Results 30,301-30,320 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 to 58, inclusive, together.   The last number of years have been marked by a period of reflection and debate on the future direction of the European Union. This has included addressing challenges including populism and racism. The 'Leaders' Agenda', endorsed by the European Council in 2017, is a work programme that seeks...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Issues (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: All EU Member State are bound by the acquis communautaire under the Treaties. The EU has opened formal negotiations with two countries in the Western Balkans: Montenegro and Serbia. Both of these countries opened new negotiating chapters at their respective Accession Conferences in Brussels in December 2018. Montenegro now has 32 of 35 opened chapters, while, for Serbia, that number is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The recruitment and use of child soldiers during conflict remains a serious problem globally. Tens of thousands of children are recruited and used as soldiers in conflicts around the world. Since 2002, the Secretary-General of the United Nations has issued an annual report on children and armed conflict which lists all armed groups – both state and non-state – that recruit and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this sensitive and important issue, which has been raised repeatedly. When I have taken Leaders' Question, it has come up almost every second week for many months now. SMA, as has been described, is a terrible condition with awful consequences for sufferers, and I am sure extraordinary stress for families as well. I completely understand the stress...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Let me give the House the information that I have. I certainly stand open to questions. Following detailed consideration of an application from the manufacturer, Biogen, the HSE leadership team made the decision that it was unable to recommend reimbursement of Spinraza at the price quoted on 12 February. On Thursday last, 21 February, the HSE wrote to the company informing it that the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I encourage the company to engage and ensure that we find a way, for patients and families who are stressed and suffering because of the anxiety and the wait on this issue, to bring that wait to an end if it is possible to do so.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have been given a note by the HSE.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will verify the information that I have. I have a date next to that reimbursement price that was proposed of 12 February, which I suspect may be accurate. Perhaps there has been a change since then in the price that is on offer. If there is, there is a structured mechanism for the company to engage.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I ask the Deputy not to trivialise this important issue. We want to get it resolved. There is an absolute willingness on the part of the Government to do that. However, when we are talking about facilitating drugs for rare conditions, as we have been done this year, if we ignore price as part of the discussion, we could pay money that could go into other drugs.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Of course we want the best drugs to be available for rare conditions and other conditions. They are going through the assessment process. Cost must be a part of that discussion. The onus is on the company to come back with a proposal that I certainly hope the HSE will be able to consider favourably.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I assure the Deputy that I, as a deputy head of Government and as a parent, try to act every day in terms of the responsibility I have. I do not think we should be trying to paint the HSE as some kind of cold body that does not want to grant reimbursement for Spinraza. It does want to grant it. The HSE rare diseases technology review committee recommended that it should be approved. As it...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is a priority, just like it was a priority to get other rare disease drugs approved to date in 2019. There are families awaiting and needing decisions on reimbursement and the absence of those decisions has been going on for too long. In the case of Spinraza, it has been going on for too many months. We also have to ensure that we have in place a system which makes decisions on the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to clarify a number of the issues he raised. Yesterday, the Department of Children and Youth Affairs received a copy of a letter dated 18 February written by Tusla to the CEO of Scouting Ireland, who raised serious issues regarding the handling of several recent child protection cases and criticised the apparent lack of progress in reviewing the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should not say there is nothing new.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy just said there is nothing new.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Minister made a decision to publish the letter so that this is dealt with in an open and transparent way. Concerns remain in regard to the need for Scouting Ireland to put procedures in place to ensure they are fully consistent with Tusla recommendations on child protection because we know there have been real concerns and cases of concern in the past. This is an ongoing process whereby...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is not what I said.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: No. I am surprised at the defensive tone of the Deputy's questioning on this issue. The Minister is trying to act in a way that is transparent, open and responsible------

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----to prioritise first and foremost the safety of children. We know there have been cases of children who have been in totally inappropriate situations linked to Scouting Ireland in the past. Scouting Ireland is a very positive organisation and we want it to work, but we also need to ensure that Tusla brings its experience to bear on the necessary restructuring and procedures that need to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is why the Minister instructed that the CEO work with Tusla at the highest level of the organisation------