Results 30,141-30,160 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: From the beginning of the Brexit process, the Government has been clear about our wish to pursue the closest possible relationship with the UK following its departure from the EU, including on matters related to security. The Political Declaration on the framework for the future relationship agreed in November states that: “The future relationship will provide for comprehensive,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Passport Express service provides an option for citizens to submit their passport application through the network of more than one thousand post offices across the State. All types of Passport Application, both renewal and first time applications, can be made via the Passport Express Service. The Passport Service is committed to continue to offer a range of application channels,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North South Inter-Parliamentary Association (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The operation of the North South Inter-Parliamentary Association is a matter, in this jurisdiction, for the Houses of the Oireachtas. The establishment of a North South parliamentary forum was envisaged in the Good Friday Agreement and the St. Andrew's Agreement. Following an agreement by working groups of both the Oireachtas and the Northern Ireland Assembly on 4 July 2012, the inaugural...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts Data (19 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has a "Nil" response as it does not have any contracts with a value in excess of €10 million. The total capital allocation for my Department across its two Votes – Vote 27: International Co-operation and Vote 28: Foreign Affairs and Trade - is relatively modest compared to most other Government Departments. In the years covered by the...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: As a Tánaiste from Cork, I thought it was appropriate to say a few words and, of course, to offer my sympathy to Donal Creed's family, many of whom I know very well. I also wish to honour him today because that is what this is really about. Not many of us in this House can represent constituents for almost a quarter of a century. That is what Donal Creed did in two different...

Death of Former Member: Expressions of Sympathy (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Okay Sinn Féin or Labour - given the day that is in it, I did not want to give the others too much recognition. There are very few people in politics, particularly those in politics for 24 years, who leave politics with absolute respect and who still do not have anybody speaking badly about them. He was one of those unique figures. In many ways he was from the politics of a...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: As time is short, I will make just two points. The first is that I have worked with Deputy Harris around the Cabinet table for a number of years now. In many ways, he has the most difficult job in government. I have seen him fight for patients and those who need the health service to work. I have seen him deliver at budget time. Ireland is now spending more on healthcare than ever...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is its sixth no-confidence motion in less than three years. Instead of trying to work within the political system to make policy changes and progress and get real things done, Sinn Féin releases its keyboard warriors, placards and billboards with Ministers' faces on them. Let us look at what Sinn Féin is actually doing in a way that is consistent with its accusations. It...

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Today they are trying to pull down this Parliament, too, at a time when it is doing crucial work in the national interest, both in the area of healthcare reform and 36 days before Brexit. There is only one party in this House that has no confidence and there is a good reason nobody wants to work with it in government.

Confidence in the Minister for Health: Motion (Resumed) (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: These are double standards.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Embassy in South Africa provided financial support for a closing event for a conference on post-conflict reconciliation organised by Stellenbosch University in December 2018. The closing event, at which the Embassy supported the participation of a speaker from Northern Ireland, was planned to honour the legacy of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and mark the 20th anniversary of South...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Language (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: My Department has been proactive in implementing the three action points assigned to it in the Government's 2018-2022 Action Plan for the 20 Year Strategy for the Irish Language 2010-2030. We have engaged extensively with the Trasna Na dTonnta Twitter campaign (including in the latest round of activities as run over the period 4th-8th February 2019) and supported the Cultúr Club diaspora...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (20 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective operation of all of its institutions. Secretary of State...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: First, I thank the Deputy for raising this hugely serious issue. As a former Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I assure the Deputy that I and Deputy Creed and the Cabinet as a whole are more than aware of the potential threats to the agrifood industry and the beef sector in particular. There are about 130,000 farm families in Ireland and about 100,000 of these get income from...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I can assure the Deputy that the Government understands only too well the pressures that the sector is under. It has been a difficult year for beef on many levels. Regardless of the question marks and frustrations that some people may have concerning factories, their interactions with farmers and so on - that is an ongoing and testing relationship, as it should be - something much more...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----with other EU member states and the Commission, which recognise the unique vulnerability of Ireland, particularly in the beef space but in agrifood generally. We will respond accordingly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: First of all, this is an area that needs more resources and better results. I do not believe that anyone in this House, and certainly not on this side, would contest that. However, it is an area into which we are putting many more resources. In the budget, an extra €55 million was assigned to mental health services, bringing the overall budget for 2019 to nearly €1 billion....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The report is being done and is being finalised. I am told that it will be ready shortly. I will revert to the Deputy with an exact date if I can get one, as it is not an unreasonable request. Members on this side of the House get the same representations that the Deputies opposite get. In fact, we probably get more because we are in government and there is a responsibility that comes with...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Believe me, we know the stories and frustrations of parents who are trying to get supports and access to professional services for their children. There is no lack of motivation on this side of the House to improve services. My understanding is recruitment is the biggest challenge in getting the professionals we need, but the recruitment process is well under way. I have given the Deputy...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is very serious. We have spoken out and will continue to speak out against military intervention. As the Deputy will be aware, the most recent EU 28 statement on Venezuela was delivered by the High Representative, Federica Mogherini, on 26 January. It reiterated that "a peaceful and inclusive democratic solution is the only sustainable way out" of the crisis in Venezula which, by the...