Results 40,761-40,780 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: We have not accepted that we will fail to meet targets for 2025. There is an enormous effort across government, in virtually every Department, to-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: Yes, the independent experts have said that targets will be difficult to meet, but we are not at 2025 yet. It is up to the Government to accelerate delivery as regards climate action, which is exactly what we are setting about doing. We have broken it up sector by sector. A lot of those targets are difficult to meet, but the Government has been transparent about how we will go about this....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The waiving of development charges and the cost of getting water connections for developers has been very successful. It has certainly accelerated developments that otherwise might not have been viable financially. Obviously, the Government needs to consider the question the Deputy is asking, but it has not made a decision on that yet. That approach has worked in terms of delivering more...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure why that meeting tomorrow has been postponed. I will try to get that information for the Deputy. My understanding is the Minister is engaging with banks, in particular, to try to ensure homeowners are getting fair treatment. I will get the Minister to come back with a more specific answer for the Deputy because I do not want to give him a bland answer.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising that issue. As he knows, I am pretty familiar with that part of Cork. There has been enormous damage since the floods happened a number of months ago. We tried to put the largest ever funding package in place to support businesses that have been hit by effectively redesigning a new scheme for extreme flood damage. However, there is, of course, significant...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: There are a number of questions there but they are all very relevant. I am glad to hear the Deputy recognising that we are making progress in the context of agriculture and energy. On construction, we discussed that in Cabinet today, that is, the use of modern methods of construction, MMC, in the building of social housing, so that the Government can lead by example in this. There is a lot...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I will have to check that for the Deputy. I was in Cabinet today and do not recall any discussion on that issue. I will make sure I check because if it is being raised by the Deputy it is obviously an issue about which people are concerned. I will try to come back and clarify that issue as quick as we can. I will check with the Department of Health.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: Will the Deputy put some of those questions in writing to me? My understanding is that student accommodation is covered by the limitations to increases within rent pressure zones. If that is not being abided by, we will have to look into it. I am not familiar with the individual case in Galway referred to by the Deputy but even if a premises has been renovated, that does not mean it is a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I know the Deputy appreciates this area, as do others in this House, and he knows the waters of the south-west coast of Ireland pretty well, some of which need to be protected. The Government is committed to this. I have been told that drafting is under way. It is being prioritised and is scheduled to be published this session. It is a complex area though and is not as straightforward as...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I am not sure how much time he will give me for all of them. Maybe it will be five minutes, which is excellent. First, with regard to Deputy Colm Burke's question, I know he had a good meeting with the Minister, Deputy Simon Harris, on these matters. The Minister's Department met the Department of Health, UCC and Trinity on increasing the number of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I would say to Deputy Nash that I think it is a helpful suggestion and I hope it can be the basis for moving the issues forward. On antisocial behaviour and policing, I hear what Deputy Gannon is saying with regard to the pressures on Garda resources. The Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and the Garda Commissioner have focused significantly on increasing Garda resources, presence...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: -----even if there are cases where more gardaí on the street is what is needed and there is a focus on doing that by recruiting more gardaí and making sure they are more visible and are given the equipment they need to do the job they need to do. With regard to the Children's Rights Alliance annual report and scorecard, we agreed earlier that we would, I hope, provide time to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I hear what the Deputy is saying and I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to respond briefly to her specific question.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising the question but, as I think she probably knows, I cannot commit to funding for an individual project. I will certainly pass the question on to the Department of Health and the HSE which can respond to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Trade Relations (22 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I have not engaged on this particular topic with EU counterparts, as engagement on the EU's budget, and any revenue generated from mechanisms such as the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) are primarily a matter for the Minister for Finance. The CBAM is one of the key measures under the European Green Deal. It places a carbon price on imports of certain goods from outside the EU,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (22 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Increased Cost of Business (ICOB) grant, announced as part of the Budget 2024 package will be particularly targeted at Small and Medium sized businesses who operate from a rateable premises. It is important that I note that the ICOB is not a commercial rates waiver and firms should continue to pay their rates as normal. The administration of the ICOB grant will be carried out by Local...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Sick Leave Act 2022 provides for employer-paid sick leave, for medically certified absences, at the rate of 70% of an employee’s regular earnings, capped at €110 per day, for up to 5 days in 2024. As payment is considered a form of wages from the employer to the employee, it is subject to the same tax and PRSI treatment as all wages. Any proposed amendment to the tax...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Business Supports (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: I am cognisant of the difficulties faced by small businesses across the country, including rural pubs, due to rising costs and changes in the cost of doing business. My Department, in collaboration with the Department of Social Protection, is assessing the cumulative impact of recent and forthcoming changes to working conditions. These measures include the move to a Living Wage, in...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Export Controls (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: My Department is the National Competent Authority with responsibility for Export Controls, including Controls on defence-related exports and exports of Dual-Use goods. Controls on the export of Dual-use items are administered by my Department, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2021/821 of the European Parliament and of the Council setting up a Union regime for the control of exports,...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Employment Rights (27 Feb 2024)

Simon Coveney: The Sick Leave Act 2022 came into effect on 1 of January 2023 providing up to 3 days of employer-paid sick leave in that year, paid at 70% of gross salary up to a cap of €110 per day. The minimum number of days provided for under the Act increased to 5 days on 1 January 2024. Section 9(1) provides that the obligations under the Act do not apply to employers who offer, on the...