Results 31,481-31,500 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: What I agree on is that this will be resolved by discussion and consideration which is part of the plan. There was is an ongoing consultation this year with a view to putting new arrangements in place for the start of next year. I am not directly involved but I understand that a school survey is needed as part of that process in order to ensure that all those involved, particularly the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for asking a progressive series of questions. That does not often happen in this House. Normally, it is a case of criticism and defence when we discuss these issues, if "defence" is the correct word in this context. The Deputy knows my views on the EU's responsibility for vulnerable migrants in the Mediterranean particularly in camps in Libya from which many are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will come back to the Deputy on the legal obligation. I am not sure of the direct answer to that question and whether that comes out of EU central funds we contribute to or whether it is opt-in funding from a trust fund. I will check that and come back to the Deputy. The EU needs to spend money in its neighbourhood to support fragile governments. In some cases, it needs to support...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: There has been much comment in recent weeks and years about the system of direct provision. There has also been debate about the location of centres. I appeal to everyone to ensure this debate is thoughtful, respectful and factual, just as the Deputy's contribution was. Under EU and international law, Ireland, like other countries, is obliged to examine the claim of any person who comes...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is a fair point, and the truth is that the Government operates both models. We have 38 or 39 direct provision centres across 18 counties. Many other countries do not have that, but instead put nearly all their asylum applicants into one or two very large national centres. We are trying to ensure integration across the country and that towns, which are sometimes small, have direct...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: There is a whole range of legislation in this area, but as of now it has not been enough for the specific problem to which the Deputy is referring, which is that certain sectors either cannot get insurance at all, or are being quoted ridiculous figures that will make it impossible for them to stay in business. I have met a number of those companies, particularly in relation to child activity...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy probably knows, the Minister is looking at this issue and has been for a while. There are some real concerns about this, which we should not dodge. I am a former Minister for Defence, and while we have to ensure appropriate representation for Defence Forces members, we also have to recognise that the Defence Forces, like the Garda in many ways, are in a different category from...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is a matter for the Government in the context of the budget. The Deputy will not have long to wait. The budget is only a couple of weeks away.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: This issue takes up a huge amount of the Minister's time. I am familiar with the case in west Cork. Senator Lombard and the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, are both working on the same cases probably that the Deputies are working on. Temporary alleviation measures have been put in place to try to deal with specific problems in different parts of the country. Clearly, a more...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The publication of the legislation is due this session and I understand that some of the issues that have been raised have been discussed at Cabinet sub-committee level.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not have an answer for the Deputy today.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will raise the issue with the Minister and I will ask him to get back to Deputy Brassil directly.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have confidence in the Attorney General's advice on this issue. The Government is at one on this. We had a long conversation on it and had the legal position outlined to us by the Attorney General. In his view, and that of the Government, the legislation introduced by Fianna Fáil is good and allows for the public services card to be used across multiple agencies and Departments....

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The answer to the problem is the recruitment of more GPs across the country, which we are actively trying to do.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: A naval vessel will be crossing the Atlantic and will be in New York next week and will visit other US cities as well. It is important to say that the role of the Naval Service is not solely one of fisheries protection or intercepting drugs and so on. While both operations are an important part of what it does, it has a broader remit, as seen in the Mediterranean Sea and will be seen next...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am not familiar with this project. I know capital expenditure is up significantly on last year, which was up significantly on the previous year. Capital expenditure will continue to increase even with a budget designed around a no-deal Brexit but I will have to ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy on this issue as I do not have the answer today.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: The vast majority of electric cars will tell the driver where the nearest charge point is. The technology permits that and that technology will continue to improve. However, there is a problem regarding having sufficient numbers of charge points and sufficient numbers of fast charge points, particularly for people driving on motorways. The situation is improving and I think the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: Foreign Births Registration, by its nature, can be a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation related to three generations and issued by several jurisdictions. The establishment of the new Foreign Births Registration team at the beginning of this year has introduced a short delay in the processing of applications. Due to the complex nature of Foreign Births...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Travel (19 Sep 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am scheduled to travel to New York 22-25 September, in order to take part in high-level engagements around the opening of the 74th session of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly. I will, in particular, be advocating on behalf of Ireland’s candidature for the UN Security Council and will take part in a number of bilateral meetings with key contacts. This will be the second...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 51 together. The Regulation of Lobbying Act was enacted in 2015. Section 22 of the Act provides that specific categories of Designated Public Officials (“DPOs”) are subject to a one-year “cooling-off” period, during which they cannot engage in lobbying activities in specific circumstances, or be employed by, or provide...