Results 39,781-39,800 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: In spite of challenging headwinds for the global economy in recent years, including the far-reaching impacts of Brexit, the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, Ireland has continued to perform extremely well in both employment and trade. Reaching 2.57 million in quarter 4 of last year, we now have more people employed than ever before. Female participation in the workplace is at an all-time...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: Later this month I will bring the first implementation plan for the new enterprise strategy to Government for approval. That will focus on the kinds of things the Deputy raised which is ensuring that our enterprise strategy delivers balance across multiple sectors, including food, agrifood, construction, the tech sector, medical devices, the pharmaceutical sector and manufacturing. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Industrial Development (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Government has already acted to put a reserve fund in place. We have contributed to that for some years. The Government will ensure that we do not make the mistakes made in the past of relying on a revenue stream that turns out not to be consistent over time. We will ensure that we invest for the future but there are also many pressures on families today and we also need to respond to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: On a point of information, is Deputy O'Reilly allowed to take questions from her colleagues in their absence?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Gould had a question.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: It is good delivery for Cork. That is why-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: I could put it on the record.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Colm Burke has been working hard on it.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: I will respond on the comments on the Defence Forces. To be clear, PDFORRA was not looking and is still not looking for the right to strike. RACO is certainly not either. What they were looking for and now have-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Human Rights (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: -----is a link to ICTU that allows them to be part of the various rounds of pay negotiations that take place. That is what they looked for and have. Nobody apart from Deputy O'Reilly seems to be looking for the Defence Forces to be given the ability to strike, which would not be the right decision for national security issues, which people in the Defence Forces recognise. It is important...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Strategies (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: I hear what the Deputy is saying and I also recognise his contribution to and experience in this area. To give reassurance, we are not taking anything for granted here. We are assessing the current approach towards a culture of entrepreneurship, start-ups and risk-taking in Ireland, which is needed to continue to generate economic activity and new business all the time. It is one of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Unified Patent Court (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: Setting up a local unitary patent court in Ireland will offer users an accessible, cost-effective and more efficient option for broad patent protection and dispute settlement across Europe. Businesses will defend or challenge a patent via a single litigation process rather than costly litigation in each individual member state. Savings for businesses will be significant in this area. That...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Unified Patent Court (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: As I said, my Department is a lead Department here. We are working with other Departments, like the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and, of course, the Department of Justice because we have to set up a new court, but we have to get a referendum passed too. The Deputy and I are around this House long enough to know that passing referendums is not a straightforward...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Unified Patent Court (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: The preparation is quite advanced. Of course, we have to rely on the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage regarding the work on the electoral commission that is required for the referendum, but that can be done. I am confident that if we choose to do this in the autumn, it will be possible to do it in the autumn, but I think we need to make a wise political decision as to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for tabling this question. My Department has a responsibility, along with others, to ensure that increasing numbers of people with disabilities participate in the labour market and to do more in that regard. I acknowledge that, as a country, we are not where we need to be in this area and it will be a priority for me over the next year or so to change that. There are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: On the public transport issue, I accept this is a barrier to entry into the workforce, particularly in rural Ireland but some of these barriers are not as difficult to overcome as they used to be. Many more people are now working remotely and are getting options to work from home. We have technology platforms now that allow many skilled people to work from home or from local enterprise hubs...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Employment Support Services (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: First, I will outline some of the other things Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland are doing. Last year Enterprise Ireland signed a partnership agreement with Open Doors to further develop awareness campaigns and programmes that will utilise success stories of self-employed and entrepreneur role models across a variety of areas, including people with disabilities. Additionally, the office...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: We touched on this yesterday in committee and to be fair to Deputy Bruton, he has been a remarkably consistent voice in this area for a long time, including when he served as a Minister. He put in place Ireland's first proper structures for responding to the climate challenge. To be fair, we are moving from being in a poor position in this area relative to other European countries to a much...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Change Policy (11 May 2023)

Simon Coveney: The second iteration of the whole-of-government circular economy strategy is currently under development in the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications. As the Deputy would expect, that needs to be a cross-governmental response. My Department is very much part of that discussion with the lead Department in the context of industry and economic development. I accept the...