Results 29,401-29,420 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The issue regarding capacity is the real issue. Everybody accepts that, but it cannot be solved overnight. This year, increasing capacity is a priority for Government. In the past 12 months, an additional 240 beds have been opened, and a further 79 additional beds are planned for the fourth quarter of 2018 and early 2019. That includes an additional 30-bed ward in Our Lady of Lourdes...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: People in our health service work extraordinarily hard, in many cases under very difficult circumstances. We know that in government. The Taoiseach is a doctor, and he has a very clear understanding of the way hospitals work. What we are at here is about short-term planning for what we know will be a very pressurised winter period, and addressing all issues to do with that, from capacity,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The issues we need to address require an honest and practical conversation. That is what the Taoiseach has contributed.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for asking this question. It is a sensitive but very important issue on which the House needs to continue to provide leadership. People will remember the former Taoiseach, Deputy Enda Kenny, making a statement in March 2017 in announcing the recognition of Travellers as an ethnic group in Ireland. Since that statement, the Government has published the national Traveller...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: To make the Deputy's point, on which I agree with him, there is no lack of effort on the Government's part, but the outcomes are not changing. For example, in the latest budget we allocated €15 million for Traveller-specific accommodation, a 25% increase on the figure for last year. Looking at the recent history of this issue, it is no secret that the delivery of Traveller...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government is absolutely committed to the Sláintecare approach to reforming and changing for the better the healthcare system. The point of trying to get all-party agreement on the way forward was that this will take time and will involve a number of different Governments in its delivery. Whoever makes up those Governments, the fact that we now have all-party agreement on the way...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: On the Deputy's final question, legislating for services and access to services for people is one thing but we must have the capacity to deliver them.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: If the Deputy is suggesting that we should have found another €600 million or another €200 million or €300 million for healthcare, that would have had to come from somewhere else in the budget.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: This is a zero-sum game. Healthcare rightly continues to take a large portion of the overall budget. It has also rightly taken the lions share of the increased capacity for expenditure because that is where investment is needed. The priority in expenditure should be health and housing but there are limits to what we can spend, even in an economy that is growing at the pace we are currently...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I hope the House will indulge me in expressing sadness and respect on hearing this morning of the passing of an exceptional Irishman, Professor Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. On behalf of the Government, I express condolences to Mícheál's family and friends and to the cultural community more widely who are mourning his loss. Mícheál's talents as a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The money message issue is not determined by the Government. It is just a matter of fact as to whether a money message is required. It is not a political judgment.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is required. I will have to ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly as I do not have the information.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I agree with the Deputy's remarks regarding the Ceann Comhairle's leadership last night on the issue of reaching out to the Traveller community, for which I, too, thank him. I hope we will see a lot more of it. On the UN parliamentary assembly, we are currently looking at ways in which Ireland along with many other countries can continue to protect and support multilateral structures...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I accept this is a 12 month of the year challenge and problem. Capacity is a major issue across so many hospitals. For this reason, we have provided an additional 240 beds so far this year, with more to come before the end of the year. We have spent tens of millions of euro doing this. The health budget for next year is about maintaining and supporting services, but also about...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am glad to hear Opposition parties coming out with ideas as to how we can use State agencies.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: Irish Water has been named as well. The parties that were calling for the abolition of Irish Water are now looking to it for solutions.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Peter Smith report, which is the report from the independent auditor of the process to determine the national broadband scheme in terms of tendering and procurement, is not available to Government yet. He is independent of Government and if he needs more time he needs to be given it, which the Minister, Deputy Bruton, confirmed yesterday.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government is anxious to receive his report and recommendations, which will deal with the integrity of the process comprehensively. As soon as we have that report, the House will be informed.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: There were draft wind energy guidelines agreed between the Departments of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Housing, Planning and Local Government. Those draft guidelines then needed to go through a process of public consultation, which has been ongoing. The Government is anxious to conclude that process as-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (8 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I ask the Deputy to allow me to respond. In regard to climate change more generally, the Government is determined to be a leader in this area. This will require some policy decisions for which I hope we will have the support of other parties in this House. Climate change is not always about making the easy decisions and spending more money. It is also about policy change that will need...