Results 14,361-14,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: There is no EU Libya migration agreement as such. Rather the EU has proposed a number of ways to help Libya to manage and control the flow of migrants risking their lives, and it continues to seek solutions to prevent further loss of life and to improve conditions on the ground for migrants. The March European Council confirmed the EU’s commitment to assist Libya as set out in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am deeply concerned by the deteriorating situation in Venezuela, and in particular by the recent violent attacks against the democratically elected National Assembly. While there have been long-running demonstrations in Venezuela, the past two months have seen almost daily mass-protests, resulting in dozens of deaths in clashes between security forces and opposition demonstrators. I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Having spent five years as the Minister responsible for fisheries and having chaired the EU Fisheries Council in 2013, I am acutely aware of the effort required at all times to protect the Irish fishing industry. The UK’s exit from the European Union and their recently-announced intention to depart from the 1964 London Convention both represent very significant challenges. As...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Provision (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: My Department has been providing ongoing assistance to the individual at the centre of this long-running and difficult consular case since the time of his arrest. I am very much aware of concerns about this individual’s health, and the Irish Government’s concerns in this regard have been raised with the Philippines authorities on numerous occasions. My predecessor as Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Remuneration (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The remuneration of the staff of my Department is as sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in line with Government policy. It is difficult to estimate the potential cost of introducing an hourly rate of €11.70 for relevant employees of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as those affected by the change include temporary clerical officers. The Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I wish to advise the Deputy that in the time available, it has only proved possible to provide the information requested for the period January 2015 to June 2017. Photography My Department only avails of the services of external photographic agencies where it is warranted, in particular for major events and State occasions. My Department would, for example, have hired an official...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case to which the Deputy refers and my officials in the Belfast Secretariat monitor this and other cases as part of their ongoing work on prison issues generally in Northern Ireland. The person concerned was detained in March 2016 when the release licence granted to him under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement was revoked by the then Secretary of State for Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the case referenced by the Deputy, and am concerned by reports of this person’s arrest. Just yesterday, officials from my Department met with their counterparts from the Embassy of Bahrain in London, where they raised Ireland’s concerns about the situation of the individual in question, as well as the human rights situation in Bahrain more generally. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Immigration Data (11 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The migration crisis has been one of the greatest challenges facing the EU for the last two years. It has been a particular problem for Italy and Greece as the. EU countries where the majority of migrants arrive. The EU has responded to the crisis by adopting a range of measures to deal with this mass movement of people. These have included engaging with countries of origin and transit to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council Meetings (6 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: EU Foreign Affairs ministers discussed EU-Egypt relations with the Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sameh Shoukry, in a meeting in Brussels on 6 March 2017 on the margins of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. My predecessor, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister Charlie Flanagan, attended those meeting and sought and secured a separate one-one-one meeting with his...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (6 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The EU and Egypt will adopt their partnership priorities for 2017-2020 at the next Association Council, which is due to take place later this year. The case of the individual mentioned was not raised by my Department during the negotiations of these partnership priorities. Negotiations of partnership priorities are of a technical nature and I do not believe that to link these...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (6 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has primary responsibility for the regulation of civil aircraft. Civil aircraft are prohibited from carrying weapons or munitions of war through Irish airspace and airports unless an exemption has been obtained in advance from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. In considering requests made by commercial carriers, the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (6 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 129 and 130 together. I share the Deputy’s concerns about the conditions that many migrants are facing in Libya. The EU collectively, as well as member states working alone, have been working hard to try to improve conditions on the ground. The political situation in Libya remains complex. No single government has controlled Libya since the fall of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (5 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has been monitoring the situation in Yemen with concern, in particular in recent months as the humanitarian situation has reached crisis point. I am extremely concerned about allegations of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law during the conflict. Ireland has been consistent in calling for an impartial, international investigation into these reports....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Investigations (5 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the report referenced by the Deputy. My predecessor, Minister Flanagan, directly raised concerns about the conduct of the war in Yemen with the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs, Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on a number of occasions. He also discussed this issue with the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Nizar bin Obaid Madani, when he visited Riyadh in November....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (5 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I began my engagement with all parties in Northern Ireland immediately upon being appointed to the role of Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, making contact by phone. Since 19 June I have represented the Government at the talks process in Belfast to support the formation of an Executive and will continue to do so as necessary in the coming weeks. I have engaged with all the political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: On 2 May, the Government published a comprehensive document on Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This document sets out the approach of the Government to the EU-UK negotiations, which began formally on 19 June, following the successful campaign to have key Irish issues recognised in the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: Ireland is steadfastly committed to the United Nations and the principles and values of the UN Charter. As a strong supporter of the UN, Ireland continues to advocate, through a range of fora, for reform of the UN’s structures and systems to ensure that it is better equipped to respond to the challenges of the twenty-first century. In the context of this wider engagement on UN...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Good Friday Agreement (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: The full implementation of the Good Friday Agreement and subsequent agreements is a priority for my Department and indeed the Government as a whole. In this context, we are of course also guided by the aspiration contained in Article 3 of the Constitution as amended by the people in 1998. The principle of consent and the possibility of change in the constitutional status of Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (4 Jul 2017)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the recent statement by President Trump on certain planned changes to United States policy towards Cuba. The full details will become clearer when new regulations relating to the changes are published. However I note the commitment to maintain diplomatic relations and continue operating the US embassy in Havana. Ireland has consistently made clear that it supports the ending...