Results 9,281-9,300 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: In each budget we have introduced, we have committed to support and target the most vulnerable people in the context of poverty.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have answered the questions.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have answered.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: The supports are focused at the people with the lowest incomes.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: We share the concerns outlined by the Deputy regarding the cost of insurance for many businesses, particularly in certain sectors where there are issues with personal injury claims. The Chief Justice outlined in a speech last week that he wishes to have the judicial council in place before the end of the year, subject to conditions, including the necessary resources, being right for its...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. As I said yesterday, I am deeply troubled by Turkey's announcement yesterday that it had launched a military operation in north-east Syria. I issued a statement yesterday noting that the fight against ISIS made decisive progress earlier this year. I said that any unilateral military action against groups that played a decisive front-line role in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I assure the Deputy that we are not wasting our time. The investment in Portrane is necessary and will improve services. Extra investment in pay is necessary and allows us to take on more staff.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is what is required. The CAMHS waiting lists are too long but we are making progress on them. The list has reduced by 20% this year. The figure in August was 2,038, reduced from 2,517 in December 2018. The number waiting more than 12 months reduced to 201 in August, down from 314 in December 2018. The HSE service plan 2019 aims to improve CAMHS out-of-hours and seven-days-a-week...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I sometimes think that when the Deputy comments on the Government's budgetary strategy, she fails to accept that choices must be made. We have had to make a choice this year to assume the worst possible outcome to the Brexit negotiations. This has been necessary to ensure we have a resilient budget for next year. The Deputy's response to the budget largely ignores all of that. We have put...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: With respect, the Deputy will have to ask the Minister for Health that question, although I can ask on his behalf and revert to him if that is helpful. Our focus is to implement Sláintecare, which will take about ten years. We are two years into that process now. For the first time ever, we have cross-party consensus on the kind of reform needed throughout the health system. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: That includes some of the additional spend this year that had not been budgeted for, which I accept that, but it is still well above €650 million extra next year for healthcare, reflecting the capital and current expenditure pressures that we face.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: We are making progress here. We are spending more money and introducing a reform programme that everybody in this House buys into. We would like to do it as fast as possible but it is going to take time. We are in year two of a ten-year plan.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: If there is clarity on that in the Minister's office, I will forward it to the Deputy but if we are going to pass legislation, we must make sure resources are available to deliver it, otherwise, something will be passed that cannot be delivered, which does not make sense. If we introduce legislation to protect patients and ensure that targets are met, we must also make sure the resources are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and acknowledge that he consistently raises mental health in this House. Mental health continues to be a priority area for the Government. In budget 2020, the Government maintained its commitment to mental health by increasing funding by €39 million to €1.026 billion. This increase includes €13 million for new developments and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not dispute much of what the Deputy is saying. Deputy Ó Snodaigh did good work here and raised issues that were genuine. What I am saying is that I was not aware of it. If I was, I would have raised it with the Minister for Justice and Equality. I am not saying emails were not sent to my office. I am trying to understand what happened in this regard. However, I am also saying...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: But she explained why. If there is an ongoing Garda investigation-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I read into the record what her official response was and why it was made. The Deputy asked whether there is contagion on an issue like this onto other sites. The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government will, of course, ensure that is not the case.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will try to do the same. The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, has consistently stated that further change to the international tax framework is necessary to ensure we reach a stable global consensus for how and where companies should be taxed. Change is coming to the international tax system. The ongoing work at the OECD will result in further substantial alterations to the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: Deputy O'Sullivan approaches this from a perspective of global fairness, and I can understand that. Through the OECD, we have to reflect the changes in terms of the global economy that are taking place rapidly, especially around the digitisation of economies. This is far more rapid in some countries than others. Ultimately, we need to try to build consensus across the developed and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (10 Oct 2019)

Simon Coveney: The matters raised by Deputy Ó Snodaigh were serious and he got a detailed response from the Minister for Justice and Equality of the time, as it was an issue pertaining to justice. I will read the response, which was detailed. It is not true to say she refused to meet people but rather there was an ongoing Garda investigation. The then Minister stated:I am advised by the Commissioner...