Results 24,341-24,360 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: There seems to be an assumption because we have tabled an alternative motion that I, Fine Gael and the Government are somehow against extending voting rights to Irish citizens living outside of Ireland. I have direct and extended family living in Washington, the UK, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria and other places. Lots of other people in this House could say the same....

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: The Senator sees a conspiracy around every corner.

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: There is a process in train. We just need to get it going.

Seanad: Presidential Voting Rights: Motion (30 Nov 2016)

Simon Coveney: We are going to do it.

Leaders' Questions (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Kelly had about 20 questions.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: We have given a commitment to launch a new rent strategy before the end of the year. The Deputy's party has been part of the consultation process in putting that together. The party made a comprehensive submission to the process, as did other parties. I have said consistently each time Sinn Féin has brought forward the same Bill - it is the third time we will vote on it later - that I...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: As regards the RTB report and figures published earlier, they show-----

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I will answer that. The figures show a slowdown in the pace of rent acceleration.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The pace is still too high and I have said we are looking to address the issues that have been raised in the debates on rent certainty to date in a balanced approach to a rental strategy and the Deputies will see that in approximately ten days.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Perhaps I can be helpful there. We had quite a long debate in the Seanad on this yesterday. I have given a commitment to bring forward a detailed options paper on extending the franchise in presidential elections to Irish citizens living outside of Ireland.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Yes, exactly.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: Citizens in Northern Ireland are in a unique situation because they are entitled to have Irish or British citizenship in full-----

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: -----or both if they want to. We are looking at the practical implications of extending the franchise for presidential elections so that when we make an announcement on the issue we will be able to answer questions in a comprehensive way.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: What others seem to be looking for is to make a commitment without being able to answer those questions. That is not the way we should approach it because we are leading some people up the garden path.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: The former Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly, introduced a series of measures that had some positive effects but we want to add to that now. We are committed to doing that.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I will not give the detail yet because I have to bring it to Cabinet first. That is not unreasonable. We are looking at getting the balance right between protecting tenants, who are vulnerable because of an unsustainable level of rental inflation in Dublin and other parts of the country, and at the same time ensuring we are promoting supply, which in the medium term is the solution. We are...

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I seem to be on the spot this morning.

Questions on Proposed Legislation (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: This is an important issue. Ireland has negotiated derogations from the nitrates directive in respect of our nitrates action plan in a series of areas linked to agriculture. These derogations are important for the expansion potential of many sectors, including the pig sector. I will be consulting my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, to figure...

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Order for Second Stage (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move: "That Second Stage be taken now."

Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 [Seanad]: Second Stage (1 Dec 2016)

Simon Coveney: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to have the opportunity to introduce the Second Stage of the Planning and Development (Housing) and Residential Tenancies Bill 2016 to the Dáil today and I thank Members for facilitating the debate on this very important Bill. As the provisions in the Bill are quite important, I am anxious that it would be enacted by the...