Results 10,161-10,180 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

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

Simon Coveney: -----from the N17, the Gort to Tuam bypass, Arklow to Rathnew bypass, the north docklands sewerage scheme and the Phoenix Park tunnel, these are all projects that were completed on time and on budget.

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

Simon Coveney: This Government, unlike Deputy Martin's, has a pretty good record actually-----

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

Simon Coveney: -----of delivering projects on time and on budget.

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

Simon Coveney: This is an exception to that and that is why we have asked PwC to look at it in detail and we are factoring in the lessons learned from that report-----

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

Simon Coveney: -----and will report back in a month.

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

Simon Coveney: It is important to be honest about what has happened here. I understand the frustration and anger being expressed this morning and on many occasions in this House. We thought we could build a national children's hospital for much less than it will cost. That is what happened here. We unfortunately have seen a process that, until late last year, was proposing that a national children's...

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

Simon Coveney: This is a project that we now have a clear understanding of in respect of costs. This is a project that was grossly underestimated in terms of cost until relatively recently. Yes, the Government and politicians need to take responsibility for that.

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

Simon Coveney: We will and that is why we are changing systems-----

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

Simon Coveney: -----to make sure we take account of that. The public spending code is being updated and will strengthen the steps required in public investment evaluation and management. As part of the review of the public spending code, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is conducting a full assessment of how cost estimation and management for capital projects could be improved. Updating...

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

Simon Coveney: Yesterday, the Government published the report of the independent review of escalation of costs for the national children's hospital carried out by PwC, and it fully accepts its recommendations. This project is very important for Irish children for generations to come. It is finally under construction and the Connolly urgent care centre element of the project is on target to open this...

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

Simon Coveney: We need to understand the systems failures that allowed that to happen and to ensure that they are not repeated. That is why the Government is committed and has already started the process of looking at how complex and large capital projects are managed from a procurement perspective-----

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

Simon Coveney: -----and a structural perspective to ensure that estimates that we have at the start of projects such as this turn out to be accurate at a later stage when final decisions are made on funding.

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

Simon Coveney: The Government had a choice to make last December either to proceed with the project, knowing the full cost, to retender, which would probably have cost more in the end-----

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

Simon Coveney: -----or not to build the project.

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

Simon Coveney: Nobody is suggesting that we can build this hospital for less than it currently costs-----

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

Simon Coveney: -----but there are certainly lessons to learn that the Government needs to act on.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (10 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Consular Assistance Unit in Dublin, has been providing extensive consular assistance to this citizen and his family since 2011. The Government has been active in supporting this citizen's request to return to Ireland and my Department, through the Irish Embassy in Abu...

An Bille um an Ochtú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Neodracht) 2018 : An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Neutrality) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: We are not in NATO.

An Bille um an Ochtú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Neodracht) 2018 : An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Neutrality) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: This House chooses when and where-----

An Bille um an Ochtú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Neodracht) 2018 : An Dara Céim [Comhaltaí Príobháideacha] - Thirty-Eighth Amendment of the Constitution (Neutrality) Bill 2018: Second Stage [Private Members] (9 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: This House chooses when and where to send Irish troops abroad. As I said earlier, we do a disservice to paint the European Union as something it is not. We also do a disservice to make the case, which is not based in reality that somehow Ireland is drifting towards being part of some broader European army which is not taking shape. Instead I am confident we can continue to rely on the...