Results 30,361-30,380 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Supports (6 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Making the case for supporting measures at EU level that recognise Brexit represents a serious disturbance to the Irish economy is a key pillar of the Government’s response to Brexit. There is a firm understanding at EU level of the unique and disproportionate impact that Brexit will have on Ireland. This has been reflected in a number of concrete measures and commitments to date,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which is one the House needs to address today. I met the Secretary of State, Karen Bradley, yesterday evening and assure the House that she is in no doubt as to where we stand on this issue. I made it very clear that the Irish Government's position was that there should be effective investigations into all deaths during the Troubles, regardless of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy should read the statement in full before dismissing it entirely. I understand what he is saying in terms of the depth of feeling and distress that these comments have added to. The timing could not have been worse when one considers what is likely to happen next week with 14 families waiting for a briefing from the Public Prosecution Service for Northern Ireland. It is a very...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy would expect, I had a very long meeting with Karen Bradley last night on this issue. At the end of the meeting, I asked her to state publically what she stated to me when I asked her for reassurance from her Government that it was still committed to the Stormont House framework on dealing with legacy issues in Northern Ireland and that it would move forward on that basis. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I made it very clear to the Secretary of State last night that I believe her statement was wrong and ill-advised, and that it would cause deep offence to many people. I think she recognises that, but she can speak for herself. It is a very unusual situation where, in a different Parliament, a Minister of another Government is commenting on another Minister. I work with Karen Bradley on...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is no secret. However, I made the Irish Government's position very clear. We will not support a legacy process that is not fair and balanced and that does not treat all-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----crimes and killings during the Troubles in Northern Ireland in a way that is consistent with what was agreed at Stormont House.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not accept that assessment, which will be no surprise to the Deputy. He approaches the housing crisis from an ideological perspective. He believes no one should make any profit from building a house anywhere as far as I can see. He believes that everybody should essentially be provided with a home by the State and that the taxpayer should pay for it all. Our position is that people...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: When it suits the Deputy, he demonises developers, and then when it suits him to make a counterargument, he quotes them. This is a total inconsistency.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: We are not-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----developing our housing policy on the back of trying to make developers happy. We have developed a housing policy that can deliver homes for people. We are going to add an extra 50,000 social housing units onto the existing stock over the lifetime of the Rebuilding Ireland plan and we are on schedule to do that. We are not relying on the private sector to deliver them. On a temporary...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy. There are a lot of questions there.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will try to answer some of them. This Government's record in trying to protect workers, particularly around minimum wage increases, is very strong and it will continue to be, by taking independent advice on an annual basis. On the tips issue, to be clear, any employer that calculates salary and includes tips in that figure is acting illegally. This cannot be done.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Tips are separate to salary and if there are issues that the Government needs to act on there, then we will look at that closely. If there are loopholes in respect of the new legislation that are being abused, we will close them. On the new legislation, which has been welcomed across the trade union movement generally and certainly by ICTU - I listened to Patricia King doing so during the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: First, on the comments by the previous Taoiseach on trying to make Ireland the best small country in which to build a business and to work, I stand corrected if I am wrong, but my understanding is we have the second highest minimum wage in Europe now, and we are very proud to have that. At the same time, we are maintaining a competitive economy that is creating jobs every single day. That is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will have to come back to the Deputy on the detail later today. There may be a money message issue; I am not sure.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am not going to comment on operational decisions that the Garda needs to make. Of course we are aware of the incident that took place in west Dublin yesterday and the need for an appropriate response to it from a policing perspective. There is ongoing contact between the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána to ensure a proactive response. We have seen...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I dealt with this issue in some detail earlier. It is important to quote from the Secretary of State's statement today, in which she says that where there is any evidence of wrongdoing, this should be pursued without fear or favour, whoever the perpetrators may be. That principle underpins our approach to dealing with legacy issues and it is one from which we will not depart. I have made...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: In response to Deputy Calleary's earlier question on the online advertising Bill, pre-legislative scrutiny took place and we are awaiting a scrutiny report. Once that is received, the Government will make a decision.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (7 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure it is appropriate for us to be deciding on the location of post offices on the floor of the Dáil.