Results 27,301-27,320 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The plan we started with 18 months ago is now delivering increases in the numbers of social and private homes, as well as homes that are affordable to first-time buyers. I accept that there are particular problems in Galway. The figures available to me show that 100 houses were bought, newly built or brought back into use for social housing last year and that there are a further 350...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I am slow to offer too much commentary on my previous brief because the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, is now responsible for this matter. Anyway, I spent time with senior management in Galway City Council and Galway County Council - I imagine the Minister, Deputy Murphy, has too - as well as both together to talk about how we face the challenges...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Coppinger for that question. I will address the timeline in terms of what the Government needs to do. The Taoiseach has made it clear that the Government is committed to a referendum, but there is a procedure that needs to be followed to ensure that becomes a reality. This is something the Government agreed as a three-step process some time ago. We agreed to set up a...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I am unsure whether it would be conducive to the House moving forward together if Opposition parties are going to start trying to force the pace on something. What we are trying to do - the Taoiseach has given great leadership on this - is recognise the fact that there are differences of opinion. These are deeply held and linked to people's personal circumstances and experience. Many in...
- Leaders' Questions (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I think that he has done a good job so far. We will try to meet the timeline he has set to ensure we have a referendum in late May or early June. He has tried to put a process in place to get us there in that timeline and the Government will act on that basis.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Ombudsman said this scheme was predominantly a good thing and was working well for the vast majority of patients. He did, however, raise concerns, and the HSE will now establish a working group which will include key stakeholders, such as patient advocates, to progress the recommendations in the Ombudsman's report.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy raised the issue of the Ombudsman's report.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The recommendations of the report will be taken on board and there is a working group to ensure that is the case. If the Deputy has a policy question-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: With respect to the Deputy, it is a bit rich for him to be critical of setting up working groups, given his own record.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: We are building houses.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I accept that there are funding challenges for GSOC and that is why we have seen a significant increase in the allocation for 2018 over that for 2017. The Minister for Justice and Equality has made it clear he intends to ensure GSOC has the resources it needs to do the obvious work it needs to do.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I will ask the Minister to respond.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: I will have to refer that question to the Minister for Health.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy cannot expect me to have the details of an individual project off the top of my head.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: Once the British no longer have representation in the European Parliament, if the same number of parliamentarians are to be retained, there will have to be reallocation of seats to other countries. I had a number of discussions in the European Parliament some months ago on that issue, to decide on a recommendation. I do not want to give any detail of that without certainty as I do not want...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach's speech last night to the IFA was reaffirming-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: -----what most people would accept, namely, that Fine Gael is the party that represents farmers most effectively and will continue to do so.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: That is obviously a sore point with some Deputies, but I am afraid it is the truth.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: On broadband, close to seven out of ten premises now have access to high-speed broadband. While that is not enough, the figure will rise to eight out of ten by the end of this year. By 2020 it will be nine out of ten. We are moving to invest significant amounts of public money in ensuring that parts of the country that are not going to get broadband through its normal commercial roll-out...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)
Simon Coveney: -----in the context of the complex contracts that need to be put in place and that the Minister, Deputy Naughten, is managing.