Results 27,321-27,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, will respond.

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I take that point. We are doing a lot to try to help students to access college. In particular, there has been a huge effort in respect of student accommodation. There is a lot happening in this city to ensure that students from other parts of the country can find accommodation here. I am sure that before any decisions are made in respect of improving the funding model for third level...

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will have to refer the Deputy's question to the Minister for Health. I will get him to come back to the Deputy.

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Increased resources are being provided in this area. In my area there is a new air ambulance service which is a community initiative and looking for the support of the HSE. There are multiple initiatives in different parts of the country, particularly in areas where people suffer from rural isolation, where response times are not as good as they need to be. On the precise increase in...

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Undoubtedly, in the future Sligo will be and needs to be a major driver of growth in the north west. In terms of the provision of investment to make sure this will happen, phase 2 of the western distributor road project in Sligo which will open up an IDA Ireland greenfield site for new investment was recently announced. There is a total investment of over €130 million in roads in...

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I do not have the details of the case, but I recognise the Deputy's frustration. They are not the only eight young people who are having difficulties in transitioning from primary to secondary school in terms of the provision of special needs supports. The Deputy has raised the issue with the Minister and I will raise it with him again and make sure he will come back to the Deputy with a...

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: There was a recognition in government that increases in insurance costs were unsustainable. It was decided to review the insurance industry, an approach which was led by the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, when he held a different brief. For the most part, the report and recommendations have been implemented and resulted in motor insurance premiums stabilising. The changes will have a...

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: It will happen as soon as possible, but the implementation office needs a chief executive. As I understand it, the post was advertised last Friday.

Questions on Promised Legislation (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: The answer to that question is to increase resources and to work with the HSE through its service plan to improve services. Clearly, services are not as good as they need to be in many parts of the country. Waiting lists are too long and we are working to reduce them with some positive results, certainly in the second half of last year. The instances Deputy Doherty outlined are examples of...

Valuation (Amendment) Bill 2018: First Stage (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: No.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Capital Expenditure Programme Review (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Engagements between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on the forthcoming capital review are at an early stage and therefore it would not be appropriate for me to comment on these negotiations at this time. My Department’s priorities for 2018 include the ongoing implementation of the passport reform process as its online services are further expanded...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (17 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department examines all formal complaints made to its Human Resources Unit no matter what category they fall under. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s processes for dealing with bullying, sexual harassment and related complaints are outlined in the 2015 “Dignity at Work” policy – an anti-bullying, harassment and sexual harassment policy for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (18 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I wish, first of all, to reassure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to finding a solution to the plight of the thousands of undocumented Irish citizens resident in the United States. With this in mind, the Government continues to avail of all opportunities to raise US immigration reform and the status of the undocumented Irish with the US administration and with contacts on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (18 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Dealing with long-outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland are of the utmost importance to the Government. The Programme for a Partnership Government highlights this priority, with specific reference to implementation of the All-Party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin Monaghan bombings. I acknowledge also those across the House who work on a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, supports the achievement of a two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that meets Israeli and Palestinian security needs and Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, ends the occupation that began in 1967, and resolves all permanent status issues in order to end the conflict. This issue has a personal priority for me since I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: Officials at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade are closely monitoring developments in Honduras following elections which took place there on 26 November 2017. I condemn unreservedly the loss of life in the aftermath of those elections and express my sincere condolences to the families of the victims. Freedom of expression and assembly are the cornerstones of any functioning...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am conscious of the need to distinguish in our policies, between third countries in general, and territories that are illegally occupied under international law. This issue arises, for instance, in the case of Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory or in occupied Syrian Golan. Ireland and the European Union do not recognise these settlements as legal and do not provide assistance to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Cases (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together. I am aware of the case to which the Deputies refer, which is a cause for concern, in particular as the individual appears to have been sentenced on the basis of his religious beliefs. Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, and attaches great importance to combating all forms of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Permanent Structured Co-operation (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: The decision by Ireland to participate in Permanent Structured Cooperation, approved by the Government on 21 November 2017 and endorsed by the Dail on 7 December 2017, in full accordance with the Defence (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009, has absolutely no implications for Ireland’s wider international work on disarmament.Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO) is a mechanism...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Status (23 Jan 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the legal status of the person in question is a matter for the Department of Justice and Equality, which is responsible for citizenship and immigration matters. I can confirm that the person’s parents have submitted an application for an Irish passport. However that application is on hold, pending the receipt of guidance from the Department of Justice and...