Results 14,201-14,220 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I have corresponded with my Chinese counterpart Mr. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, since my appointment as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in June. Similarly, the Taoiseach has corresponded with his counterpart, Premier Li Keqiang. Officials from my Department continue to engage with their counterparts regularly, in both Dublin and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the report referenced by the Deputy, and am extremely concerned about the current situation in Yemen, in particular the humanitarian situation, which in recent months has reached crisis point. The war has entered into its third year, the country is on the brink of famine, the political process has stalled, and fighting is continuing, with increasingly devastating consequences...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I strongly condemn all human rights violations and abuses against refugees and migrants, both in Libya and along the Central Mediterranean Route. I am aware of reports of appalling conditions currently faced by migrants and refugees in Libya. The security situation in Libya is fragile, which exacerbates the situation for migrants on the ground. The government has only partial control of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Issues (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Area C of the West Bank is the area which under the Oslo Accords remained temporarily under Israeli administration, pending a progressive transfer of control to the Palestinian Authority, which was envisaged as taking place within a few years. However, only a small further transfer took place, and for over twenty years now Israel has resisted all suggestions of further transfers. Areas A and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Republic of Cyprus has been a Member State of the European Union since 1 May 2004 and, in the absence of a comprehensive settlement of the Cyprus problem, the application of the laws and regulations of the EU to the northern part of the island is suspended. Regulation (EC) No. 866/2004 sets out the terms under which the relevant provisions of EU law apply to the dividing line in Cyprus,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with special responsibility for Brexit, I am involved in coordinating the whole-of-Government response to the significant challenges that arise for Ireland within the context of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union, including for many of our economic sectors and regions. In this capacity, I am working closely with his colleagues across...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: As the most tangible symbol of the Peace Process, the invisible border on the island of Ireland is essential to the continuing normalisation of relationships. Protecting the gains of the Peace Process is one of the Government’s priorities in the ongoing withdrawal negotiations, including the avoidance of a hard border. The avoidance of a hard border on the island of Ireland is a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 94 together. Since I took up office in June, engagement on Brexit with EU and UK colleagues has been a central element of my work. Engagement with our EU partners has yielded clear results in ensuring that Ireland’s unique issues and concerns have been fully understood by the EU27 and have been reflected in the EU’s negotiating...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 91, 92 and 106 together. On 30 June, the Taoiseach appointed Deputy John Deasy as Government envoy to the US Congress to work on the issue of the undocumented Irish in the United States. Deputy Deasy undertakes his work with the US Congress and Irish immigration centres under my overall direction and that of the Minister of State for the Diaspora and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Since I took up office in June, engagement on Brexit with EU partners has been a central element of my work. This approach, building on the work done by my predecessor, has yielded clear results in ensuring that Ireland’s unique issues and concerns have been fully understood by our EU27 partners and have been reflected in the EU’s negotiating position. As the negotiations enter...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Aid (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am keenly aware of the importance of ensuring that Ireland’s development and humanitarian assistance reaches its intended beneficiaries, making a real difference to the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable people around the world. Ireland provides assistance through its Official Development Assistance (ODA) programme, Irish Aid. To effectively deliver services across a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Since taking up office, engagement on Brexit with EU partners has been a central element of my work. This approach has yielded clear results in ensuring that Ireland’s unique issues and concerns have been fully understood by our EU27 partners and have been reflected in the EU’s negotiating position. Our EU partners are fully aware of and supportive of the importance of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Western Balkans Issues (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: At the European Council in March, the EU reaffirmed its unequivocal support for the European perspective of the Western Balkans and stressed the importance of the countries concerned continuing on the reform path, having good neighbourly relations with each other, and further developing inclusive regional cooperation initiatives. The EU’s commitment to encourage progress was further...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukrainian Conflict (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The EU remains fully committed to assisting Ukraine in delivering its political and economic reform programme and has provided unprecedented levels of support to underpin the Government’s efforts. This support includes loans, budget support, humanitarian aid, technical assistance and trade preferences. In addition, the EU is playing a key role in helping to reform the civilian security...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The EU continues to engage with Armenia and five other countries in the Eastern Europe and the Caucasus region (Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine) through the Eastern Partnership Initiative. At the most recent Eastern Partnership Summit in Riga in May 2015, the EU re-affirmed its determination to pursue closer relations with these six countries but also recognised the need...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government is deeply concerned about the situation in Rakhine State, in particular the violence which has ensued following attacks committed by Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army militants on 25 August. The excessive response by the security forces of Myanmar/Burma following these attacks is deeply troubling. It is critical that violence in Rakhine State be brought to an immediate end. It has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The situation in Syria continues to be a matter of grave concern. About 13.5 million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria including 6.3 million internally displaced people, 1.5 million are living under siege conditions, and a further 5 million Syrian refugees have fled to neighbouring countries and the wider region. Clearly, the situation at present is far from...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am sure that all members of the House joined me on Monday last, 18 September in welcoming the news from Cairo that this young Irish citizen had been acquitted at the conclusion of the trial in which he was a defendant along with almost 500 others. This young man’s name has been cleared and his innocence is confirmed. The Government’s priority now is to support this citizen...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Terrorism (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The issue of how best to respond to the threat posed by terrorism, and particularly by Daesh, has been and remains high on the EU agenda. Foreign Ministers have consistently underlined that ultimately there will be no defeat of Daesh without a political solution to the crisis in Syria. This is reflected particularly in the comprehensive conclusions on a ‘Regional Strategy for Syria and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (21 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Ireland does not provide development or humanitarian aid directly to the Government of Myanmar. Our support is directed to key civil society and other trusted partners in Myanmar with the objective of meeting the needs of some of the poorest and most marginalised communities there, and to help underpin peace, prosperity and the political transition to full democracy. Ireland’s...