Results 27,581-27,600 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Leaders' Questions (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----a 50% increase in commencements and a dramatic increase in the delivery of social housing on sites right across the country.

Leaders' Questions (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is what we are doing. I have this conversation with the Deputy regularly across this floor. We are doing what the Deputy is calling for and we are gearing up the local authorities. We are not limiting the funding that is available to them.

Leaders' Questions (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The local authorities are at capacity in terms of delivering. In fact, we are putting pressure on management in virtually every local authority, certainly, in urban Ireland, to deliver more than they are currently able to deliver. Finance is not the obstacle in terms of delivery in most of those projects, rather it is capacity. We are using all our capacity, whether it is through approved...

Leaders' Questions (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----acquisitions, vacant property initiatives etc. In terms of what is on and off-balance sheet, we are not relying on off-balance sheet investment. It is true that there are elements of the plan that look to try to deliver housing off-balance sheet.

Leaders' Questions (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: If that comes under question, we must deal with the consequences of that, but the main thrust of our social housing delivery plan is very much on balance, which is why the Department has seen such a dramatic increase in funding. No Department has seen funding increases like those of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government over the past two or three years.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will talk to the Minister about that if that would be helpful and ask him to contact the Deputy directly about the matter. However, the concept here is to recognise that we have enough silage and other grass-based fodder in the country to deal with shortages but that there is a cost to transport it to those parts of the country that need it. This is why we have focused on trying to...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: It sounds as if the Deputy has asked the Minister for Finance this question recently. I will raise it with him again but I would be surprised if he was not informed of the detail the Deputy has been raising. It is the first time I have heard of the matter on the floor but I will raise it with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, and ask him to get back to the Deputy.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: We cannot discuss individual cases here, obviously-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----but if they are a symptom of a broader problem-----

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----then of course the Government needs to deal with them. This is why we need a strong Central Bank and a strong regulator, and that is what the Government needs to focus on delivering.

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will give the House some information on this. As the Deputy knows, about 500 households are affected, which is just over 1,000 people. The incident was caused by a mechanical failure at a chlorine dosing pump that resulted in excessive chlorine levels in the water supply. Chlorine is added to drinking water for disinfection purposes to ensure that water is safe to drink from a...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The record of this Government and the previous Government on trying to ensure post offices did not close is an awful lot stronger than that of the Government that preceded them. Post offices are a part of rural infrastructure but we also have to work with An Post on different pressures on the overall post office network system. It is difficult for me to comment on a single case unless I...

Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: We will ratify it; we are not just announcing it. It will create a focus on finalising the final piece of legislation required. Much of what Ireland has done in recent years with regard to disability is consistent with the convention. There is more to do and there is no question about it. Many countries ratify conventions while they are in the process of finalising the obligations that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Controls (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 (“the Act”). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. In order to meet this legal requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship in his/her passport application. The applicant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Strategic Communications Unit (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 449 of 7 November 2017. Since then, officials and advisors from my Department have continued to engage with the Government Strategic Communications Unit [SCU] at the Department of the Taoiseach on an ongoing basis. Formal meetings have included those of the Assistant Secretary-level Delivery Team Network of all Government...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government's priority on protecting the Good Friday Agreement in all its parts and the gains of the peace process, including a hard border on this island, has always been clear. This is also important for the maintenance and protection of North South Cooperation and the all-island economy. In this regard, the Government welcomed the decision of the European Council on 15 December...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Recruitment (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff permanently employed by my Department and currently assigned to the Passport Service is 322. In addition, the Passport Service has received sanction for 210 Temporary Clerical Officers (TCOs) this year to respond to the seasonal demand for passports, which is normally between February and September annually. Training for the first intake of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information Data (8 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: The number of freedom of information requests received by my Department in each of the years 2013 to 2017 is set out in the table below. In general, officers of my Department respond to freedom of information requests within 20 working days. However, from time to time due to the nature and/or number of records it is not possible to respond to a request for access within the time limits as set...

Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will happily take up the invitation to speak a bit about farming. Live export markets are something that the Minister, Deputy Creed, has done much to facilitate. We are seeing a very active live export market now.

Order of Business (13 Feb 2018)

Simon Coveney: There is a particular problem relating to dairy herds. The Department has encouraged the live export of calves to appropriate markets, but ultimately this would be a commercial operation run by the private sector. A number of proposals have been put on the table that are more than viable propositions.