Results 28,381-28,400 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (15 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Euroscepticism is not new but in recent years it has become more vocal. In the Rome Declaration of March last year, EU Heads of State and Government pledged ‘to listen and respond to the concerns expressed by our citizens’ and to “address the challenges of a rapidly changing world.” Having gone through a series of crises in recent years, including the Eurozone...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services Data (16 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Ireland’s diplomatic network is critical to the achievement of our foreign policy and trade goals. Information on Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade staff in missions abroad is set out by grade in the following table: Mission Staff numbers as at 04 May 2018 Abu Dhabi 1 Assistant Secretary - 1 Third Secretary - 6 locally recruited staff Abuja 1 Counsellor - 1 Third...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Commencement of Legislation (16 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Sections 14(8) and 14(9) of the Passports Act 2008 have not yet been commenced. These Sections of the Passports Act, if commenced, would provide that guardians’ consent to the issuing of a passport would be considered to be enduring for the child up to the age of 18. The commencement of these provisions, including required technology updates, are under active consideration as part...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (16 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I maintain contact with China’s Ambassador to Ireland as I do with all the Ambassadors of foreign states. The Government is strongly committed to further deepening links between Ireland and China at all levels and the Chinese embassy in Dublin plays an important and constructive role in that regard. I meet the Ambassador regularly at...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (16 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and I am very aware that in the week of the 44th anniversary of the Dublin-Monaghan bombings that this is hugely sensitive time for the families concerned. That tragic incident saw the biggest loss of life in any single day during the Troubles, as pointed out by the Senator. It is important to acknowledge politicians across the Oireachtas who work...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (16 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The honest answer is that I do not know why the requests that have come from the Government on the back of all-party Dáil motions have not been responded to in a more satisfactory way. There is now an opportunity to address the issue. The British Government is moving ahead with a legacy consultation process in Northern Ireland, dealing with very sensitive and difficult cases. That is...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The European Commission has been undertaking an investigation since last year. Members will recall that on 4 July 2017, it carried out an unannounced inspection at the premises of companies active in the motor insurance industry in the State. The basis for this inspection was a concern by the Commission that the companies involved may have engaged in anti-competitive practices in breach of...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The role of the CCPC, independent of the Government, is working. That is why it has a live investigation under way. That is the way it should be. If there are concerns about appropriate levels of competition, an independent investigation must happen, separate from the political system or the Government, in a robust manner, which is what is happening now. The recommendations of the cost...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are many questions being asked and many questions being answered today in multiple forums, as has been the case in recent weeks, including at Leaders' Questions, the Committee of Public Accounts and the Joint Committee on Health. We also have a statutory inquiry-----

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: My apologies. We have a scoping inquiry under way that will report initially in the first week of June and it will be finalised by the end of June. It will be followed by a statutory inquiry. There is no question that any information or files are going to be hidden from anyone. As Vicky Phelan said yesterday, what is needed is full accountability and that is what is going to be...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government is getting a grip of this situation. We are prioritising victims first. That is why we will seek for packages to be put in place for people in a very supportive environment and in a proactive way coming from the HSE as opposed to expecting victims or families to have to seek those packages. For what it is worth, both Stephen Teap and Vicky Phelan spent time last night...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Bríd Smith for giving me an opportunity to speak about this issue. As the Taoiseach stated earlier in the week, with some notable exceptions, the referendum campaign has, by and large, been respectful. Given that this is such a divisive and difficult issue for many, people have engaged in considered discussion of it in their homes. I have spoken to many people in their...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: As I stated previously, there are sincerely held views on both sides of the argument, including in this House, and we need to respect them on such an emotive and personal issue. For that reason, from my experience, the focus of the "Yes" campaign has been on trying to provide people with facts, ensuring doctors are listened to and addressing the challenge the country faces in this matter....

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Let me answer the questions in relation to post offices and other services, but can I just say that the contribution the Deputy has just made would suggest that rural Ireland is dying on its feet? I know west Cork-----

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: No, I know west Cork well. I know Ballydehob well.

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I also know that there are parts of west Cork that are thriving. This is a great place to live. There are challenges in relation to post offices and we have worked with An Post. An Post, in particular, has worked with postmasters to come up with an agreed approach to ensure that we have a post office infrastructure that can survive into the future recognising the modern realities that they...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: People have also challenged the Government and we are responding to that. We are seeing parcel services being expanded through the post office network. We are seeing new Government services. There is a digital assist pilot programme being rolled out. An Post has promised new financial services through its post office network before the end of the year. Instead of throwing our hands in...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----An Post, working with postmasters and getting agreement and endorsement from them in a ballot, as well as working with the Minister, Deputy Naughten, in particular, who has really taken this issue hugely seriously as a priority in government, is ensuring that we have a future for a post office network that can help a thriving rural economy to grow and develop in the future. Of...

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Let us not paint rural Ireland as part of this country that is dying on its feet-----

Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----because it is simply not true.