Results 441-460 of 40,856 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Telecommunications Services. (11 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: Does the Minister consider it would be desirable for Eircom to considering splitting into a wholesale network provider and a retail provider of telecommunications services? If that were to happen would the Government be interested in using the split as a way to roll out broadband across the country and to ensure that the network was managed and regulated independently without a retail arm...

Telecommunications Services. (11 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: If that split were to happen would the Government be tempted to buy a share in that network company? The Minister and many others have been very critical that in the sale of Telecom Éireann we sold a very valuable network which many people would like to see in State hands or at least controlled by the State. Is there a potential opportunity for the State to buy back an asset that perhaps...

Alternative Energy Projects. (11 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: We could debate this subject for hours. Food crops have been the winner in the competition for land between food crops and energy crops. Has the Minister made representations to the Tánaiste and the Minister for Finance in the build up to the budget to support energy crop production in Ireland, particularly on set aside land, on which farmers are not permitted to sow food crops anyway, as...

European Union Reform Treaty: Statements (16 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: It leads us to peacekeeping.

European Union Reform Treaty: Statements (16 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: Yes.

European Union Reform Treaty: Statements (16 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to have an opportunity to make a statement of support for the EU reform treaty. As the Minister of State mentioned earlier, it is a culmination of a lengthy process of reflection and negotiations since the failure to ratify the constitutional treaty in referenda in France and the Netherlands. When both countries voted against the new EU constitution, there was a great deal of...

Written Answers — Capital Investment Framework: Capital Investment Framework (16 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 115: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance if cases of non-compliance with the capital investment framework were reported to his Department in 2007; the Departments and the projects involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23564/07]

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: Last week, a number of Fine Gael and Labour Party Deputies requested that speaking time be made available to discuss continuing events in Burma. I understand European Union Foreign Ministers met at the start of this week and agreed to toughen EU sanctions against the regime in Burma. Will the Government make time available next week to have statements or a debate on the issue of Burma?

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: People are seeking a one-word answer as to whether local electoral area boundaries will be changed before the local elections. Does the Taoiseach not know the answer?

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach could give a one-word answer.

Order of Business (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: The Ceann Comhairle is muzzling the Taoiseach.

Estimates for Public Services 2007 (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: I welcome the opportunity to raise questions on this issue before we vote on it. However, on the basis of what the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources has said, I have real concerns about whether Fine Gael can support this Supplementary Estimate. The proposals under discussion would provide an additional capital expenditure of €16.2 million to Sustainable Energy...

Estimates for Public Services 2007 (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: Regarding the State's most basic responsibility of providing people with health care the Government has said refused an increased allocation of funds for the HSE, yet a greener homes scheme and other worthy schemes have gone way over budget and we are willing to take money from an information and communications technology budget, effectively from another Department, to bail out this scheme....

Estimates for Public Services 2007 (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: Hear, hear.

Estimates for Public Services 2007 (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: Is there an audit of the value for money of the metropolitan area network scheme under way at present which will present its results before the end of the year? Is it appropriate in the absence of the results of that audit to cut funding by €10 million? Is the Minister rowing back on phase two of the metropolitan area network scheme, where 90 towns have been promised metropolitan area...

Estimates for Public Services 2007 (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: The first question was about the audit.

Estimates for Public Services 2007 (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: Is it not appropriate to make expenditure decisions based on the audit?

Estimates for Public Services 2007 (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: What about schools getting broadband?

Estimates for Public Services 2007 (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: That is not the issue. We have only seven minutes left.

Estimates for Public Services 2007 (17 Oct 2007)

Simon Coveney: The Minister predicted it. His own Department predicted it and the Minister should not twist the truth.