Results 28,181-28,200 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: I heard the interview this morning, which raised some questions and did not provide full clarity in terms of the Health Service Executive's response. The clinical director of CervicalCheck has spoken on radio in the past hour and provided much more clarity on the issues. I thank both individuals for their efforts to bring clarity. I am sure the Minister will be happy to deal with questions...

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: Work is under way to establish whether there are other women in the same category, that is, women who have not received the information they should have received. We will have more details when the work has concluded. It is not expected that there are many more women in this category but that needs to be confirmed. I hope the work will be completed quickly.

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: In answer to the Deputy's final question, that is what we are changing. Many of us listened to Vicky Phelan who is an incredibly courageous woman. In the midst of all the challenges she is facing, she focused on the hope that something good may come from this. I hope that is the case and we have an obligation to ensure it is the case. The key issue is the information flow. Once the State...

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: I accept absolutely that we have to ask all of the hard questions after a case like this. However, I want also to reassure people, particularly those outside the House, that CervicalCheck rates very well in comparison with similar screening systems in other parts of the world. There is no perfect system and human errors will occur in screening programmes, particularly with 250,000 people a...

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: Well-----

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: I compliment the Minister, Deputy Naughten, on his determination, which I have witnessed over and over again in Cabinet, to ensure that the post office network remains part of the physical infrastructure of urban and rural Ireland. He has repeatedly confirmed the Government's commitment to ensuring that the infrastructure remains intact. We have seen a commitment to explore the potential to...

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: We are working with An Post to ensure we have as many post offices as possible. There are no compulsory closures. If certain postmasters choose not to stay open-----

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----then there will be the option to transfer the business to another business locally or to another post office if it is within a certain range. The whole point is to ensure An Post has a future. Up until six months ago, this was a company with a bleak financial outlook. We now have a situation where An Post is back in profit and we need to ensure it remains so permanently. We must use...

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to revert to the Deputy with more details on South Tipperary General Hospital after Leaders’ Questions. He is aware of some of the cases to which the Deputy referred and he has spoken to some of the parents involved. Staffing and necessary skills shortages need to be addressed in the context of extra beds. Up to €55...

Leaders' Questions (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: I reaffirm to the Deputy that no one is kicking the can down the road on anything here. It is a programme of action that is already under way. The construction of a national forensic mental health complex at Portrane is progressing well and should be completed by 2020. There are other improvements such as in counselling services, including new Jigsaw sites in Cork, Dublin and Limerick, to...

Tributes on Retirement of Member of Staff (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: I also wish to congratulate and thank Marie. Thirty-two years of service is a long time in this House. Marie is one of my favourite people in Leinster House. She has good taste; she only ever served Fine Gael and Labour tables-----

Tributes on Retirement of Member of Staff (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----so we know her much better than does the dark side.

Tributes on Retirement of Member of Staff (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: She is someone who constantly brings a smile to people's faces in the Members' Restaurant. When one considers both of their service, she and her mother have given 62 years to this House. As far as I am concerned, she is far too young to be retiring from here, and we would like to have her around for much longer. I thank her on behalf of all the Deputies and Senators who got to know her so...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank all the Deputies who took the time to come to the briefing. There was standing room only, which reflects the interest and involvement many Members have in and with the passport service. The Ceann Comhairle is also very familiar with that. At this time of year we take on a lot of extra temporary staff to deal with the increased demand through the summer months. We had particular...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy indicated, the national review panel is reviewing this case. The Minister has received correspondence from the solicitor involved in the tragic case to which the Deputy referred The Minister is considering whether she should make a recommendation to Government as to whether we would look at a different form of review. That decision has not yet been made but it is certainly...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am afraid I will have to ask the Minister for Health to get back to the Deputy on that issue. I do not have an exact date.

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: Vera Twomey is someone I have gotten to know very well in recent years. She and her daughter, Ava, now have not only the treatment they were looking for but also the financial support of the State to ensure that medication will continue to be provided for Ava. I understand that medication is working very well. That is a successful outcome to what has been a difficult case. The Minister...

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: I do not think it is appropriate that I respond to an individual case, but if the Deputy would like to send me on the details I will make sure the Minister for Health gets them.

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: This is an area in which I have a lot of personal interest. I do not think it is credible to say that drift net fishing for salmon did not have an impact on salmon stocks. There are, of course, other issues that need to be investigated fully by the State, but it is very unlikely we will see a reversal of the drift net ban.

Questions on Promised Legislation (26 Apr 2018)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is there is an ongoing discussion between Horse Racing Ireland, the local authority and the Department concerned, from a housing and education point of view, in terms of a potential school.