Results 31,161-31,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is good to hear some practical proposals but many of the proposals the Government has put into practice are working. Independent reporting, such as the Goodbody report published in recent days, has revised the forecast and indicated there will be between 21,000 and 22,000 new builds this year. Added to that, the number of vacant properties and derelict stock that will come back into use...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: There is a €310 million affordable housing programme, which was agreed in the previous budget. It will take some time to deliver but it is progressing. It is important not to stigmatise HAP and RAS. The whole point of HAP is to provide more certainty than was previously the case with rent allowance payments. Approximately 300 new HAP tenancies are put in place per week, which...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Naughten made a significant contribution in the area when he was in government. In 2017, he put in place an action plan for online safety which focused on education and enforcement, and 25 short-to-medium-term actions-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----which are all being put in place. The truth is we now know it is not enough. That is why the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, is very focused on this area and has already set up a consultation process to hear from NGOs and experts, and he wants to hear from other political parties.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: We will progress this legislation as a priority as soon as we can but we need to get it right. I suggest the Minister, Deputy Bruton, is probably the appropriate Minister to give the Deputy the timeline in regard to how this is possible. I do not think it is possible to put comprehensive legislation on online safety in place before the summer recess. However, it is possible to do that...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government does not determine whether a money message is required. That is a determination of the Ceann Comhairle and I am very confident he is well able to make his own decisions.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I answered quite a detailed question on Garda resources earlier, when Deputy Calleary raised the issues in Longford and Drogheda. The Government is providing funds to raise the number of gardaí to 15,000, which will give the Commissioner a lot more human resources to allocate to the kinds of challenges the Deputy raises. That, combined with the reforms that are under way in regard to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I appreciate the role of credit unions. They are not the same as banks. They have played a unique role for many families across the country in terms of affordable credit and they will continue to do so. Credit unions have a really important role to play now and in the future. In regard to the changes that have been made, my understanding is that they were made following much consultation...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am afraid they were.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will ask the Minister to communicate with both Deputies on the rationale for the changes that have been outlined following a consultation with the credit union movement, which was more than aware of the proposed changes and was involved in seeking them in most cases.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Surely, Deputy Adams will not be around then.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: From memory, I recall a conversation at Cabinet on this issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is a serious issue. It is an issue that I know the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, are examining seriously. I will have to come back to the Deputy with a more accurate timeline. I do not want to give him a timeline off the cuff.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: A vibrant suckler herd is an important part of Irish agriculture. That does not mean that we do not need to constantly strive for more efficiency and to ensure that the emissions footprint of our herd continues to decrease. That goes for the dairy herd too. There is substantial efficiency built into the latter and, from the perspective of emissions, we produce milk in a more efficient way...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Just to make the point-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is a temporary and voluntary measure. It will be a matter for farmers to judge for themselves when they see the full package relating to that regulation, which is still being finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the protests which have been taking place in Hong Kong over recent weeks. The Consulate General in Hong Kong has been monitoring and reporting on the developments in relation to the demonstrations and on the proposed extradition bill to which the Deputy refers. The Consul General, along with the EU Office and representatives of other EU Member States, has also engaged directly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Rockall Island Ownership (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Rockall is a small uninhabitable rock located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda and 230 nautical miles to the north-west of Donegal. It marks a point at which the Rockall Bank, part of the very large Hatton-Rockall area of continental shelf extending under the north-east Atlantic Ocean, protrudes 21 metres above sea level. During the 1960s and 1970s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. I am aware of the bill that was proposed in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region which sought to amend local legislation to allow for extradition to the Chinese Mainland, Macau and Taiwan. I note that, on 15 June, the passage of this legislation was suspended indefinitely by the Hong Kong authorities in response to ongoing...