Results 27,541-27,560 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I think there might be other Deputies with the same issue.

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach, the Minister, Deputy Creed, and I have all been very vocal on this issue, as has the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Phil Hogan.

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland has specific concerns relating to beef. We are the largest beef exporter in the northern hemisphere. The EU's market for beef is crucial for us in the future. Any trade deal negotiated and finalised by the EU is one we are watching closely. No final deal has been agreed to my understanding. Ireland and other countries, particularly France, have raised concerns about the sensitive...

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Schools that have been affected by the liquidation of this company, which is involved in a number of public private partnerships, need to get certainty as soon as possible. The public private contracts include detailed provisions that apply in the event of the liquidation of a consortium member to ensure the completion of the projects. We are waiting for a plan to see that through to...

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The issues with competition from online shopping and commercial rates are separate to procurement.

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Our job as a Government is to try to provide as business-friendly an environment for SMEs to grow and expand as possible. By and large, that is working well. SMEs are growing, expanding and employing many more people now than they were last year, the year before or the year before that. Things are moving in the right direction. On the specific question on a procurement ombudsman, I will...

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy might know, the Government launched a white collar crime package which involves a number of Bills. Some will come before this House so there will be an opportunity to expand on the concerns the Deputy has outlined.

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: This issue was raised in the media this morning. Coillte has accepted that it has issues to address. The vast majority of forestry and farm partnerships that involve Coillte appear to working well but some farmers have questions that require answers from Coillte. As I understand it, there was an acceptance from Coillte this morning that it needs to address those issues quickly and I expect...

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: On the formal ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, for which Deputy Ó Caoláin and many others in this House have been asking for quite some time, it will be ratified in the next few weeks and there will be an opportunity at that point to make contributions. The Government is conscious that there is an obligation to follow through on some of...

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Work on them is progressing.

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy McLoughlin for his question which is related to my own policy brief area. We have a very ambitious plan to expand Ireland's diplomatic network globally. In the last budget, we announced the opening of a number of embassies and consulates and new staff postings in some of our existing and strategically important embassies, particularly in the European Union. There will be a...

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The answer to the Deputy's question is, "Yes".

Questions on Promised Legislation (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Internal Audits (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: An external quality assessment of the Internal Audit function in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is currently underway and will be completed in February 2018. In November 2012, following extensive consultation with Heads of Internal Audit, Audit Committees and Senior Management across the range of Vote Holders, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform determined that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Apprenticeship Data (1 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are no apprentices enrolled in my Department and there is no scheme in place in this Department that facilitates apprenticeships. In recent years, the Department has offered a limited number of 11 month internships for graduates in the areas of human rights, conflict resolution and legal affairs. Such internships, when they arise, are advertised through the careers offices of Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (6 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Service offers a range of convenient channels for submission of passport applications by Irish citizens, at home and abroad. Advice and guidance on these channels and other useful information on passports is available on the Department’s website at www.dfa.ie/passport. The award-winning online Passport Renewal service for adults was launched in March 2017 and offers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (6 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 to 124, inclusive, together. On 29 January the General Affairs Council (Art. 50) adopted supplementary negotiating directives mandating the European Commission to open negotiations with the UK on a transitional arrangement. Ireland was represented by Minister of State McEntee. I welcome the adoption of these negotiating Directives. From the start of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Data (6 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are no secondees from the companies named in the Deputy’s question working in my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (6 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, along with our EU partners, supports the achievement of a two state solution to the Middle East conflict. This support includes political efforts to encourage a resumption of direct negotiations, which are ultimately the only way to achieve peace. It also includes action on the ground on human rights and justice issues affecting Palestinians under occupation, including settlement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East Peace Process (7 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Israel Palestine conflict is expected to be on the agenda at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on 26 February. This will be a continuation of a discussion at the meeting of the Council on 22 January. At that meeting, I reported to colleagues on my meetings in the region during my visit there in early January. I also addressed what the EU could do to support any balanced...