Results 13,961-13,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Foreign Conflicts (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I hope I am not someone who is prone to exaggeration but Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian crisis right now. It is a catastrophic situation in terms of the inability of essential humanitarian aid supplies to reach people who desperately need them. I have seen the images coming out of Yemen and believe me, I suspect we are not seeing the half of it. We have a political responsibility...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Foreign Conflicts (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: First, the EU is vocal on this issue. It has also rules around the arms trade in terms of what those arms are used for. It is important to say that this is effectively a civil war and no one country is responsible for the misery there. There are two sides to this conflict and depending on who one talks to, blame can be attributed to a number of parties so this will not be solved simply by...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Middle East Issues (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 41 together. We are doing a lot on the Israeli-Palestinian question but simplistic approaches do not necessarily work. Ireland and our EU partners have consistently condemned the relentless expansion of Israeli settlements on Palestinian territory, which is unjust and provocative and undermines the credibility of Israel's commitment to a peaceful...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Middle East Issues (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: That is a fair question. The Government has consistently and repeatedly conveyed these concerns to the Israeli authorities and highlighted them in our interventions at EU, UN and international level. In addition, I have raised these concerns directly with Israeli leaders during my visit to Israel and Palestine in July. Ireland supports efforts to reach a comprehensive peace agreement to...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have discussed legacy issues at length with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, James Brokenshire. I believe the British Government is deeply committed to moving ahead with the legacy framework that was outlined in the Stormont House Agreement. Both Governments will take a unified approach to try to ensure that framework works. I hope the consultation process that must take...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: One thing we can do as a Government to assist in legacy inquests is to allow for evidence that is relevant to inquests in Northern Ireland to be heard in Dublin. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, understands these issues really well, having previously served as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. He is committed to the introduction of the legislation in question,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Foreign Conflicts (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, particularly as the humanitarian crisis continues to deteriorate. The war has entered into its third year, the political process has stalled and the fighting is having devastating consequences for civilians. Yemen is also facing the world's fastest-growing cholera epidemic. EU Foreign Ministers last discussed the situation in...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: We got a very warm reception on Capitol Hill on this issue. We met Paul Ryan, Nancy Pelosi, a series of Congressmen and a number of Senators who have been great friends of Ireland for many years. We have been working with Senator Billy Lawless, who is deeply involved in this issue. We are all looking to try to find ways in which we can progress this issue given the political landscape that...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: We are probably all on the same page. There are Irish people living in the US who are literally living in the shadows. They are much more concerned and feel a lot more vulnerable and exposed than they have in the past. This is a big issue. We are trying to think imaginatively as to how we can progress it with the current Administration but that is not straightforward. We would not have...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: We have skipped a few questions. Is this because the Members are not here?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: That is a shame, particularly the question on Yemen.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I will work with the House. I apologise to Deputy Crowe and I will answer his question now. The Government has consistently emphasised the urgent need to move ahead with the establishment of the legacy framework provided for under the Stormont House Agreement. Victims and survivors of the Troubles continue to wait for delivery of this, having had to wait for far too long already for a...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy would expect, we are looking at our own ideas, as well as asking the British to come forward with theirs. The onus is on the UK as it decided to leave, which has caused all these issues. Whether we like it or not, however, we are all in this together and we need to contribute to finding solutions, which we will do. It is also important that we are clear on the parameters...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: Within the parameters of no regulatory divergence, we will have an open mind in respect of solutions.

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: This is a time-limited negotiation and, at the end of March 2019, Britain leaves so we need to move on to phase 2. Even if we move onto phase 2 in December and start serious negotiations in January, we still only have about nine months to put a new template or framework agreement in place, which is a very short space of time in the context of a negotiation as complex as this one. We have no...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I know there are many people from the Deputy's county who are in a very vulnerable position as a result of this, as there are in mine. The Government remains committed to achieving relief for the undocumented and to facilitating greater pathways for legal migration to the United States. Ireland’s diplomatic representatives in the US are availing of all opportunities to raise the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, I am working closely with colleagues across Government to address the many challenges resulting from Brexit. This co-operation also involves the relevant State agencies. Work at Cabinet level is being prepared through cross-departmental co-ordination structures. All relevant Departments are providing...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: While David Davis said that, he also published a paper during the summer which explored the concept of a customs union partnership to allow Britain, Ireland and the rest of the European Union to remain within the one customs union. While he is saying, consistent with the British Government position, that they are leaving the customs union, the Single Market and the European Union, it does...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: On the general issue of a breakdown, there will come points in any negotiation cycle with which very significant stakes are associated where things are really difficult. This is a really difficult negotiation and we are coming to one of those points in December. Britain wants desperately to move on to phase two, as do many other countries, including Ireland, and as do businesses. We have...

Other Questions: Brexit Issues (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission task force paper on guiding principles for the dialogue on Irish issues reflects our priorities, including the complex issue of the Border. The paper makes it clear that it is the UK's responsibility to propose workable solutions and to take the policy decisions needed to deliver on the shared objective of avoiding a hard border. It is welcome, therefore, that the UK...