Results 10,241-10,260 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: In the most recent budget, the Government allocated significant funding for an affordable housing scheme that was agreed. It was understood that it would take some time to implement the scheme. However, there is currently nothing preventing local authorities coming forward with proposals around affordable housing schemes-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----using the sites that they have available to them if they wish to so do. There was nothing preventing them from doing so two years ago. Local authorities can use their own initiative and work with the Department on this. The Government is now also moving ahead with the cost rental project.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: We have agreed to come forward with new proposals for affordable housing schemes and to give guidance on that. I do not have an exact date for what the Deputy is proposing, but the Department is working with local authorities on individual projects and they can be brought forward, as could have been done for the past couple of years.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: Local authorities do not always need schemes.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Government today decided to extend rent pressure zones until the end of 2021 and to change how the qualification criteria for how rent pressure zones are calculated, essentially to separate Dublin from the rest of the country because rents are much higher in Dublin and, therefore, the qualification criteria of having to be above the national average needs to change for outside of Dublin....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I suggest that that is a question for the Minister for Health, Deputy Harris, who could provide the Deputy with a much more detailed answer than I can. I will certainly raise the issue with him and ask him to respond directly to the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: Earlier, I was asked a question by Deputy McDonald about Cork University Hospital, which clearly had a lot of pressure last night - it is experiencing it again today - in terms of capacity. The hospital is trying to respond to this in the appropriate way today.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The HSE has advised that it has sourced additional capacity - it has been working on doing so for some weeks - in a number of countries and that it is trying to finalise arrangements in order that this capacity can be incorporated into the CervicalCheck programme. This is a capacity issue. We cannot develop increased capacity in Ireland in the short term so we need to source it in other...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I understand that the reason for the delay was the time it took to secure the necessary legal advice. This was not as straightforward as it might sound. It is impossible to justify the use of smoky coals in this day and age but a transition period was needed because many small business operators were continuing to supply that type of coal. It is the Government's intention to move ahead...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I cannot give the Deputy an exact date but I can come back to him after I clarify the position with the relevant Minister.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: Since his name has been raised twice, I wish Mr. Paul Reid well in what is a very difficult job.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: He is a very decent and competent person. I know him well from when I was in the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: Given the enormity of the challenge he is taking on, he will earn every cent of what he is paid.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: This issue has been raised repeatedly. This is a complex dispute which involves an inter-union dispute as well as a series of other issues. The Taoiseach and I have been clear that it will not be solved by a politician. It needs to be solved within the trade union movement.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will have to revert to the Deputy with details on that matter. I have not read the report. Since it is clearly an issue, I will revert to the Deputy with some details this afternoon.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: I suggest that the Deputy read the Oireachtas committee's report on climate change. It makes a very strong case, not only for investing in changing the way we produce power at a business and home level, but for carbon tax forming a part of the solution to encouraging a change in behaviour. No one is proposing a dramatic increase in carbon tax in the short term. Rather, we are talking about...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: With respect, it is unreasonable to ask me to outline the implications of the cost of this plan without knowing the scale of that cost. I do not know what the cost is going to be; it has not come before Cabinet yet. As a result, I am not able to give the Deputy an answer. Without that answer, I cannot give her an indication of the implications of that cost in the context of Project Ireland...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The national broadband plan, as the Deputy knows, aims to ensure every home, school and business in Ireland, regardless of how remote or rural, has access to high-speed broadband. We all have a responsibility to work to that end. This is being achieved through a combination of commercial investment across Ireland and a State intervention in those areas, mostly rural, where commercial...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: Regarding beef, as I said, we have consulted widely and we will have a plan in place that will be approved and, I suspect, available before a no-deal happens in order that people know what supports will be in place immediately, should that contingency be necessary, which I certainly hope it will not be. I assure other Deputies that our plans are not based on hope; they are based on putting...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Apr 2019)

Simon Coveney: The issue raised by the Deputy points to the importance of getting a withdrawal agreement agreed because for farmers in the Republic of Ireland and, in particular, in Northern Ireland, a no-deal Brexit would be hugely challenging. In a no-deal scenario, there will be a very significant support package for farmers in the Republic. We are working with the European Commission to ensure the...