Results 141-160 of 450 for going forward speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: UN Security Council (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: ...Council, the General Assembly, or other arms such as the Human Rights Council or elsewhere, Ireland will continue to raise the issue of the Middle East peace process and the need to find a way forward that is fair to both sides. This will be done with a view to trying to achieve a two-state solution whereby two viable states can live side by side in peace. We are a long way from that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (28 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: On 20 May, the UK Government published a Command Paper setting out its approach to implementing the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland. The European Commission has already set out clearly and in detail the requirements for implementation of the Protocol, in its Technical Note published on 30 April. The UK Command Paper is an outline of the approach the UK Government is taking in respect...

Estimates for Public Services 2020 (Resumed) (9 Jul 2020)

Simon Coveney: ...earlier and I did not get a chance to get back to him. Deputy Harkin and others also mentioned the commitment to 0.7% of GNI and how we can get there. As the Deputy knows, the programme for Government includes a commitment to getting to 0.7% by 2030. We have also committed to ensuring that we do not allow the actual spend to fall below 2019 levels of expenditure at any point between...

Covid-19 (Foreign Affairs and Trade): Statements (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Coveney: As already stated, the Government will discuss the matter on Friday. I am not going to predetermine the outcome of that discussion. The view of the Government on digital taxation within the EU without getting an agreement on an approach to digital taxation globally is that it would be a mistake. We will consider any proposals that come forward with an open mind and try to be constructive....

Covid-19 (Foreign Affairs and Trade): Statements (3 Jun 2020)

Simon Coveney: I do not think we are going to get a breakthrough on this by mid summer, which was the hope, at the end of this month. I do not think there will be a request for an extension of the transition period. As has previously been the case in Brexit negotiations, when decisions and leaps forward were made, we arrived at hugely pressurised crisis points and negotiators found a way through. It...

An Bille Sláinte (Caomhnú agus Cosaint agus Bearta Éigeandála Eile Ar Mhaithe Le Leas an Phobail), 2020: An Dara Céim - Health (Preservation and Protection and other Emergency Measures in the Public Interest) Bill 2020: Second Stage (19 Mar 2020)

Simon Coveney: ...extent possible to provide the required supports, particularly to vulnerable communities, including elderly people, those with disabilities and weak immune systems and others in similar categories. What we are doing today is not normal. We are asking people to facilitate the passage of legislation that is not getting the scrutiny it normally would, in a Chamber that does not have the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Preparations (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...Irish interests across all relevant sectors in a post-Brexit context.  Beyond London, the continued development of our relationships with the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales will be ever more important as the UK moves forward with EU withdrawal. In Scotland, the Consulate in Edinburgh is active in promoting and protecting Irish interests, including taking a leading...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Migration Crisis (18 Dec 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...and Asylum”. We have consistently called for all EU member states to play their part in burden-sharing and helping to relieve pressure on frontline Member States. The issue of migration will not go away. Over 1200 people have died trying to cross the Mediterranean this year. The EU must intensify its efforts to advance work in this area, particularly in relation to reform of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Good Friday Agreement (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...legacy of the past in Northern Ireland. I do not think that would be helpful; in fact I think it would be very unhelpful in terms of efforts to move a legacy process and a reconciliation process forward in Northern Ireland. We have an agreed approach. It is called the Stormont House Agreement. It is quite detailed and it took a lot of time to put together. There is a commitment to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (12 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...and survivors and support closure and reconciliation for those communities most affected by the Troubles. Following the UK general election, it is essential that there be a definitive step forward by the UK Government to get this legacy framework that was agreed in 2014 established in legislation, and up and running for victims and survivors, without any further delay. The Stormont...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: If there is clarity on that in the Minister's office, I will forward it to the Deputy but if we are going to pass legislation, we must make sure resources are available to deliver it, otherwise, something will be passed that cannot be delivered, which does not make sense. If we introduce legislation to protect patients and ensure that targets are met, we must also make sure the resources are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (8 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: My officials and I remain in on-going contact with representatives from other EU Member States and the European Commission on a range of EU issues including Brexit. It is clear from these engagements that our EU partners remain strongly committed to ensuring a fully operational solution in the Withdrawal Agreement that avoids a hard border on the island of Ireland and protects the all-island...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (3 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am conscious there are other members here as well but the Deputy has asked many good questions. I know he has to leave shortly to return to the House, so I will try to give him some answers. On the proposals that have come from the British Government in the past 24 hours, the Deputy asked if I believed this is a serious effort to get a deal. I believe it is a serious effort. If he is...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (3 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...population growth in its neighbourhood. People in the Middle East and particularly on the continent of Africa have the ability to move around and want the kind of lifestyle the EU provides. It is going to be difficult to contend with this challenge. Deals will continue to be done between the EU and Turkey. In some ways, this is far from ideal but it is a pragmatic response as we try to...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Foreign Affairs Council: Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (3 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...December 2017 agreement. I quote it all the time to people. We worked really hard to get it agreed. I think the then Prime Minister, Ms May, understood the complexity of trying to protect the Good Friday Agreement and relationships on the island of Ireland at the same time as delivering Brexit and, because of that, gave that commitment and the commitment in paragraph 50, the next...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (1 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...developments in the United Kingdom cast a long shadow and we are in a period of extraordinary uncertainty and volatility. In this challenging environment we are continuing our efforts across Government to protect Ireland's priorities and to mitigate the effects of the UK's withdrawal on Irish citizens and businesses. Ireland and our EU partners stand by the withdrawal agreement agreed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (25 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...Affairs of Colombia, H.E. Carlos Holmes Trujillo García, to Dublin last month. This visit was a demonstration of the excellent bilateral relations between Ireland and Colombia, which have been going from strength to strength since the recent opening of our respective Embassies in Bogotá and Dublin. Foreign Minister Trujillo also had an opportunity to meet with members of this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...challenge which we all face. Part of that was driven by an inability to agree disembarkation procedures in terms of locations and so on for various political reasons I do not have time to go into. I hope that we will be able to find a way forward that can allow EU involvement on a humanitarian search and rescue basis. Of course, we must ensure that we are not encouraging people...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is true that Quinn Industrial Holdings has been in ongoing contact with An Garda Síochána and the PSNI in the context of threats that have been made, violent intimidation and acts that have happened. This is not the first instance but it is by far the most serious. Both the PSNI and An Garda Síochána will attach the highest priority to this case. There is an...

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union: Statements (18 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: ...of discussions between the European Commission and the UK. However, meetings are not enough. The UK must match its stated aspirations with actions. It is now vital that the UK side bring forward proposals for the EU side to consider. The UK has communicated its wish to remove the backstop but has made no concrete proposals on how to replace it in order to achieve the same outcomes,...