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Simon Coveney said there is a need to get decisions made to provide certainty for people

Tánaiste warns Brexit deadline is approaching quickly

The Tánaiste has warned that the deadline to secure a deal between the European Union and the UK over its future relationship is fast approaching.

Brexit • 28 Aug 18

Jacob Rees-Mogg said the UK could keep "a very close eye" on the Northern Ireland border

Coveney brands Rees-Mogg 'ill-informed' on border

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has described UK Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg as "ill-informed" for suggesting people crossing the Northern Ireland border could be "inspected" after Brexit in the same way as "we had during the Troubles".

Brexit • 25 Aug 18

Simon Coveney said Ireland would support an extension to the Article 50 timetable if asked

Too much talk of unlikely 'no deal' Brexit - Coveney

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said there is too much focus on the possible negative consequences of Britain leaving the European Union without a deal given that it is still an unlikely scenario.

Brexit • 25 Jul 18

Michel Barnier said the UK white paper opened the way for "constructive discussions"

Backstop agreement central to Brexit deal - Barnier

The EU's chief Brexit negotiator has questioned whether Theresa May's proposals for customs arrangements are workable.

Brexit • 20 Jul 18

Simon Coveney met with police and residents from the Bogside while Arlene Foster visited the unionist Fountain estate

Coveney and Foster visit Derry following violence

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and DUP leader Arlene Foster have visited Derry following six successive nights of violence in the city.

Ulster • 14 Jul 18

British PM Theresa May faces a revolt by Tory Eurosceptics that is designed to kill off her Chequers proposals

Tánaiste welcomes clear British position on Brexit

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said it has been a good week for the Brexit process despite the resignations that followed the publication of Theresa May's Chequers proposals.

Brexit • 11 Jul 18

Simon Coveney's trip came ahead of a crunch meeting of the British cabinet on Friday

Tánaiste discusses Brexit with senior UK politicians

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has discussed the lack of progress in the Brexit negotiations with British Chancellor Philip Hammond and Northern Ireland Secretary of State Karen Bradley in London.

Brexit • 04 Jul 18

The Government is hoping to secure a two-year term in 2021

Taoiseach, Tánaiste in US to bid for UN council seat

The Taoiseach and the Tánaiste have arrived in New York ahead of the launch of Ireland's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council.

Politics • 02 Jul 18

Tánaiste Simon Coveney said a Eurovision boycott would not advance the cause of Palestinians

Tánaiste dismisses Tel Aviv Eurovision boycott

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has dismissed suggestions that Ireland should boycott the Eurovision song contest next year in protest over the treatment of Palestinian children by Israel.

News • 21 Jun 18

Simon Coveney was addressing a seminar on Brexit organised by the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants

Call for border poll 'unhelpful' during Brexit talks

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has described calls for border polls on the island of Ireland during the ongoing Brexit negotiations as "unhelpful".

Brexit • 31 May 18

Tánaiste Simon Coveney (R) and the EU's Michel Barnier in Brussels

Coveney calls for 'new thinking' from UK on Brexit

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said that the credibility of Britain's promise to avoid a hard border will be under pressure unless there is real progress on agreeing the Irish backstop by the end of June.

Brexit • 14 May 18

Michael D Higgins said that the consequences of Britain leaving the EU had not been thought through

President 'concerned' at direction of Brexit talks

President Michael D Higgins has expressed concern at the direction of the Brexit negotiations, saying that the consequences of Britain leaving the European Union had not been thought through.

Brexit • 10 May 18

EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier called for a "clear and operational solution for Ireland" to be included in the Brexit deal

Barnier warns Brexit talks at 'risk' over Ireland issue

The European Commission's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier has warned the talks are at "risk" because of disagreements over the future of the Irish border after Britain leaves the European Union.

Brexit • 30 Apr 18

Simon Coveney said he also believes the EU taskforce will expect significant progress by June

Tánaiste wants clarity on Brexit border issue by June

The Irish Government will have to "ask some serious questions" if significant progress on an Irish backstop is not made in Brexit negotiations by June, the Tánaiste has told the Dáil.

Brexit • 28 Mar 18

Yury Filatov said that the Govt's decision to expel the Russian diplomat was 'unwarranted, uncalled for, senseless and regrettable'

Expulsion of Russian diplomat 'will not go unanswered'

The Russian Ambassador to Ireland has said the decision by the Government to expel a Russian diplomat "will not go unanswered".

World • 27 Mar 18

Simon Harris said the date for the referendum on the Eight Amendment will be set this week

Cabinet approves key details of legislation on abortion

The Cabinet has approved the main points of the legislation on abortion that will be brought forward if the referendum on the Eighth Amendment is passed.

Eighth Amendment • 27 Mar 18

Vice Chairman and President of CIC Tu Guangshao and
Tánaiste Simon Coveney launched the new fund in Beijing today

€150m fund for firms to access Irish and China markets

A new €150m fund is being made available to high-growth Irish technology firms hoping to access the Chinese market and Chinese firms looking to use Ireland as a European base.

Business • 16 Mar 18

Charlie Flanagan warned that a hard Brexit could lead to a return to violence

Minister: Good Friday will deliver soft Brexit

The Minister for Justice has said he believes that the terms of the Good Friday Agreement will deliver a soft Brexit.

Brexit • 25 Feb 18

Tánaiste Simon Coveney and US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson

US considers appointing envoy to Northern Ireland

The US government is considering appointing a special envoy to Northern Ireland.

US • 24 Feb 18

Simon Coveney said a strategic objective of the Brexit negotiations for Ireland was the creation of the closest possible future connection between the EU and the UK

Tánaiste: Brexit cannot undermine peace process gains

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has said Brexit cannot undermine the hard won gains of the Northern Ireland peace process.

Brexit • 22 Feb 18

Tánaiste Simon Coveney: 'Mortgage holders still have the same rights regardless of who owns the loan book.'

Coveney backs contractual rights of mortgage holders

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has told the Dáil that the sale of home loans to vulture funds will not affect the contractual rights of homeowners.

Politics • 15 Feb 18

Simon Coveney said the clock is ticking on trade decision

Britain should stop 'red line' talk on Brexit - Coveney

Tánaiste Simon Coveney has called on the British government to drop its red lines and tough talk on its future relationship with the EU.

Brexit • 07 Feb 18

Simon Coveney said the State's number one priority must be to protect women in pregnancy

Tánaiste says State needs to protect the unborn child

The Tánaiste has said he does not believe that maintaining the status quo and the Eighth Amendment is the right thing to do.

News • 01 Feb 18

Tánaiste Simon Coveney pictured with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

Netanyahu summons Irish ambassador over Seanad bill

The Irish ambassador to Israel has been summoned by the Israeli government after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly condemned a bill before the Seanad which, Mr Netanyahu claims, "seeks to... harm the state of Israel."

Israel • 30 Jan 18

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said nobody under 52 has had a vote on this issue

AG advised a 'simple repeal' might be argued in courts

The Attorney General advised the Government that if the electorate was asked to simply repeal the Eighth Amendment, it might be argued subsequently before the courts that the unborn has rights under other articles in the Constitution.

News • 30 Jan 18