Results 29,701-29,720 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is why this Government introduced rent pressure zones, which have proved to be effective in terms of slowing down rental increases for existing rental tenancies. There is clearly an issue in respect of new rental tenancies that are coming in. There is a distinction now in the numbers that the RTB has published between the two, which is useful. There is a need to continue to build on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is a balance. Undoubtedly, our priority has been to protect tenants at a time when rental prices have been increasing too rapidly. However, we have to be cognisant of the fact that we have a very unusual rental market in Ireland in which the vast majority of landlords only own one property and are effectively not professional landlords. That is why we need a strong RTB and it is why...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will know, because he was involved in some of the decisions, over the past seven years there have been four minimum wage increases. We continue to look to the future in terms of further increases. We now have a pay commission that makes recommendations independently with unions and employers giving input into that process. When we get recommendations for increases in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has asked many good questions. The White Paper is more or less complete. I am reading drafts of it this week with a view to finalising a new Irish Aid development strategy, which will contain much new thinking as well as build on many of the good things the Irish Aid programme has been doing for decades. We are also planning for a significant monetary increase to support our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The aid programme is all about action. The Deputy knows a considerable amount about the Irish Aid programme because she takes an interest in it. Anybody who takes the time to visit some of our programmes, particularly in Africa, but also now increasingly in the Middle East, will know it is all about action and getting to the people who need it most. That is why we can more than justify a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, a recommendation on the use of Spinraza must be made by the rare diseases technology review committee. My understanding is that the committee is unlikely to make a final recommendation on Spinraza until January. While I know that this is not what the families want to hear, I am just giving the Deputy the most accurate information available to me.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: If and when the Deputy introduces legislation, it will get fair consideration from the Government and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, will respond to it. This is a sector that is regulated by the Central Bank. Loans that are transferred from one lender to another maintain the protections for borrowers that the Central Bank imposes through its codes and rules.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: We are anxious to get on with this infrastructural project, which will be the largest ever investment in the maternity area in Ireland. The Minister for Health is very anxious to progress it as quickly as possible. A team of people is working on that right now across the relevant hospitals as well as in the Department. I will ask the Minister to send a note to the Deputy providing an update.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am well aware of some of these issues. Like many others, we were shocked and remain very concerned about the murder of a journalist, which was clearly planned and organised clinically. That murder took place in the embassy of a third country. We, like many other EU countries, continue to ask searching questions about that murder which are not going to go away.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I acknowledge the work that Deputy Gino Kenny has done on this issue although he and I have had arguments and disagreements on it in this House. What those of us on this side of the House want is a system that is as seamless as possible and that allows parents to access appropriate health care treatment for their children. However, this must be done under the supervision of a medical...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Instead, we need to work to try to help families to get the medical treatments that they need.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Significant increases in funding have been made to support carers and to increase respite hours but I accept that there is still more work to be done.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The examples which the Deputy has provided are why the Minister of Justice and Equality is speaking to senior gardaí to ensure they have the resources and powers they need to be able to act. An Garda Síochána has shown itself to have the capacity to deal with dangerous feuding criminals. It has done that in Limerick successfully, and it will also be able to do it in Drogheda....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I do not have an exact date but I will revert to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Department will begin to name them in January.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will ask the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy McHugh, to revert to the Deputy directly on the matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: That matter is under review by the Department of Finance, as is the issue of moneylenders. I suspect, therefore, that the Minister of Finance will revert to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are many challenges as a result of Brexit. Without the UK, the EU will be a weaker Union in many ways, economically and politically. It will also be a very different Union, and Ireland will need to forge new strategic alliances, a process which is well under way.

Centenary of 1918 General Election: Statements (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: The general election of 1918 was an extraordinary act of self-determination by the people. It is entirely right and appropriate that we in Dáil Éireann take this time, on the eve of the centenary, to remember and reflect on this most significant act in our journey to independence and nationhood. This week, a century ago, the voice of the people was heard as never before - not...

Centenary of 1918 General Election: Statements (13 Dec 2018)

Simon Coveney: Divisive as ever.