Results 39,721-39,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, this Government set up a task force to look at the potential of the Shannon Estuary. My understanding is that in the next couple of months its report will come in. I have met that group on more than one occasion. It has a fantastic chairman who is very ambitious for the Shannon Estuary. A big part of that report will be around offshore wind and redeveloping the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: That were a lot of questions. I am not sure how much time I have to respond to them.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: Maybe 17 minutes. As Members know, I am quite interested in the energy debates. These are serious questions. Obviously the Government is watching closely where energy prices are at now versus international wholesale prices. We see petrol and diesel prices at the pump, for example, falling to their lowest level in a number of years, which is a good thing, and likewise in regard to home...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: As we have discussed many times in the House, individual cases often require individual answers. There are both local authorities and housing bodies with significant funding from the State there to work with families in vulnerable situations. From what the Deputy said, this is a very vulnerable situation - five children and very stressed parents, and one of the children with a disability,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: Many of them are not, by the way.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: We learned from reports this morning that up to half of eviction notices are not valid and should be challenged. If this one is then of course we have an obligation through the housing departments of local authorities primarily to try to find accommodation and solutions for cases such as this one.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: I wish first to recognise the role of the Deputy in building that connection with the Irish diaspora throughout the world when he was Minister of State with that brief. He made a significant impact. He and I discussed many times the commitment that the Government has made to extend voting rights to Irish people living abroad for presidential elections. I am still committed to this. It is...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: Nobody is being persecuted here. My understanding is that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage will give guidance, if it has not already, to local authorities in this space regarding the planning considerations involved. In some parts of the country the role of Airbnbs is particularly important, particularly this year when many of our hotel rooms are not available for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: Of course, they do. The State needs to continue to add more and more special needs places as well as special needs assistants and increased staff in schools and other educational settings in regard to autism and indeed other disability areas as well. I am quite familiar with that from my constituency and some of the pressures we are trying to deliver on. I will have to get the Minister of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: If I was to take that question I might be upsetting the plan here somehow, so I leave it to the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: I want to give a clear message that if someone has a political issue they want raised in terms of the availability of certain books and content within books, there are ways in which they can raise that without intimidating children and staff who are simply doing their job, normally linked to a local authority running library services that are fantastic across the country. My children use the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: I am familiar with the pressure CAMHS are under in my part of the country as well across Cork and Kerry. We have seen a significant recruitment effort to bring in the skillsets needed to help young people who need that help. In most cases funding is not the issue here. It is about getting the people we need and the challenges we face in recruiting people with the necessary skills that are...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: That is a very tragic case and I am more than familiar with many cases like that. That is why, from a homelessness perspective, the support the State needs to give is more than simply accommodation, though that is of course hugely important, but it is also about other support structures like healthcare, advice, counselling and supports for children too. We have dramatically increased the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (19 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Paul Murphy's question is a fair one. The Government has given a commitment in this space and that needs to be followed through now. I will try to get the detail from the Minister for the Deputy. It is a fair question and many people are waiting for that detail. On the question on the 30% tax rate, this will be a topic of debate in the build-up to this year's budget. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: Ambitious action on sustainability is to the forefront of decision making in executive offices at a global, EU and national level, as highlighted in this Government's White Paper on Enterprise. In this regard, IDA sees the sustainability agenda as an opportunity for future investments and a competitive necessity for clients in the existing FDI base. IDA Ireland’s 2021-24 strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: There are currently 11 staff within my Department who are working with the European Union in Brussels.  *In addition to these 11, there is 1 staff member - a seconded national expert - seconded to the European Commission, in Washington D.C. I can also confirm there are currently no vacant posts. The tables below set out the number of staff, their present roles, and responsibilities and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Meetings (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: The 2023 St Patrick's Day programme saw the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and Government Ministers take part in an extensive international programme to promote Ireland and Irish interests around the world.  These visits provided an opportunity for Ministers to promote Irish trade and meet business leaders, to engage with political counterparts and to meet the Irish diaspora in different...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy is aware, IDA Ireland is authorised by my Department to provide a range of financial supports to FDI companies in the form of employment, capital, research and development, environmental and training grants. The total amount of financial support provided to Citibank Europe plc over the past 20 years - that is for the years 2002 to 2022 inclusive...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department is committed to providing efficient and well-managed services and achieves this by striking a satisfactory balance between the delivery of the business needs and high quality service to the public and the need to allow civil servants to address their health and safety needs during periods of illness.  The Department manages absences on health grounds in line with relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department is committed to upholding the key aims of the Dignity at Work Policy, the Anti-Bullying, Harassment and Sexual Harassment policy for the Irish Civil Service.  My Department is also committed to providing a work environment free from any form of bullying, harassment or sexual harassment. Such behaviour is completely unacceptable and will not be...