Results 29,121-29,140 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----as he does all the time. New social housing is not just about new builds. It is also about bringing other properties and acquisitions-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----back into new social housing stock. We will, and have in the past two years, dramatically increased the amount of social housing stock that is in use, but we need to do much more. We are talking about adding another 100,000 social houses to the housing stock over time, which is a hugely ambitious social housing plan which we will deliver on. I would contend that the delay in social...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Doherty knows that better than most but it does not suit his political narrative to accept it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is the reality.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We are well aware of the seriousness of the situation. The Deputy does not need to remind us.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am not going to give a budget speech today for obvious reasons, as Deputy Howlin will understand. As a result of the sacrifices made by so many people and businesses in the past decade, Ireland is in a position to spend nearly €7.5 billion on capital next year. That is an increase of 25% in expenditure on schools, hospitals, roads, social infrastructure and housing, among other...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We managed to give some modest relief to people last year and we hope to so again this year by moving thresholds in a direction that is slightly closer to international norms. All of the independent international assessments of the Irish tax system have shown that it is one of the most progressive tax systems in the world. To be fair to Deputy Howlin, he had a part in creating that. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We look forward to seeing Deputy Howlin's proposals. I am sure they will be assessed before final decisions are made from a Government perspective. The Deputy seems to be making accusations that we are not focusing enough on expenditure in areas such as childcare. He should look at the increase in spending on childcare we committed last year and wait and see what will be announced next...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Howlin is calling for more expenditure. We are advocating for a modest package for middle income earners-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: ------who are moving into the higher tax bracket at very modest incomes, in a way that is consistent with the measures implemented last year. That is what is called balance. We cannot continue to ask the same people to foot the tax bill for the increased spend we hope to deliver. We need a balanced budget which recognises the pressures middle income earners are under and the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: If I were a member of the Naval Service, I would be surprised to hear a Member of this House calling for Naval Service personnel to be brought home from the Mediterranean to focus on their main role and what they were trained for, which, according to the Deputy, is fisheries protection. Fisheries protection is not the limit of what we ask Naval Service personnel to do. The Deputy may not be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is not the first time the Deputy has targeted individuals who do not have an opportunity to defend themselves in the House. I have absolute confidence in the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces whom I know well and with whom I worked while I was Minister for Defence. On many occasions I visited the headquarters of the Naval Service in Haulbowline with him and other members of his...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, a process and an evaluation must conclude before a decision can be finalised on that. I will ask the Minister for Health to come back to him on timescales.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: This is a matter for the Minister for Finance. The Deputy will get his answer next week.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I understand there is some work ongoing on a memorandum of understanding on how we bring forward and progress Private Members' Bills because many such Bills have been passed. It is also my understanding that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, is, in principle, supportive of what Deputy Howlin is trying to do in his Bill.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will revert to the Deputy with a timescale from the Minister.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I know the Deputy has done a good deal of work in this area. The last time I answered a question from him on this issue it received a negative reaction, which I had not intended to provoke. What we are trying to do is have a streamlined licensing system that can allow families to access appropriate drugs under the supervision and support of a consultant doctor. It will mean those decisions...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is not that straightforward. Military flights require specific diplomatic clearance from all countries through whose airspace they fly. These clearances require due notification, are time limited and must all be in place and aligned to allow a flight to proceed. In the case of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force, UNDOF, additional clearances for the transit of military...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: This is not the same as flying home from Los Angeles or somewhere.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I caution people to show some understanding that the complexities of travel arrangements for military personnel-----