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Simon Coveney

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Simon Coveney
Simon Coveney (born 16 June 1972) is an Irish Fine Gael politician who has served as Tánaiste since November 2017, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael since June 2017. He has been a Teachta Dála (TD) for the Cork South-Central constituency since 1998. He previously served as Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government from 2016 to 2017, Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine from 2011 to 2016 and Minister for Defence from 2014 to 2016. He served as a Member of the European Parliament (MEP) for the South constituency from 2004 to 2007. Coveney was born in Cork and completed a BSc. in Agriculture from the Royal Agricultural College, having earlier studied at University College Cork. He spent several years working as an agriculture adviser and farm manager. He was elected to Dáil Éireann in a by-election, following the death of his father Hugh Coveney. After an initial period on the backbenches, Coveney was promoted to the Front Bench by Michael Noonan, as deputy chief whip, remaining in this position until a 2002 reshuffle, when he became Spokesperson on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources under Enda Kenny. A three-year period in the European Parliament was followed by a return to domestic politics in 2007, when he was appointed Spokesperson on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. A 2010 reshuffle of the Front Bench saw him take over as Spokesperson on Transport. After the formation of the coalition government in March 2011, Coveney was appointed Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. A cabinet reshuffle in July 2014, saw him also take over the position of Minister for Defence. Following the formation of a Fine Gael minority government in May 2016, he was appointed Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. In June 2017, after Leo Varadkar succeeded Enda Kenny as Taoiseach, Varadkar appointed Coveney as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Deputy Leader of Fine Gael. He was appointed Tánaiste (Deputy Prime Minister) in November 2017, following the resignation of Frances Fitzgerald.
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Born
1972-06-16
Birth Place
Cork, Ireland
Nationality
Irish_people
Education
Clongowes_Wood_College
Political Ideology
Fine_Gael
Spouse(s)
Ruth Furney
Children
3
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newschain

Simon Coveney urges British Government to get back to talks with EU

Ireland’s Foreign Affairs Minister said he has “made clear” to Foreign Secretary Liz Truss that the Irish Government opposes the UK breaching international law. Simon Coveney made the comment following his meeting with Ms Truss on Friday about ongoing concerns around the Northern Ireland Protocol. His meeting...
POLITICS
Picture for Simon Coveney urges British Government to get back to talks with EU
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BBC

NI Protocol: Simon Coveney believes 'landing zone' is possible

Irish Foreign Minister Simon Coveney believes a "landing zone" is possible for addressing unionist concerns with the Northern Ireland Protocol. Mr Coveney said conversations with the political parties had been constructive, particularly with the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP). The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has said it will not nominate ministers...
WORLD
The Independent

Simon Coveney visiting Kyiv to discuss Irish support for Ukraine

Ireland’s Foreign Minister Simon Coveney is visiting Kyiv on Thursday.Mr Coveney will visit areas in the Ukrainian capital directly affected by the Russian invasion and meet Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba and defence minister Oleksii Reznikov.He is the first foreign minister on the UN Security Council to visit Kyiv since the war began.#Ireland continues to be a strong supporter of #EU enlargement. #Ukraine #Moldova #Georgia 🇪🇺 https://t.co/SPfHbafqWN— Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) April 11, 2022A statement from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said: “His discussions with the Ukrainian government will focus on how Ireland can continue to provide political, security and...
POLITICS
The Independent

Simon Coveney criticises TDs for refusing to clap Zelensky’s Dail speech

People Before Profit TDs have been criticised for refusing to clap after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the Dail.Following Mr Zelensky’s speech, those in the Dail got to their feet and applauded the Ukrainian leader, however four People Before Profit TDs refused to clap.A spokesperson for the party said this was due to a disagreement with calls from Mr Zelensky for Nato involvement in the war, as well as citing demands for more sanctions and a “decision to ban opposition parties” in Ukraine.The move was criticised by Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney.Paul explains why PBP Stand with Ukraine, but...
POLITICS
BBC

Simon Coveney alert: Darren Service in court over bomb hoax

A hoax bomb alert in north Belfast on 27 March was part of "a politically motivated crime" linked to opposition to the NI Protocol, a court has heard. It happened while Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney was attending a peace event in the area. Darren Service, of Ballysillan...
PUBLIC SAFETY
BBC

Simon Coveney alert: Man, 40, charged over Crumlin Road hijacking

A 40-year-old man has been charged with a number of offences in relation to a security alert and hijacking which led to the Irish foreign minister being evacuated from a venue in north Belfast. The man is charged with preparation of terrorist acts, hijacking and placing an article causing bomb...
PUBLIC SAFETY
BBC

Simon Coveney security alert: Woman arrested after Belfast hijacking

A 48-year-old woman has been arrested after a security alert which led to the Irish foreign minister being evacuated from a venue in north Belfast. Simon Coveney was giving a peace-building talk at the Houben Centre, on the Crumlin Road, when the hijacking and security alert happened on Friday. Police...
PUBLIC SAFETY
BBC

Simon Coveney: Woman released after Coveney security alert arrest

A woman has been released after she was arrested following a security alert which led to the Irish foreign minister being evacuated from a venue in north Belfast. Simon Coveney was giving a peace-building talk at the Houben Centre, on the Crumlin Road, when the hijacking and security alert happened on Friday.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The Independent

UVF suspected of causing security alert at Simon Coveney peace event

The UVF is suspected to be behind a security alert which led to Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney being evacuated from a peace and reconciliation event in north Belfast.Mr Coveney had been addressing the event organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation when he was ushered from the room.The Houben Centre, on the Crumlin Road, was evacuated and a funeral service at nearby Holy Cross church was also disrupted.PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Mark McEwan said the driver of a van was threatened by two gunmen and forced to drive a device which he believed to be a live...
EUROPE
The Independent

Security alert that forced Simon Coveney from stage at peace event condemned

A security alert in Belfast which forced Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney from the stage at a peacebuilding event has been slammed as “shameful”.There has been strong condemnation from across the community after the incident at an event organised by the John and Pat Hume Foundation.Mr Coveney had been addressing the gathering when he abruptly ended his speech and was ushered from the room.The Houben Centre, on the Crumlin Road, was evacuated and a funeral service at nearby Holy Cross church was also disrupted.The incident, which is believed to have centred around a hijacked van, was rapidly condemned...
WORLD