Results 1,081-1,100 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: What is, perhaps, as worrying in this debate as the economic figures themselves, is that there is no recognition whatsoever from Government that its mishandling of our economy has contributed to this fiscal crisis. Not for the first time, the Government is in denial, blaming everything and everyone but itself for the state of the public finances. It is the fault of international factors...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: The Minister should listen; I am about to outline some. The time to reform, whether in the public service or even in the way Government itself functions, is in times of plenty when we can afford to do it. The time to invest in long-term programmes that drive Irish competitiveness is when capital is available to the State. The time when political leadership is needed to challenge a culture...
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: That is because people are desperate to grab on to whatever is there, provided by the private sector.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: There has been no initiative from the Minister. All we have from the Government is forums and consultation, while other countries are driving ahead, developing next-generation broadband.
- National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: The Minister has been in office for a year now. We are still only at the consultation phase in terms of next-generation broadband, which the Minister announced last week, 12 months into his tenure. There was a briefing on the Minister's desk the day he started which indicated that next-generation broadband should be a priority but he waited a full year to start his consultation process.
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 1: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proportion of the â¬435 million for broadband announced in his next-generation policy paper that will be spent on schools; when the roll-out of 100 Mbps connectivity will start; when all secondary schools here will have such connectivity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28808/08]
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: Last week when the Minister launched his next-generation broadband consultation document, 12 months into office, he announced that the Government planned to invest, in capital terms, â¬435 million to address the digital divide. Is it the case that the Government has already spent approximately â¬135 million of that â¬435 million? I ask the Minister to clarify what is still available to...
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: With all due respect, I asked a question to which I would like an answer. I do not want a lecture on the benefits of ICT in schools. Can I have an answer to when we will see it happen because that is what people want to know?
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: It is my question and I am entitled to an answer.
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: It is the Minister's responsibility to answer the question.
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: At Question Time, the Minister is supposed to answer questions so he should stop wasting time and give us a timescale.
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: I need some protection. I have asked a question and am entitled to an answer.
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: The main issue about which the Minister spoke last week was the importance of bringing digital capacity to schools and he is right about that. All I am asking is when will this happen. He is talking about a competitive tendering process. When will it start and finish and when can second level and primary schools expect to get broadband connection?
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: The Minister did not tell us last week that that process would start in 2009. He gave the impression that it would start immediately. At least we now have some information that it will not start for another six months.
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: Will the Minister tell us with some definitive accuracy when secondary schools are likely to see the fulfilment of his promise, which is to put 100 megabits per second broadband connectivity into those schools? When is this likely to be completed under the phased process?
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 3: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timescale of the tender selection and implementation process of the national broadband scheme for white areas of the NBS map; the timescale of the tender selection and implementation process of the national broadband scheme for blue areas on the NBS map; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28809/08]
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: We have received some new information, which is of benefit. The Minister is now saying that we no longer have blue areas on the map. Until recently, the Minister promised that if people could not get broadband by 1 July, it would be provided to them through the national broadband scheme. The Department drew up a map of the country in which all areas in red had acceptable broadband...
- Telecommunications Services. (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: The Minister is saying that the decision has been made.
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 4: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when commitments six and seven in his next generation policy paper, that is, regulations to mandate the installation of ducting in all major public infrastructure projects and to require the installation of open access fibre connections to new premises where practicable will be implemented; the way these...
- Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (10 Jul 2008)
Simon Coveney: Question 943: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the proportion of the â¬435 million allocated to information communication technology projects under the national development plan that has been spent; and if this is the same â¬435 million in broadband funding announced under his consultation paper on next generation broadband. [28283/08]