Results 31,941-31,960 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I accept that there is anger. At times, protest is part of democracy. We respect and accept that. There have been many protests, understandably, in respect of the need to resolve what has been a housing crisis for a number of years. We are responding to that with a lot more money and policies that are actually working. The Deputy does not have to trust me on that; he should look at the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The issue of how local authorities deal with their tenants is one for those authorities to debate and discuss. I do not have the detailed rationale on why a decision may be made on modest increases in rent but I believe people have a right to ask the question.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: People do have a right to ask why it should ever be acceptable to ask for a modest increase in the contribution towards rental charges if they are seeing changes in conditions and investment by local authorities and so on but that is a matter for South Dublin County Council. I am sure that, like us, the Deputy has colleagues on that council who are well able to speak up and argue their points.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The important point is that we are providing significantly more social houses year on year. More than 10,000 extra houses have been added to the stock this year. These are not fantasy numbers; they are very real.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: They will support families in a very real way.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I heard about this issue only this morning, as I am sure the Deputy did. My understanding is that the matter is very much under investigation by an Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána is liaising with the insurance industry as a whole to try to get a handle on the extent of the problem, which seems to involve significant numbers. It is consumers who are vulnerable. They...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: This, of course, does involve quite a number of potential legal cases so I need to be careful about what I say. The State's approach to cases like this and others is to try to resolve them outside the court setting in a non-adversarial way, but there has to be acceptance of blame. I expect that there will be an effort to try to resolve genuine cases outside of court. I will get the...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: We all appreciate the good work that CE workers do, but I am not in a position to confirm any time-limited commitment on a finalised decision on this matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Like with a lot of other things, this is not a left versus right issue. it is a rule of law issue. Deputy Coppinger should send me the details if she has individual cases she would like me to follow up on and I will try to do that.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, to come back to Deputy McGrath with the detail on that matter.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I simply have not been involved in this conversation as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I am aware Deputy Shortall raised the matter in the House yesterday. I will have to get the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, to come back directly to the Deputy on it. If there is a foreign affairs element to it, I can be brought into the conversation but I am not aware there is at the moment.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: As far as I know, the Government is still considering the matter and it has not been finalised.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. It is a breaking story that 16 refugees have been found in the back of a truck on a ferry on the way to Rosslare from France. They are all alive and in reasonable health. That is my understanding from reading media commentary on it. I understand the Garda will be waiting for the ship when it arrives. The Government is fully committed to...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Garda is working closely with the PSNI in respect of very tragic cases that have been reported from the UK and is also working with other police services in different parts of the EU. We will continue to do that in this case also.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Is that in respect of just transition?

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: Certainly if there is further legislation required beyond the Finance Bill, we will provide it. That is an absolute commitment from the Government and there will be no issue with that. If there is separate and specific legislation required to bed that down, I assume the Government will proceed with that. I will get the Minister, Deputy Bruton, to confirm that to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, this is primarily a matter for the Revenue Commissioners. I will get an update from the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, for him.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: 1 o’clock Clearly, we need to keep community-based playschools open. Whether they are not-for-profit or privately-operated for a modest profit, the standards have to be consistent with those set out by Tusla. That is what this is ultimately about. We will, of course, assist if we can with the organisations that are trying to be compliant with the standards set out for them. I...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: I simply do not have enough information on this case to make an informed answer. It sounds like a very difficult case. I will pass it on to the Minister for Health.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Simon Coveney: The pre-legislative scrutiny has taken place, so I presume it will be progressing soon.