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

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Policies (3 Oct 2023)

Simon Coveney: My Department led the development of the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy - “AI – Here for Good”, and published a progress report on its implementation on 9 August. As part of this Strategy, the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) play a key role in providing advice and...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: The Growth and Sustainability Loan Scheme is a long-term loan guarantee scheme jointly developed by my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The scheme is underpinned by resources from the European Investment Bank Group and delivered by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland. The €500 million Growth and Sustainability Loan provides longer-term lending...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Environmental Policy (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: I and my Department have engaged in planning for a concentrated and coordinated cross-Government approach to driving business engagement with biodiversity. The Deputy may be aware that detailed work on Ireland’s fourth National Biodiversity Action Plan has been the subject of significant effort over the last two years by Government Departments, led by the Department of Housing, Local...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Regulatory Impact Assessments (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: The information requested is currently being collated by my Department and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is finalised.

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Semi-State Bodies (26 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: I am advised that increases in IDA Ireland pay and pensions are subject to public sector pay agreements. Pension increases being paid to IDA pensioners are those under the current agreement ‘Building Momentum’ which are agreed by government and implemented by my Department and its agencies and do not require my approval. No further increases have been sanctioned or implemented...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Departmental Bodies (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: There are a number of State Agencies that come within the remit of my Department. The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below according to each agency. Year Agency For Chief Executives – Any benefit from taxable benefits being paid by the body/organisation Amount Details ...

Written Answers — Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (21 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. As Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment I consider that increasing the numbers of people with disabilities participating in the labour market represents a significant opportunity for employers and the enterprise sector. The development of policy measures and initiatives to support disability rights and inclusion fall,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: On the school bus issue, it is important to state that in the 2022-23 school year, more than 149,000 children, including more than 18,000 children with special educational needs, were transported on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country. The Deputy will be aware that there are challenges for a small percentage of people, which nevertheless is a significant...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: In regard to childcare providers, as the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, said earlier, I would encourage childcare providers and their representative bodies to engage with his Department and-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: -----to reconsider whether taking action that would effectively withdraw childcare supports for three days next week should go ahead. I can state that for all three parties in government and certainly for the Minister, childcare is a big priority in the build up to this budget. Last year, there was a significant increase in funding for childcare. I suspect this budget will also prioritise...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: -----and we want to respond to that as best we can in the budget. I do not believe that causing significant disruption to parents is helpful in those efforts, even though I can understand the frustration, having met a number of the childcare providers in my own town. On the question of the four-year-old boy, Logan, I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, to respond to that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, the Commissioner is responsible for the operational decisions for An Garda Síochána. Of course, he is committed to protecting communities and ensuring that An Garda Síochána is as impactful as it can be. As I said earlier, the Commissioner is meeting with Garda representative bodies tomorrow to try to make progress on the roster issue. The Minister...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: I have not seen the detail of that yet but I would be very interested in it. We should be pursuing anything we can do to drive sustainable employment in Gaeltacht areas. The Deputy will certainly find an open door in my office to be helpful on that within reason, obviously.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: I just said in answer to another question that my understanding is that it is not the Commissioner's intention to lose gardaí from specialist units within An Garda Síochána.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: With respect-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: I am not sure where the Deputy is hearing it from but I am putting it on the record that this is my understanding as a Government spokesperson. I also do not think we should be deciding in this House on operational matters for An Garda Síochána. We do not have the expertise. We are politicians. That is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and the team around him in terms of the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: Making the whole country a rent pressure zone would not have addressed the issue raised in the report.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: The report states properties that are new to the rental market are not covered by rent pressure zone restrictions versus properties that are currently in the rental market. I was the one who introduced rent pressure zones as Minister. It was the first time any Minister introduced-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: -----effectively rent price caps, or at least limitations in terms of inflation. We made a decision at the time, on advice, that we should not apply that cap to new properties coming on to the market because we wanted to see more new properties coming into the rental market, which we still need. This is obviously something the Government needs to keep a close eye on and it is for the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Sep 2023)

Simon Coveney: What I should also have said earlier was the Minister for Justice met Garda representative bodies today and the Garda Commissioner is meeting them tomorrow. This is an issue we need to resolve quickly because it is impacting on Garda morale and authority. However, it is important to say that the Westmanstown roster is the only roster that has the collective agreement of all Garda...