Results 40,321-40,340 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Financial Resolution No. 3: Excise Duties (Mechanically Propelled Vehicles) (5 Dec 2007)

Simon Coveney: We do not know what the Minister will do in six months yet he is asking us to vote on the measure now.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (4 Dec 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 309: To ask the Minister for Transport the proportion of buses in the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann fleets that run on alternative fuels or on hybrid engines; his plans to ensure that buses commissioned in the future rely on such technologies; the improvements that have been made in the fuel efficiency of the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann fleets through replacement of older vehicles;...

Written Answers — Telecommunications Services: Telecommunications Services (4 Dec 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 612: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the €435 million allocated in the National Development Plan 2007 to 2013 to the communications and broadband programme refers exclusively to Exchequer funding; if he will provide a breakdown of this figure; if the cost of MANs phases 1 or 2 is included in this figure; if he will provide an indicative...

Written Answers — Oil Imports: Oil Imports (4 Dec 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 620: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the three countries that provided the highest proportions of Ireland's oil imports in each year since 1998, including 2006; the proportions of Ireland's oil imports provided by each in each year; if the proportion of Ireland's oil imports coming from the UK increased dramatically over that period, the reason...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Simon Coveney: I thank my colleague, Deputy Varadkar, for proposing this motion. It is timely to debate competitiveness in budget week. It is dawning on many people around the country that Ireland needs to change its expenditure emphasis to ensure better value for money, as well as having more transparency on how and where it is spent. In that way Ireland will become a more competitive place in which to...

Competitiveness of the Economy: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Simon Coveney: Unfortunately, that is not the case. Mobile broadband has a role to play but we require a dramatic roll-out of fibre-optic cable throughout the country to ensure the existence of the high speed connections available in other European countries and the Far East. Although Irish broadband availability is increasing each year, we are falling further and further behind the competition.

Regional Fisheries Board (Postponement of Elections) Order 2007: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Simon Coveney: I wish to share my time with Deputy D'Arcy. Could the Leas-Cheann Comhairle please tell me when ten minutes have elapsed? I am glad we have the opportunity to debate this. Although it was discussed last week by the Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, there are issues that need a debate and the opportunity for a vote in the Dáil. This is an opportunity...

Regional Fisheries Board (Postponement of Elections) Order 2007: Motion (4 Dec 2007)

Simon Coveney: The second issue I want to raise is the poor allocation of resources to supporting, developing and enforcing the rules and regulations on inland fisheries over the past seven or eight years. In 1999 €21.5 million was made available to the inland fisheries sector. In 2004 €20.5 million was available and in 2007 it was still less than €30 million. When one considers that we have more...

Written Answers — Human Rights Issues: Human Rights Issues (29 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 83: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he raised the case of a person (details supplied) with the UNMIK authorities on his recent visit to Pristina; if he did, then the response he received; and if he did not, if he will do so on any occasion soon. [31732/07]

Written Answers — Work Permits: Work Permits (29 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 84: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if and when the Government will recognise an independent Kosovo; if he has plans to work towards a work permit system here for Kosovars in an effort to alleviate the dangerous level of unemployment there; if the Government will consider offering much-needed support to Kosovar agriculture and education; if he will take action at EU level in...

Sports Capital Programme. (29 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 8: To ask the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism if consideration of applications under ACCESS and under the sports capital programme is in any way skewed in favour of designated gateways and hubs under the national spatial strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31489/07]

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (28 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 246: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in regard to the approval and build of a new national school in Ballygarvan, County Cork; the progress in regard to the school and the delays that have been incurred; and when people in the area can expect to see concrete progress on a new school building. [31621/07]

Written Answers — Energy Policy: Energy Policy (28 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 295: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the total value of research development and demonstration projects in the energy sector funded by the exchequer currently underway; if this is less than the 2006 figure of €25 million announced in the Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation, the reason for the drop; if there is any intention that the...

Confidence in Minister for Health and Children: Motion (Resumed) (28 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: As long as Galway is taken care of, that is all that matters.

Written Answers — Oil Stocks: Oil Stocks (27 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 679: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Ireland's oil stocks obligations for 2007 under EU and IEA rules; and if Ireland is compliant with these obligations. [30574/07]

Written Answers — Natural Gas Market: Natural Gas Market (27 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 680: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if the full opening of the residential gas market happened on time in July 2007; the percentage of the residential gas market controlled by Bord Gáis Éireann; if independent gas suppliers can access the BGÉ supply and transmission network; and if not, if there are plans to facilitate them doing so. [30575/07]

Written Answers — Energy Consumption: Energy Consumption (27 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 687: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of the energy consumed in his Department and in all agencies for which his Department has responsibility that comes from renewable sources. [30914/07]

Written Answers — Electricity Interconnector: Electricity Interconnector (27 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 688: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the progress made in preparing for the construction of a second electricity interconnector to Northern Ireland, and of electricity interconnectors to Great Britain and north west Europe as announced in the White Paper on Energy. [30915/07]

Written Answers — Energy Resources: Energy Resources (27 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: Question 696: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources the percentage of Ireland's overall energy supply which is imported from the UK; and if, in the context of such facts or that 87% of Ireland's natural gas supplies are imported from there, actions are planned to reduce Ireland's dependence on one country. [31340/07]

Official Engagements. (27 Nov 2007)

Simon Coveney: I accept the Taoiseach has dealt with this issue comprehensively, giving examples of the education side of integration policy. Will he agree there is a strong need for education for those immigrants from different faiths and ethnic backgrounds beyond school-going age? In Cork city there is a large demand for English language teaching. Several voluntary organisations provide it but are just...