Results 30,601-30,620 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not imagine we will need anything like as long a debate on programme B, apart from the pay and non-pay elements. The increases in the non-pay elements relate to Brexit information, campaigning and communications primarily. The pay elements relate largely to pay restoration decisions. The other areas relate to actions around EU engagement and other actions linked to our membership of...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I wish to put the position on the record. Every time there is that kind of discussion, an Irish voice normally intervenes to remind people of what our Constitution says and our policy on military neutrality. Of course we are absolutely committed to the European Union and its future but there are different perspectives. The complexity of Common Foreign and Security Policy aims to try to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Under programme C pay and non-pay are pretty straightforward. The other figures relate to contributions to international organisations. A 2019 allocation of €34 million is essentially at the same level as the revised figure for 2018. It reflects the best estimate of mandatory contributions to international organisations in 2019. The Department is committed, on behalf of the State,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: This figure is not our total contribution to the UN. This is a contribution to UN organisations that is subject to calculations made at a UN level under commitments made as part of a three-year cyclical process. We make a series of other contributions to UN agencies separately, including the World Food Programme, UNHCR and environmental NGOs. I imagine the Minister of State, Deputy Cannon,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is right.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is the end year.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: We could.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Under programme D pay and non-pay figures are self-explanatory. Again, there are no increases in the other areas but under the heading of promoting Ireland the published allocation is at the same level as at 2018. Funding under this programme enables the Department and its mission network to raise Ireland's profile internationally and support local and regional trade and economic...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: A very good person is chairing the committee. I do not know if the Deputy was at the last meeting we had on the subject.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: This has to be part of Ireland's sales pitch abroad and part of how we promote what we do across our mission network. As we see a significant increase in the number of our missions, I suspect the budget line will have to be increased in years ahead. For this year it is more or less the same budget as for last, with a difference of only some €1,000.

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: This budget allows our staff to co-ordinate the expenditure from other Departments. Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland, for example, have quite a lot of funding here and I would not like to suggest that we are not spending more money promoting Ireland through our embassy networks. We are doing that and we have just had comfortably the largest ever St. Patrick's Day programme, with 56 countries...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Programme E covers the Department’s work in marshalling its human and capital resources at home and abroad to maximise Ireland’s influence internationally. It includes the management and development of staff, the management and mitigation of risk and compliance with statutory and legal obligations. The programme also covers communication by the Department of its policies,...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Defence: Estimates for Public Services 2019
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs and Trade (Revised) (28 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will turn to income accruing under appropriations-in-aid, which is referred to as Programme F. The total income under appropriations-in-aid in 2019 is estimated at almost €45 million, a marginal decrease on 2018. The primary source of income, which accrues directly to the Exchequer from my Department, comes from passport application fees and accounts for over 90% of all...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for asking his question and for giving me an opportunity to update the House on this matter. I agree with Michel Barnier and others when they say that, as the days pass, a no-deal Brexit looks like a real possibility. Of course, we hope that will not be the case but the country needs to be ready if it is. The Government is very much focused on working with all other...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: We need to be very careful in what we say here because accuracy is important. We need to be sure that we do not turn this into a political or party political issue. The Government is not hiding anything from anybody. There is not a plan.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: What we are doing is working out a plan with the European Commission, because it involves both the European Commission and the Irish Government, to try to ensure that we fulfil our dual responsibilities as co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement and as a committed member of the European Union and its Single Market and customs union. That is a complex challenge, and we always said it would...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----but to present this as the Irish Government having a plan that it goes to Brussels with to look for approval for is not accurate. The British Government also has a responsibility here, as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement. We will need to continue to work out a plan with the European Commission if the British Government does not follow through on its commitment to solve...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is still the way to deal with this but in the absence of the British Government following through on that commitment, we will continue to work with the European Commission to put what is a difficult plan in place that will protect the Good Friday Agreement but also protect the EU Single Market. As soon as that work is complete, of course, we will share it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. She had many questions but I will deal with those relating to Cork University Hospital, CUH, a facility I know well. This morning, the number of patients waiting on trolleys in Cork University Hospital was 55 and the Health Service Executive, HSE, trolley system reported 431 patients waiting on trolleys nationally. This is an increase on the same...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I know Cork University Hospital well and I know many people working there. I accept that today there is huge stress on the system in the hospital and the management is responding to that as best it can. There are two issues. The first is today's pressure, which is difficult for the staff on site. They are working together to deal with that. The medium-term issue here is about capacity,...