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Stormont power-sharing government collapsed last year

New Stormont talks to begin next week

A fresh attempt to restore devolved government in Northern Ireland will begin with new talks next week between the DUP, Sinn Féin and the other main political parties in the North.

News • 18 Jan 18

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney met NI Secretary Karen Bradley in Westminster

Significant challenges over power-sharing - Coveney

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney and new Northern Ireland Secretary Karen Bradley will meet again next week in the hope of making progress on the power-sharing deadlock.

Northern Ireland • 12 Jan 18

DUP leader Arlene Foster said time was running out

Foster warns new NI Secretary over Stormont deal

The new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland has met with the DUP leader Arlene Foster who said the "clock was ticking" for a deal.

Ulster • 10 Jan 18

The DUP's influence reached its peak in Phase One of the Brexit talks

Tommie Gorman: Whither now the DUP?

With Phase One of the Brexit negotiations put to bed, Tommie Gorman ponders what is next for the DUP.

Brexit • 09 Feb 18

The 21-member cross-party committee recommended the repeal of the Eighth Amendment

Committee says constitutional reform 'necessary'

A draft report of the Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment has outlined preliminary recommendations it will furnish to the Oireachtas ahead of a referendum on Article 40.3.3 next year.

Politics • 14 Dec 17

Simon Coveney said a distribution list for the sensitive documents has been cancelled

Govt stops circulating sensitive UK Brexit reports

The Government has stopped circulating sensitive reports on how the UK government is handling Brexit negotiations after one was leaked in November.

Brexit • 13 Dec 17

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin and Sinn Féin's Mary Lou McDonald

Broad welcome for agreement on Brexit deal

There has been a broad welcome for the Brexit deal agreed this morning from across the Irish political spectrum, accompanied by an acceptance that challenges lie ahead.

Brexit • 08 Dec 17

Simon Coveney said he felt the Govt had secured a deal yesterday on border issue

Coveney: Core meaning of Brexit border deal must remain

Tánaiste Simon Coveney said the Government wants to give British Prime Minister Theresa May time and space to manage "difficult political issues", but the core meaning must remain of the border deal that was nearly struck yesterday.

Brexit • 05 Dec 17

Varadkar promotes allies as Coveney becomes Tánaiste

RTÉ's Political Correspondent Martina Fitzgerald runs the rule over Taoiseach Leo Varadkar's new appointments.

Analysis and Comment • 30 Nov 17

Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Simon Coveney in Brussels today

Border issue a 'matter for negotiations' in talks

Northern Ireland's membership of the EU customs union after Brexit is "a matter for negotiations", Downing Street has suggested.

Business • 24 Nov 17

Minister Simon Coveney appearing before an Oireachtas Committee

Coveney rules out solution on border before next summit

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has said there will not be a complete solution as to what happens the Irish border by the time of the next EU summit in three weeks time.

Brexit • 23 Nov 17

Leo Varadkar said the proposal to avoid a hard border was backed by all members of the EU27

Varadkar says Ireland determined to hold firm on border

Ireland is determined to hold firm on the demand for matching customs rules on both sides of the border after Brexit, the Taoiseach has said.

Brexit • 22 Nov 17

Simon Coveney and Boris Johnson at a press conference in Dublin

Coveney calls for more clarity on border in talks

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said more clarity is needed on the topic of the Irish border before Brexit talks can move to the next stage.

Brexit • 17 Nov 17

The Taoiseach said there had been agreement that there would no return to the border of the past

No Govt demand for any UK part to stay in Customs Union

The Taoiseach has said there is no demand from the Irish government that any part of the United Kingdom should remain in the Customs Union or the Single Market after Brexit.

Brexit • 10 Nov 17

Northern Ireland has been without an executive since last January

Govt 'not giving up' over formation of NI executive

The Taoiseach has said he believes that there is enough "common ground" to allow Northern Ireland's two main political parties to form an executive, however he expressed concern that matters are moving towards direct rule.

Ireland • 01 Nov 17

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said the Government wants more clarity on the border

Contingency plans being made for Brexit consequences

Ireland is making contingency plans for any unwanted outcomes from Brexit negotiations, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said.

Brexit • 27 Oct 17

Bombardier is Northern Ireland's largest manufacturing employer

Coveney presses US over Bombardier-Boeing trade row

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has raised concerns with the US Commerce Secretary over the potential impact the Bombardier-Boeing trade dispute could have on Northern Ireland's peace process.

News • 04 Oct 17

Stormont govt could be back within weeks - Coveney

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said Stormont's crisis-hit government could be functioning fully within a matter of weeks.

Ireland • 28 Sep 17

Theresa May told the Commons that the focus should be on resolving the current differences in Northern Ireland

May rules out joint authority over Northern Ireland

British Prime Minister Theresa May has said there will be no question of Britain sharing joint authority with Ireland in the event of direct rule being reintroduced in Northern Ireland.

Stormont • 06 Sep 17

Arlene Foster is due to address a DUP meeting in Belfast on Thursday

Foster expected to address future of power-sharing

The DUP leader is expected to give her party's view on the future of power-sharing at an event on Thursday evening.

Politics • 29 Aug 17

Simon Coveney said his messages have been 'clear and blunt' in terms of Ireland's concerns about Brexit

Brexit Secretary agrees to visit Irish border region

Minster for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney said that Britain's Brexit Secretary David Davis has agreed to visit the Irish border region with him to hear the concerns of people living in the area.

News • 06 Jul 17

Simon Coveney said he has total respect for judgement of military personnel

Varadkar says Coveney did not try to intimidate pilot

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has rejected claims that Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney tried to intimidate a pilot who refused to fly him to Cork because of expected poor weather.

Politics • 05 Jul 17

Simon Coveney said the issues of fisheries should form part of the broader Brexit talks

Fisheries must be part of Brexit talks - Coveney

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said the first he heard about the British government's decision to pull out of the London Fisheries Conventions was through the media.

Ireland • 03 Jul 17

James Brokenshire said if no agreement is reached, legislation in Westminster may then be required for expenditure in NI

Next 24 hours for NI talks will be 'vital' - Coveney

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney has said the next 24 hours will be vital for the talks on restoring a power-sharing Executive at Stormont.

Stormont • 03 Jul 17

Simon Coveney met Michel Barnier this afternoon

Coveney left in no doubt Ireland is a priority in talks

Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney says he has been left in no doubt that Ireland's interests are the European Union's interests in Brexit negotiations.

Brexit • 20 Jun 17