Results 29,321-29,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Investigations (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 197 together. The case referred to by the Deputy was discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 15 October. All were in agreement that an investigation into the case isthe priority now. In the meantime, following confirmation that Mr Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul, High Representative Mogherini has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (23 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I met with Michel Barnier on 16 October, ahead of the October General Affairs Council meeting that same day. We discussed developments in the ongoing negotiations between the EU and UK on the Withdrawal Agreement and the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland. We also had a constructive exchange on the issue of fundamental rights and EU citizens’ rights in Northern Ireland,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Minister of State McEntee and I had a bilateral meeting with the French Minister for European Affairs, Nathalie Loiseau in Luxembourg on Tuesday, 16 October. At the meeting, Minister McEntee and I were briefed by Minister Loiseau on the French Bill on preparedness and contingency planning, which was published on 3 October.I also provided Minister Loiseau with an update on recent Government...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights Investigations (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 110 together. The case referred to by the Deputies was discussed at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels on 15 October. All were in agreement that an investigation into the case is the priority now. Since then Saudi Arabia has confirmed that Mr Khashoggi was killed in the Saudi Arabian Consulate in Istanbul. We heard further shocking...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Since the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of March 2017, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form a new power-sharing Executive.Unfortunately, to date, it has not proved possible to reach an agreement on the formation of an Executive, despite intensive engagement. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 to 106, inclusive, together. The North South co-operation we enjoy today brings tangible benefits to the daily lives of people in the border region and contributes to economic opportunity and development. It is also a very practical outworking of the peace process which allows for the normalisation of relationships between people across the island, to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: While the UK’s decision to leave the EU has serious implications for Ireland, we maintain a strong and constructive bilateral relationship with the UK government. We are fully committed to developing and enhancing this relationship over the coming years and to working together as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement to support the totality of relationships across these islands....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Meetings (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government engages frequently with the US Administration and US elected representatives, both Republican and Democrat, on all aspects of the US-Ireland relationship and on other issues of mutual concern. The St. Patrick’s Day period in Washington, D.C., provides an excellent opportunity for such substantive engagement, and I can confirm that the Taoiseach met with Senate Majority...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foireann Roinne (24 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Molaim Ceisteanna Uimh. 111 go 112, cuimsitheach, a fhreagairt le chéile. Cé nach ndéanann mo Roinn inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge a mheas go foirmiúil don chuid is mó de rólanna, ta líon suntasach dár bhfoireann inniúil lena gcuid ghnó a dhéanamh trí Ghaeilge. Is féidir leis na hoifigigh seo iad féin a chur chun tosaigh...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I acknowledge that yesterday was a difficult day for many Bord na Móna workers, their families and their communities. Bord na Móna has a responsibility, and is taking steps, to continue to provide good quality and sustainable jobs in the midlands for many years to come. I welcome that Bord na Móna has confirmed it is seeking redundancies on a voluntary basis. It is important...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I said that the Government will be open to any constructive suggestions. It will consider them and follow a policy that is in the best interests of people living in the midlands. I do not want to get into an argument with the Deputy over where the 15,000 extra jobs have come from, but they are jobs in the midlands, not Dublin, which people in the midlands can drive to and work at. We are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will look into that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We have had this exchange on many occasions in this House. I acknowledge that homelessness is one of the greatest challenges this Government faces, and we are determined to resolve it. I hope there will co-operation and constructive opposition from people on the other side of this House. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government published the monthly homeless report for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: On Focus Ireland's request, of course we want to achieve a limit of no more than six months in emergency accommodation. It is one of the reasons we have expended huge resources on putting family hubs in place as well as the supports in those hubs to help families transition from emergency accommodation, which should and can only be temporary in nature. Many families are being moved through...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am not going to commit to individual amendments to legislation on the floor of the House. The Deputy will have the opportunity to make the case and the Minister is more than capable of responding comprehensively to it. We are putting more resources into emergency accommodation and housing assistance payments because there is a temporary crisis to which we need to respond in a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: This is a temporary arrangement where the State has to support families through homelessness while we put in place long-term solutions. We have a five-year housing strategy which we are two years into. The most challenging element of that in terms of human impact is around homelessness, in particular family homelessness. We are more than conscious of that. We work with, fund and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am less interested in the party political slagging match and much more interested in reassuring parents, families, teachers and principals that we can fix this. We are talking about a different era of standards and inspection systems which have changed quite dramatically since 2014. We are talking about pre-Grenfell, after which the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, undertook the inspection...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Under the current regulations, in terms of pre-2014 buildings and certification around that, the contractor and contractors’ design team were fully responsible for ensuring quality and certifying that the buildings were constructed in accordance with the works requirements and building regulations at the time. Since then, under current regulation, an independent assigned certifier is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: With regard to healthcare facilities, at this point there is no reason to believe hospitals are affected but we are going to take a precautionary approach and the HSE is determining what projects have been-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----completed by Western Building Systems. We will, of course, follow up to ensure there are no issues. I am told by the Department of Health that it does not expect significant issues.