Results 14,221-14,240 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 279 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Planning is underway in my Department to mark the 20thanniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, on 10thApril next year. A number of events, at home and abroad, are being considered 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 reconciliation....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission Taskforce, led by Chief Negotiator, Michel Barnier, represents the EU27 in the Article 50 negotiations with the UK. The Taskforce is acting on the basis of the mandate approved by the EU27 Member States at the General Affairs Council (Art. 50) on 22 May and in accordance with the EU’s overall approach to the negotiations as agreed in the European Council...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: A passport is an internationally recognised travel document which attests to the identity and nationality of the bearer. The Passport Service does not have any plans to expand the purpose of a passport to indicate a parental relationship between a child and his/her parent(s). Parents are encouraged to complete the emergency contact details page at the back of their child’s passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the issues currently facing passport holders seeking to have their gender changed on their Foreign Birth Registration Certificate. The Gender Recognition Act 2015 amended section 27 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 to permit the setting up of a register for the purpose of the registration of gender recognition of foreign births. The establishment of this...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: Indecon was appointed to this project following a competitive tendering process undertaken by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The report will focus on identifying solutions to disproportionate or unnecessary administrative burdens that negatively affect people wishing to return to Ireland to live. This economic report will complement the work that the Inter-Departmental...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 284 and 292 together. The Government is determined, as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to do everything in our power to ensure all of its institutions are operating effectively, including the devolved Assembly and power-sharing Executive in Northern Ireland. I remain in regular contact with Secretary of State Brokenshire on how both...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the very understandable concerns which exist among members of the Irish community in the U.S. in light of recent developments in the area of immigration under the new U.S. Administration. The changed political landscape in the US has resulted in a renewed focus on the plight of the many millions of undocumented people living in the US, including a significant number of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Good Friday Agreement is the foundation of the peace process and provides the detailed framework for all of the Government’s engagement in relation to Northern Ireland. The full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements is a priority for the Government. Following a referendum in 1998, the Nineteenth Amendment of the Constitution was approved,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Prisoners Abroad (20 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply concerned by the violence taking place in Rakhine State and reports of serious human rights violations. All perpetrators of violence must be brought to justice in line with the rule of law. The Myanmar security forces involved in ongoing operations have a duty to exercise maximum restraint and to protect unarmed civilians. The crisis has led to hundreds of thousands of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 289 and 290 together. The President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker made his annual State of the Union address to the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Wednesday 13 September. In a wide-ranging speech President Juncker touched on multiple issues on the EU agenda including Climate Change, Trade, Industrial Policy, Migration, the Single...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers, that of Mr. Santiago Maldonado who reportedly disappeared on 1 August in Chubut province. I understand that the case was raised with the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances by the Centre for Legal and Social Studies of Buenos Aires, and that the Committee has urged the Argentine government to take swift action to locate Mr....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Organ Removal (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Government follows closely reports of organ harvesting, including renewed allegations of organ harvesting in China. On 6 July this year, officials from my Department met with representatives of the Irish Falun Dafa Association and human rights defenders during which the issue of organ harvesting was discussed. Trafficking of human organs is a deplorable activity which has developed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am very concerned by the difficulties faced by migrant workers in both Qatar and Saudi Arabia, and I strongly deplore any abuses of workers’ rights. Ireland raises human rights issues regularly in the EU context, in bilateral discussions at every suitable opportunity and we participate fully in the Universal Periodic Review mechanism of the Human Rights Council. For example,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Arms Trade (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The unregulated flow of arms has exacerbated regional conflicts, exacted a heavy toll in human suffering, and has deflected resources away from sustainable development. Many of these weapons find their way into the hands of perpetrators through illicit channels, helped by inadequate (or inadequately enforced) laws and weak control mechanisms at national and local levels. The Arms Trade...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Services Card (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of security features within the book and the robust process involved in its issuance. This allows Irish citizens the freedom to visit over 170 countries without applying for a visa. All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”), which provides a legal basis...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: There have been three rounds of negotiations to date, with the most recent round concluding on 31 August. As this is the first phase of negotiations, and in line with the agreed sequencing, the focus has been on the withdrawal issues of citizens’ rights, the financial settlement, other more technical “separation” issues and the issues unique to Ireland. Both the EU and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Good Friday Agreement provided for the establishment of a civic forum to act as a consultative mechanism on social, economic and cultural issues in Northern Ireland. A civic forum was set up in 2000 and met on a number of occasions but was suspended following the collapse of the political institutions in October 2002. Following the restoration of devolved government in 2007, a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (11 Sep 2017)

Simon Coveney: This matter is still under consideration by the Australian Government, which is looking at options for expanding the upper age of eligibility for its Working Holiday Visa Programme from 30 to 35 years, including timeframes, legislative requirements and engagement with partner countries. As there has yet been no change yet to the age of eligibility, it would be premature for me to comment...