Results 9,721-9,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Just to make the point-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is a temporary and voluntary measure. It will be a matter for farmers to judge for themselves when they see the full package relating to that regulation, which is still being finalised.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I appreciate the role of credit unions. They are not the same as banks. They have played a unique role for many families across the country in terms of affordable credit and they will continue to do so. Credit unions have a really important role to play now and in the future. In regard to the changes that have been made, my understanding is that they were made following much consultation...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I am afraid they were.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will ask the Minister to communicate with both Deputies on the rationale for the changes that have been outlined following a consultation with the credit union movement, which was more than aware of the proposed changes and was involved in seeking them in most cases.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Surely, Deputy Adams will not be around then.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: From memory, I recall a conversation at Cabinet on this issue.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is a serious issue. It is an issue that I know the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, and the Minister, Deputy Harris, are examining seriously. I will have to come back to the Deputy with a more accurate timeline. I do not want to give him a timeline off the cuff.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----which are all being put in place. The truth is we now know it is not enough. That is why the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Deputy Bruton, is very focused on this area and has already set up a consultation process to hear from NGOs and experts, and he wants to hear from other political parties.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: We will progress this legislation as a priority as soon as we can but we need to get it right. I suggest the Minister, Deputy Bruton, is probably the appropriate Minister to give the Deputy the timeline in regard to how this is possible. I do not think it is possible to put comprehensive legislation on online safety in place before the summer recess. However, it is possible to do that...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government does not determine whether a money message is required. That is a determination of the Ceann Comhairle and I am very confident he is well able to make his own decisions.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I answered quite a detailed question on Garda resources earlier, when Deputy Calleary raised the issues in Longford and Drogheda. The Government is providing funds to raise the number of gardaí to 15,000, which will give the Commissioner a lot more human resources to allocate to the kinds of challenges the Deputy raises. That, combined with the reforms that are under way in regard to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is good to hear some practical proposals but many of the proposals the Government has put into practice are working. Independent reporting, such as the Goodbody report published in recent days, has revised the forecast and indicated there will be between 21,000 and 22,000 new builds this year. Added to that, the number of vacant properties and derelict stock that will come back into use...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: There is a €310 million affordable housing programme, which was agreed in the previous budget. It will take some time to deliver but it is progressing. It is important not to stigmatise HAP and RAS. The whole point of HAP is to provide more certainty than was previously the case with rent allowance payments. Approximately 300 new HAP tenancies are put in place per week, which...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Naughten made a significant contribution in the area when he was in government. In 2017, he put in place an action plan for online safety which focused on education and enforcement, and 25 short-to-medium-term actions-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy raised a broad range of issues. Regardless of whether it is the centenary of the First Dáil, we should be looking after our children. The requirement to do that is a big priority in the Constitution. If a country cannot look after its most vulnerable and its children, it has to ask itself some straight questions. We have areas where we have made huge progress. Even during...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: These are important areas and the Government is committed to all of them. Nutrition and a hot meal every day is the first matter. On access to healthcare, we know there are some challenges but we are investing heavily in overcoming those obstacles. Huge progress continues to be made in education and the arts. On the difficult issue of housing, we had a five-year housing plan, which was...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I appreciate the spirit in which he has raised it, which represents an effort to get us to respond collectively. Government and Opposition have done really good work collectively on some big issues, climate action, housing and other social changes that I am glad to say this country has managed to deliver in recent years. This is another one but...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Jun 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not want to speak directly for the Minister. He is interested in results and in getting the right Bill enacted as soon as possible. He is not interested in trying to get something done quickly only to find out a few months later that we have missed something. I will certainly ask the Minister to meet Deputy Ó Laoghaire, who is interested in this area and has done a lot of work on...