Results 1,161-1,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: Will the detail of the quarterly oversight reports to be completed by the regulator be published and will they be subject to oversight by the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance and the Public Service? In regard to parliamentary oversight generally, it is a nonsense to suggest, taking account of how quickly developments have taken place in the financial situation, that we should have a...

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: On that rationale, surely we can extract a price in terms of the power of directors.

Approval of Credit Institutions (Financial Support) Scheme 2008: Motion (17 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: How will salaries be determined?

Leaders' Questions (21 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: The Taoiseach has some cheek to focus on our figures.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: The Minister has made a mistake on the issue of medical cards. Last week, people had been conditioned to expect tough measures and were prepared to accept a difficult budget if it targeted problem areas which need to be reformed to return the country to a path of recovery. Elderly people who are not part of the problem were targeted last week. Despite the political stunt we saw this...

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: We have not opposed that.

Medical Cards: Motion (21 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: Does that take account of savings?

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (22 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: Question 195: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the timescale for the conclusion of the tendering process for the national broadband scheme; the estimated roll-out time for broadband services to all areas of the country under the national broadband scheme; the estimated cost of the national broadband scheme in 2009; the areas that will be covered by the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: Question 196: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if households that upgrade their windows to improve the energy efficiency of their home will be eligible for the 30% grant under the home energy saving scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36341/08]

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: Question 105: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources when he will produce a timetable for the announced plan to provide next generation broadband to secondary schools; the way he intends to roll out this plan; if he will go to tender to employ a single company to do it; the amount allocated to broadband for schools in budget 2009; and if he will make a statement...

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: I sound like a broken record discussing broadband, because every time telecommunications matters are discussed under Priority Questions the matter makes up at least two, if not more, of the questions. It is difficult not to be more sceptical than before about the claim that the Minister and the Government are prioritising broadband expenditure when there is a cut of 25% in the budget...

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: The Minister has been in charge for 18 months. I agree we need to roll out next generation broadband facilities to schools. The problem is that people have simply lost patience with him due to a lack of action. We do not need more consultation. We need an action plan for moving forward with clear timetables and a clear financial commitment. What will be the implication for schools of a...

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: The market will not deliver that.

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: Question 107: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the definite measures that he will implement between now and the end of 2008 to promote and support the roll-out of improved broadband infrastructure across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37467/08]

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: If contracts are being signed in November and if there is a 22-month roll-out period, can we safely assume that the Government target for universal broadband provision across the country will now be the end of 2010 rather than the end of 2009? My question refers to a lot more than the national broadband scheme although there is significant frustration with that matter. The Minister's...

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: First, I am not sure what the merits of underground versus overground in terms of electricity cables has to do with the roll out of broadband in terms of ducting. I do not see how those questions are relevant to each other. I ask the Minister to give a little more detail on what is asked for in Question No. 121, which is the national audit of broadband infrastructure. Surely the place to...

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: My concern is that we will go to a great deal of trouble to put together a national audit of broadband ducting infrastructure — and other forms of infrastructure that can be used for broadband roll-out, such as fibre-optic cable run along railway tracks or ESB cabling — but that we will not undertake an audit of privately owned infrastructure that is available for ducting. The audit of...

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: The Minister should regulate for open access.

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: Could I clarify my question?

Telecommunications Services. (29 Oct 2008)

Simon Coveney: On a point of clarification, I am not talking about operators getting access to existing infrastructure in terms of a wholesale product such as unbundling local loops, for example, where a company can use the Eircom infrastructure for the last mile to access homes. I will spell out the point by way of an example. If a company wants to provide physical infrastructure into a local business or...