Results 9,961-9,980 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Council of Europe (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Ireland, as a founding member of the Council of Europe in 1949, has always been and continues to be a strong supporter of the Council’s work on human rights, democracy and the rule of law. We fully support the work of the youth programme, which helps young people to become engaged and responsible European citizens who advocate human rights and participate fully in democratic life....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Applications (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: As only limited details have been supplied about the individual in question, it is not possible to provide specific guidance on this case. I can, however, provide some general advice in relation to establishing eligibility to hold an Irish passport. All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: Reports of violence in Caracas in recent days are deeply concerning and serve to highlight the urgency of finding a negotiated solution to the already grave humanitarian, social and political crisis in the country. Officials in my Department have been monitoring the situation closely and I would like to take this opportunity to strongly appeal to all sides to show restraint and avoid the use...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Sanctions (8 May 2019)

Simon Coveney: The 1996 Helms Burton Act is a US federal law which reinforces the US's long standing economic embargo against Cuba. Since 1996, European persons or entities have remained potentially affected by the extraterritorial elements in Titles III and IV of the Act, but a 1998 Memorandum of Understanding between the EU and US has waived Title III every six months and, as a result, European...

Ireland's Position on the Future of Europe: Statements (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The national statement on the European Union sets out Ireland's priorities for the European Union for the next five years. It will guide the Taoiseach's contribution to an informal debate between EU leaders at Sibiu, Romania, on 9 May on the development of a strategic agenda for the EU for the period from 2019 to 2024. The strategic agenda will be agreed at the June European Council. It...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: As Deputy O'Reilly is aware, an expert has examined this issue. Dr. Anderson has finished the assessment process and his report on the Rosalie unit concluded that two of the patients require inpatient psychiatric care in a different setting and the remaining ten patients require general nursing as opposed to psychiatric nursing. That was at the time of the inspection. I accept the point...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I know that the families are stressed and this has become a big political issue locally as well. Communication regarding the facilities and supports available to the residents, and indeed their families, needs to be carefully managed. I assume that will happen.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is quite a technical question. I will try to get an answer for the Deputy from the Department of Finance. My understanding is that the Minister for Finance has recommended to the Government, and we have accepted it, that we effectively freeze the current arrangements. The review of the property tax that is needed will be pushed back by 12 months. I will respond to the Deputy with a...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will see if we can come back to the Deputy with an answer before she heads off.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is right that the No. 1 and No. 2 Bills are linked. The No. 1 Bill needs to come through the Seanad first. My understanding is that it is on Committee Stage in the Seanad. As soon as that concludes, it will open up the opportunity to introduce the No. 2 Bill.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy knows, I know Sherkin Island very well. I have spoken to many people about the decision on the previous school there and have worked with ferry operators on getting efficient travel to and from the island. I will happily work on this issue and we will see if we can make some progress on it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: A Cheann Comhairle, I think we should be careful about raising individual cases such as this in the Dáil.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: These are very delicate and difficult issues for families to deal with and we should think about how we speak about them and the language we use. Mental health among young people is a very serious issue and this Government has debated how we can improve services and increase funding, both of which are happening, but we should be very careful about talking about individual cases.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: Peter, be careful what you say.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will have to revert to the Deputy on that but I will try to get an accurate answer for him before close of business today.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: To repeat what I said earlier, when loan books are transferred from one bank to another, the rules continue to apply in terms of consumer protections and so on. However, there is an obligation on banks like AIB and others if they are transferring loan books to do that in a way that respects their customers and clients. They should certainly reflect on that in terms of the way in which they...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not have information about that but as with other localised issues, I will revert to the Deputy as soon as I can. The funding that was allocated and the service agreement in place has provided more funding for home care packages.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: We are increasing, and will continue to increase, public housing stock year after year. I hope we will add 10,000 social housing units this year and that will increase again next year. We will add an extra 50,000 social housing units over the five-year duration of the Rebuilding Ireland programme and the Government is committed to that. This Government is sometimes painted by some in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is right that part of the answer is public housing. That is why we are investing billions in it. We have an over-reliance on the private rental market in the short term while we build up the social housing stock to deliver the kind of capacity that is needed. Our population is growing by over 70,000 per year at the moment and many families are under pressure in the private...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (18 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I first wish everybody a happy Easter. This has been a busy Dáil session and people have earned a few days off. I am certainly looking forward to spending time with my family, as I am sure are many others. I thank the Ceann Comhairle for the way in which he has managed some significant moments over the past number of months in this House and outside it. The Minister for Education...