Results 27,621-27,640 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: We also need to ensure that the Central Bank has the power to ensure that, regardless of who owns loan books, how they are managed in respect of keeping people in their homes and protecting the public interest is at the forefront of what we are doing.
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: First, I intended to say in response to Deputy Calleary that I, too, would like to extend the condolences of the Government to every US citizen in Ireland and of course to the families mourning this afternoon after the extraordinary tragedy of yesterday where 17, predominantly young, people and children lost their lives in yet another shooting. I hope and expect that the House will join me...
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: We have a tradition in this House, particularly between Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, of supporting and helping each other, regardless of who is in Government, in the context of protecting the fundamentals of the Good Friday Agreement and of looking after our responsibility towards people North of the Border. If Deputy Martin has an issue with how we are taking on and performing those...
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: Not on this issue I am not. In response to Deputy Pearse Doherty’s questions, we have made it clear to the British Government, in the right and appropriate way, that a move to direct rule is not where we want to be and it is not where the British Government wants to be. It is also not where the DUP wants to be, in my view, even though that is what it effectively requested yesterday....
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: We will try to help the Deputy do that with the other parties. If one looks at Arlene Foster's statement yesterday, one can see that there are positives in it. We need to focus on those and build on them in terms of her desire to see devolved government up and running again, but clearly there is an issue and there is a frustration within unionism and the DUP regarding Irish language issues...
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for giving some notice of this question so that I could give her a proper answer. We have been in contact with the Minister's office and he has been in contact with the hospital involved regarding this case. I am happy to meet Aisling after Leaders' Questions if that would be helpful. We received a letter from the hospital this morning. The Deputy may not have seen it...
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Deputy probably knows that it is not as straightforward as that, particularly with regard to very complex cases involving scoliosis. I accept that nobody should have to wait four years. I also think it is inappropriate for me to attempt to go into the medical detail of this case on the floor of the House. I am not a doctor but I am just going on the briefing I received this morning....
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: I have accepted that it should have happened before now.
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: This is a question to which I have been asked to respond today and it has been brought to the Minister's attention this week. We have acted on that. There is a commitment this morning to ensure this procedure takes place in three months' time. We are trying to provide some certainty to the family.
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: I am sure the Deputies are aware that the financial practices and procedures at the Garda College in Templemore were the subject of public controversy last year and were examined in great detail by the Committee of Public Accounts. The Government has no direct role in the management of the finances of the Garda College. The Garda Commissioner is the Accounting Officer for the organisation....
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: On the general point of supporting SMEs and creating jobs outside of Dublin-----
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: -----it is worth noting that the vast majority of jobs created last year were actually created outside Dublin. Every county in the country without exception-----
- Leaders' Questions (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: -----has seen job numbers grow. In the last budget, and subsequently, we have seen numerous initiatives to help and support SMEs. I accept that in the procurement process, depending on how the contracting and procurement process is structured, it can be difficult in a competitive environment for SMEs. There are, however, examples of many State agencies and organisations looking to break up...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: I will answer the second question. The consultation process has been ongoing on nearly three years.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: There have been 40 public meetings held throughout the country. The Oireachtas committee has considered the issue on numerous occasions. There was a debate in this House without the use of a guillotine on the national planning framework. The debate came to an end because we had run out of speakers. There were 42 speakers in all. There has been no shortage of consultation with other...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: It is perfectly understandable other stakeholders in Irish society, both rural and urban, also want to be a part of a discussion before the final details are published tomorrow.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: I will let the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, deal with the legislative element.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: It was a draft.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: On the question of what the Government is doing to protect people and keep them in their homes, it has introduced a series of initiatives, from the Abhaile scheme to ensuring there is free legal aid and looking at a new mortgage-to-rent scheme in order that we can provide options to keep people in their homes, even when they have difficult debt issues to deal with.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (15 Feb 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Minister was here this morning to answer questions. I do not think there was a single one on Dublin-----