Results 28,481-28,500 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: A Cheann Comhairle-----

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: It might also be better if the Sinn Féin spokesperson on housing were not to quote selectively a senior housing official who is doing a fantastic job in very pressurised circumstances in order to try to politicise what he said.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is not what he said this morning. The Deputy then tried to back up the claim with unsubstantiated quotes from local authority meetings in various parts of the country.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is not what Mr. Brendan Kenny was talking about this morning.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: Rather than arguing over the figures, there should be an acceptance in this House that we do have a homeless crisis.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: We have taken 2,000 families out of hotels in the past 12 months.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is appropriate when we are dealing with an issue as serious and emotive as this-----

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: ----where we are talking about the lives of real people and real children living in inappropriate accommodation on a temporary basis that we do not misquote senior officials who are doing their best in difficult circumstances.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has asked a lot of questions. We do have rent controls for the first time in the history of the State. I introduced them and this Government made that happen in Christmas week, 2017.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: As a result of those rent controls, we are seeing some limitations in rental inflation. Approximately 67% of rental properties in the country are in rent pressure zones. There are issues with regard to student accommodation which the Minister has agreed to examine in co-operation with Opposition parties. On the issue of family hubs, if memory serves me correctly, we have spent about...

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am happy to be held to account for my role in to trying to fix the housing crisis.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: In time, the policy changes we have made as a Government will be highly effective. I share Deputy Broughan's concerns about the number of people who are homeless today. That number is a reminder of the job that we need to do. I will not accept, however, the pretence offered by Deputy Broughan and others that we do not have a pipeline of delivery for social housing because that is simply...

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: If the Deputy took the time to look at that, perhaps his questions would be more accurate.

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: There has been extensive consultation between the Government and the Opposition spokespeople on the legislation mentioned by the Deputy. I compliment the Minister, Deputy Bruton, on the work he has done to build consensus across the House on an appropriate way forward through Committee Stage, etc. It has not been straightforward. The approach that has been taken represents a fundamental...

Leaders' Questions (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy can ask the question, but I am not going to give an answer that is not properly informed. I have not spoken to the Secretary General concerned and I am certainly not going to disassociate myself from him in the context of the positive work that the Department of Education and Skills has been doing in this tricky area. The Government supports diversity of educational patronage....

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The consultant contract negotiations are ongoing. It is difficult for me to predict outcomes.

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Minister is seeking to progress the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016, which will create for the first time a statutory right for adopted persons and persons who have been subject to incorrect birth registration, birth certificate information and certain other information. The intention is that the Bill would certainly be enacted by the end of the year. The Minister has...

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is that the reason the Minister, Deputy Zappone, is so anxious to bring this Bill forward is to try to deal with the very issue Deputy Burton is raising. I am aware that the Deputy has raised this before. We sat in Cabinet together and the Deputy has been vocal on this issue for many years. That is why the Minister, Deputy Zappone, wants to work with all parties in the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Minister, Deputy Harris, has been very clear that he wants to bring legislation forward as quickly as possible. That legislation will be consistent with what the Government committed to before we asked the people to vote on this issue. We hope to have a draft Bill published before we break up for the summer. In fact, we hope to have Second Stage concluded before then, so that the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (31 May 2018)

Simon Coveney: I happen to live two miles from the site in question which is closer than any other Member, although Deputy Michael McGrath is pretty close to it too. I have been involved in discussions and debates around this issue for over ten years. I believe the decision made by An Bord Pleanála is the wrong one. I am not saying that for the first time. Anybody who wants to look at my views on...