Results 13,981-14,000 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach said he was more optimistic that we could move on to phase 2 in December than he was before the October meeting, when, clearly, there was no chance of that happening. Since the Taoiseach's statements, the leaked paper from the task force points to a number of things that Britain does not seem to be accommodating, so we have a problem. The Taoiseach recognises this also and...

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

Simon Coveney: I agree that we need consistency because businesses cannot plan on the basis of weeks or months; they need to plan years ahead. This is why we need a long transition period, in my view. We have been giving very clear messages for the last week, through our party conference and since then. I gave very consistent messages to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and to the Secretary of State for...

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

Simon Coveney: It is important to quote the Secretary of State, Mr. Brokenshire, fully. While he did say what the Deputy has outlined, he also said " ... we have made equally clear we are determined to find bespoke solutions to Northern Ireland's unique circumstances, not least as the only part of the UK to share a land border with an EU member state." There is a recognition from James Brokenshire that...

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

Simon Coveney: I have a written reply to that, which the Deputy will get, but I will answer directly. It is to be hoped we are coming towards the end of the first phase of negotiations but that is not necessarily the case unless the sufficient progress test can be passed. The three issues are citizens' rights, the financial settlement and Irish issues. Within the Irish issues are three core issues. The...

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

Simon Coveney: We want to ensure there is no regulatory divergence in Northern Ireland from the rest of Ireland. We would prefer for that to apply to all of Britain in order that we can continue to function on the island of Ireland, consistent with the Good Friday Agreement, ensuring that North-South co-operation can happen. If the rulebook changes between the two jurisdictions, that becomes much more...

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

Simon Coveney: Yes.

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

Simon Coveney: I hope that is Deputy Cullinane's position now too. If it is, his position has changed somewhat into a more realistic position. The Government's position is that we would like to see Britain as a whole not only stay in the customs union but to stay as an extended part of the Single Market. That would solve many problems for many people and livelihoods. This is a negotiation, however, and...

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

Simon Coveney: I do not want Britain to leave the European Union. I want the island of Ireland to remain in the European Union but we are in a negotiation following Britain deciding through a referendum to leave. We need to ensure that we protect Ireland's vulnerabilities, both North and South, in that context. We are negotiating through a European task force led by Michel Barnier, who understands the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: Is it four minutes for a reply?

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: The doubling of Ireland's global footprint by 2025 began with the recent Government decision to open new embassies in Santiago, Chile; Bogotá, Colombia; Amman in Jordan and Wellington in New Zealand, and new consulates in Vancouver in western Canada and Mumbai in India, on a phased basis from 2018. Our expanding network will enhance Ireland's visibility globally, extend our influence...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Minister of State, Deputy McEntee, was correct. Doubling our international footprint is not just about doubling the number of embassies or consulates, although there will be many more embassies and consulates; it is also about working with other State agencies, including Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Bord Bia and Tourism Ireland. It is about doubling the presence of Ireland...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Diplomatic Representation (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: There is fair comment in what the Deputy says. This ambition was only put in place in August. We then set about preparing for an initial budget to really make clear to people that we are serious about delivering on that ambition. We focused on obvious areas from which Ireland is absent, in which we should develop a presence and where there is real trading and commercial opportunity and, in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I met with the EU’s Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, in Luxembourg in advance of the meeting of the General Affairs Council on 17 October. This was our third meeting since my appointment. It was a constructive meeting at which we discussed the progress of negotiations to date. I welcomed the progress that has been made in the areas of citizens’ rights and the Irish-specific...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I visited Ethiopia and Kenya from the 6th to the 8th of November. In Ethiopia, I met with Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu and discussed the current political and humanitarian situation in the country and the wider region, reaffirmed Ireland’s continued partnership with Ethiopia, and explored opportunities for trade and investment. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: On 18 January 2012, the Council adopted a package of measures aimed at addressing the continued brutal repression and violation of human rights by the Government of Syria. The measures currently in place against Syria include an oil embargo, restrictions on certain investments, a freeze of the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU and export restrictions on equipment and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government is concerned at the possible adverse impact on jobs at Bombardier Belfast and on the wider economy in Northern Ireland of the ongoing US Administration anti-dumping and anti-subsidies investigation regarding the development of Bombardier’s C-Series aircraft. I have raised the Government’s concerns directly with the US Secretary of Commerce, Wilbur Ross. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Catalan Referendum (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 20 together. We are all concerned about the crisis in Catalonia. Ireland respects the constitutional and territorial integrity of Spain and we do not accept or recognise the Catalan Unilateral Declaration of Independence. Any decision on a question as important as independence requires legitimacy both in the broadest possible political terms and in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 22 and 33 together. I remain deeply concerned by the situation in Yemen, the suffering of civilians there, and the humanitarian crisis which the war has triggered. EU Foreign Ministers discussed the situation in Yemen last April, and called on the parties to start negotiating a peace agreement. Ireland will continue to support the efforts of UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: Planning is underway in my Department to mark the 20th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, on 10 April next year. A number of key events, at home and abroad, are being developed as part of a programme to highlight this important anniversary and to celebrate the achievement of the Agreement, which continues to be the cornerstone of our commitment to peace and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (16 Nov 2017)

Simon Coveney: Maintaining the Common Travel Area is a Government priority in the Brexit negotiations. The Common Travel Area is an important feature of the close relationship Ireland enjoys with the UK, with long-established bilateral benefits which enable activity between Ireland and in the UK in many areas including, for example, in trade and tourism. It means that Irish and British citizens can live,...