Results 13,781-13,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: Ireland is fully engaged in the approaches being developed by the European Union and the United Nations to combat terrorism, in particular, the need for greater international cooperation to address the underlying factors that contribute to terrorist related threats and violence. In the case of the European Union, Foreign Ministers remain focused on implementation of the June 2017 Council...

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

Simon Coveney: Euroscepticism is not new but in recent years it has become stronger and more vocal. In the Rome Declaration of March this year, EU Heads of State and Government pledged ‘to listen and respond to the concerns expressed by our citizens’ and to “address the challenges of a rapidly changing world.” The EU has emerging from a period of crisis and is moving forward...

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

Simon Coveney: The second phase of the Article 50 negotiations will enable discussions to get underway between the EU and the UK on transitional arrangements and on the framework for the future relationship between the EU and the UK. Ireland’s overriding objective is that a future EU-UK agreement should be comprehensive and ambitious and as wide as possible in its scope, while ensuring a level...

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

Simon Coveney: There are four countries in the Western Balkans with candidate status – Albania, the Republic of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia. Kosovo and Bosnia and Herzegovina are potential candidates. The EU, including Ireland, continues to monitor closely the progress of these countries in the implementation of reforms required to align with the acquis communautaire. Ireland places a strong...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government continues to identify with and support the needs of Irish immigrants living in the United States, including undocumented Irish citizens. The Government remains wholly committed to working with the US authorities to resolve the plight of the undocumented Irish, while respecting the right of the United States to set its own immigration policies. The Department of Foreign Affairs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid Provision (13 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: Through the EU, Ireland has long advocated for and supported the development of durable solutions for refugees and internally displaced persons, and in tackling the root causes of displacement. Through our engagement with conflict-affected countries, refugee hosting countries and our EU counterparts, Ireland supports conflict resolution and development in Syria, Iraq and the wider region....

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

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: Ministerial Communications (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 116 together. I propose taking questions 98 and 116 together. I have been in frequent contact with Michel Barnier during this critical phase in the Article 50 negotiations. At the General Affairs Council (Article 50) on 20 November, Mr Barnier provided an update to the EU27 Member States on the state of play with regard to the EU-UK...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Implementation Bodies (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The main forum for advancing North South co-operation is the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC), which was established under Strand Two of the Good Friday Agreement. In the Council, the Government works with the Northern Ireland Executive to advance areas of practical co-operation which are to our mutual benefit, and the Council oversees co-operation in the agreed twelve Areas or...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 106 together. 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 5.5 million have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 108 and 115 together. On 6 December I issued a public statement on the announcement by the US Government about Jerusalem, which was as follows: “Jerusalem is one of the permanent status issues which is to be settled in a final peace agreement in the Middle East. It has been the united position of the international community for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 103 together. It has been the Government’s consistent position that the best possible outcome for Northern Ireland would be for the UK to stay in the Single Market and Customs Union. However, this is ultimately a decision for the UK and, as of now, the UK government’s stated position is that they will leave the Single Market and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Implementation Bodies (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The term “all-island economy” stems from a Comprehensive Study on the All-Island Economy, which was launched by the British-Irish Inter-Governmental Conference in October 2006. This Study set out an ambitious range of strategies and collaborative actions aimed at maximising the competitive advantages of the island of Ireland, developing initiatives designed to boost economic...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: As I have stated previously in this House and elsewhere, the situation between Qatar and its neighbours is a matter of concern. Ireland strongly supports regional cooperation and dialogue, and believes that the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) makes a contribution to the stability of the wider Arab region. First and foremost, the relationship between Qatar and the other Gulf countries is an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The conflict in eastern Ukraine - now in its fourth year - has resulted in over 10,000 deaths, forced 1.7 million people to flee their homes and left an estimated 3.5 million in need of humanitarian assistance. Despite numerous commitments to a ceasefire, the security situation in eastern Ukraine remains fragile. Over recent weeks there has been a steady increase in recorded violations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Election Monitoring (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: Presidential and congressional elections took place in Honduras on 26 November 2017. The Supreme Electoral Tribunal of Honduras has declared that, in the Presidential ballot, the incumbent President Juan Orlando Hernández of the Partido Nacional de Honduras obtained 42.98% of the vote, against 41.38% for Salvador Nasralla, the candidate for the Allianza de Oposición. The third...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Shannon Airport Facilities (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952 gives the Minister for Foreign Affairs primary responsibility for the regulation of activity by foreign military aircraft in Ireland. In this context, permission for foreign military aircraft to land at Irish airports is given only on condition that the aircraft are unarmed, carry no arms, ammunition or explosives and do not engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: I remain extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, as the humanitarian situation has reached crisis point. The war is now in its third year, the political process has stalled, and the fighting is having devastating consequences for civilians, with credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law. Yemen is also facing the world’s fastest-growing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: The issue of regulatory alignment arises both in regard to the wider EU-UK relationship, and in the particular circumstances of Ireland. It is clear that, once the UK exits the EU, the question will arise as to how far the UK, which will not be bound by EU law once it departs and which will not be part of the EU decision making process, will wish over time to exercise its own right to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (12 Dec 2017)

Simon Coveney: While the UK’s decision to leave the EU has serious implications for Ireland, we maintain a strong and constructive bilateral relationship with the UK. We are fully committed to developing and enhancing this relationship over the coming years. In addition, in the context of the UK exit from the European Union, we will work to secure the closest possible positive relationship between...