underway and as these are matters before the Courts, it would not be appropriate for me to comment. We are all concerned about the crisis in Catalonia. The resolution of the crisis needs to be within Spain's constitutional framework and through Spain's democratic institutions. It is for all Spaniards – all Catalans and all Spaniards – to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 59 together. I am aware of the situation to which the Deputies refer, namely the violence which occurred during protests following general elections in Honduras, which took place on 26 November. I condemn unreservedly any acts of intimidation or violence perpetrated against those seeking to peacefully demonstrate or defend their rights. In particular,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Arms Trade (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the petition referenced by the Deputy, which was presented to the Taoiseach in October and has since been brought to my attention. I am pleased to inform the House that Ireland does not have an arms industry and is not therefore an exporter of weapons to any country, other than a small amount of sporting guns. National legislation imposes a licensing requirement in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Prison Accommodation Standards (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: Conditions in the prison form part of my regular discussions with political interlocutors in Northern Ireland, including the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland who has certain responsibilities around the separated regime at the prison. Deputies will be aware of my ongoing concerns about conditions in Maghaberry Prison. My officials at the Belfast Secretariat maintain regular contact...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government has for many years consistently supported the objective of Palestinian reconciliation, and worked at EU level to ensure that the EU also recognised the importance and potential of this process. The EU has consistently endorsed reconciliation in successive Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions on the conflict. Differences and sometimes outright conflict between the disparate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 56 together. Sanctions are a tool which the international community may use to put political pressure on those who commit violence against their own people. In the case of Syria, the EU sanctions include an oil embargo, restrictions on investments, a freeze of Syrian Central Bank assets and export restrictions on equipment and technology that might be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The remarkable solidarity of our EU partners regarding the unique challenges facing the island of Ireland has been strong and consistent throughout the first phase of the EU-UK exit negotiations. I am very pleased with the progress so far in the negotiations and we reached a key moment last Friday when we achieved the goals we set out to achieve in phase one. This includes maintenance of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 54, 60 and 61 together. In relation to the announcement by the United States in relation to Jerusalem, I refer Deputies to my earlier reply to Priority Question no 28. I was in direct contact with the US authorities to express my concerns before this decision was taken, and I issued a public statement of the Government’s response and views...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: Between 1 January and December 7 this year, the Passport Service received 781,716 passport applications, which represents a 12.4% increase over the same period last year. There are currently 29,652 applications in progress. These are applications that are going through the normal checking process rather than a backlog. While the volume of applications in progress remains high, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Sanctions (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: Restrictive measures, also referred to as ‘sanctions’, are legally binding measures which may be taken against individuals, entities or countries. Such measures can cover a variety of elements including financial services (e.g. asset freezes), immigration (visa and travel bans) and trade (e.g. export restrictions). The objective in adopting sanctions is to bring about a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the importance of engaging with civic groups in Northern Ireland in the context of the ongoing EU – UK exit negotiations. I maintain regular engagement on behalf of the Government with civic society across all communities and regions in Northern Ireland. The Taoiseach and other Government Ministers also visit Northern Ireland on a regular basis. I have most...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government has been clear in its view that we do not want the United Kingdom to leave the EU, but ultimately that is a decision for the people of the United Kingdom and we respect the democratic outcome of the referendum in June of last year. However, Ireland maintains a strong and constructive bilateral relationship with the United Kingdom and we are committed to developing and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (13 Dec 2017)

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: Brexit Issues (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government’s focus in relation to Northern Ireland in the context of the EU-UK exit negotiations is the substantive outcome on each of the key issues, rather than on the label ascribed to the overall package. Our priority has always been to ensure that the gains of the peace process and the achievements of the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts, including avoiding a hard...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I acknowledge at the outset those across the House who work on a cross-party basis with the Government on this issue and the tireless efforts of Justice for the Forgotten. Dealing with long-outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland are of the utmost importance to the Government. The Programme for a Partnership Government highlights this priority, with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Documents (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The agreement reached last Friday between the EU task force and the UK Government contains a commitment from the UK to protect North South co-operation, as well as its guarantee of avoiding a hard border. In the event that it is not possible to resolve the border issue as part of a wider EU-UK future relationship agreement, which has always been the Irish Government’s preference, or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government is determined to ensure that the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts is fully protected and respected in the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the EU and this has been a headline priority since the UK referendum result. As co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, the Government has a solemn responsibility to protect the Agreement in all its parts and the gains of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I currently have no plans to meet with NATO’s Secretary General, Mr. Jens Stoltenberg.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I continue to have deep concerns about the violence and human rights abuses in Rakhine State and I have condemned the excessive actions of the Myanmar security forces on numerous occasions since 25 August. Ireland has consistently expressed our concern at EU level and with our international partners. A devastating humanitarian crisis has developed as a result of these actions in Rakhine...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications Data (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: Tracking of passport applications is in general carried out against channel of application rather than by other metrics, including country of origin.Bearing this in mind, the following general breakdown of applications will give the available detail on the volume of overseas applications received to date this year. From 1 January 2017 to date, the Passport Service has received 585,798...