Results 29,281-29,300 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will come back to the Deputy with a detailed answer from the Minister.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is the Minister is endeavouring to resolve the issue as quickly as possible. Of course, it is unacceptable that those who rely on illness benefit are not able to receive the basic income they should expect and are entitled to receive from the State. Whether there are IT or negotiation issues in dealing with concerns about delays in obtaining information from GPs, I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I received a note while the Deputy was asking his supplementary question. The Department wants to reassure all customers that they will be paid the correct amount up to the end of the period of their illness as certified by their GP. No customer will lose out in respect of-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department is working to address the issue and hope to have it resolved quickly. It is assigning additional staff to claim processing work to enable other experienced staff to be dedicated to call answering and dealing with customer queries. It recognises that, owing to the high level of calls to the illness benefit section, customers have not been able to reach a dedicated staff member...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: In some ways, this is an example of a bigger issue and challenge we face nationally. We are seeing more extreme weather cycles. Undoubtedly, climate change is happening. Not only do we need to do more to mitigate its effects, we also need to spend very large sums of money to adapt to more dramatic weather cycles, including for flood relief measures. We need to ensure that rivers large and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: As I said, in order to access funding for projects a process needs to be followed.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: With respect, we do not bypass the process because the Deputy raises it here in the Dáil. I am sure the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, is considering this application. As I said, he understands flooding and is doing an excellent job in understanding local complexities and investing in flood management systems. One of those investments is to ensure rivers flow and are not blocked...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The only information I have on it is what I have read in the media, in social media in particular. I would be surprised of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine officials had not been informed by their colleagues in Scotland and we will take appropriate action.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Not that I am aware of.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I understand it is under review by the committee. It is a matter for the committee Chairman and the committee to make recommendations to Government on it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure if it is helpful for me to give more oxygen to this issue in this House. One of the things we should and could be quite proud of in the context of elections in Ireland and politics in Ireland generally is that most of the time candidates do not resort to politics of the lowest common denominator, trying to build a profile through feeding a prejudice that undoubtedly is there...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government has a strong record in trying to change the conversation on the relationship between Travellers and the settled community. The former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, made a very emotive and powerful speech here when we recognised Traveller ethnicity in Ireland. Since then, the Minister of State, Deputy David Stanton, to his credit, has followed words with actions in regard to a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We will see a new HSE service plan for next year which will involve a very significant increase in the available budget. I suggest the Deputy puts down a detailed question to the Minister for Health in regard to Tipperary.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: My understanding is that, in response to proposals from the credit union sector to provide funding for social housing, the Central Bank's investment framework was amended to allow for investment in tier 3 approved housing bodies via a regulated entity. Since 1 March 2018 credit unions have been permitted to provide funding via a special purpose vehicle to tier 3 approved housing bodies for...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: With respect, I find that slightly contradictory. The Deputy has asked me two questions today. The first was on how we respond to a climate change phenomenon that is resulting in more extreme weather and a flooding threat. At the same time, he is advocating for burning turf. For me, that is a contradiction. In Bord na Móna, we have a State company we are very proud of. It has...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will refer the Deputy's question to the Minister concerned. I agree that section 39 organisations are doing an extraordinarily good job in many areas. The Minister for Finance is looking at a whole series of issues on section 39 bodies. I will raise the matter of insurance and see if I can come back to the Deputy with an answer.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Conflicts (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have been monitoring the state of affairs in Yemen with growing anxiety, particularly in recent weeks as reports of the increased threat of famine have circulated. I am deeply concerned by the level of violence in Yemen and by reports of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law. Three years of war have had devastating consequences for civilians. Yemen is now the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Conflicts (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We are. When the Deputy raises issues such as this, and he is genuine when he raises them, he is normally well-informed. Calling for the bombing to stop is one thing; actually making it happen is another. The way Ireland can be effective in doing that is to work through EU channels to try to do it. I am not quite sure what the Deputy is asking me to do. I have raised the Yemeni issue and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Conflicts (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: With respect, Deputy, that is because we do not have the full facts yet. As usual, the Deputy wants to be the first out to call for-----

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Foreign Conflicts (18 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----dramatic actions. We were well-informed on Salisbury before we made decisions-----