Results 10,421-10,440 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: In this context, as a shareholder of Dublin Port Company, there does need to be a conversation.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: The question probably needs a more detailed answer than I will be allowed to give now. At the start of the week, the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, gave a very detailed statement on the predicted financial impact on the Irish Exchequer of a no-deal Brexit. What he clearly indicated is we will need to borrow money in that instance. We may well have to dip into a rainy day fund and we will have...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I reassure the Deputy and many of the vulnerable sectors this is something the Government has put a lot of thought into and we will turn it into action. It will cost money and it may well result in Ireland going back into deficit rather than staying in surplus should that be necessary but it would be wrong at this stage to raise expectations in terms of the amount of money we are speaking about.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: It is a significant challenge but a challenge it will be necessary to follow through on.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I hear what the Deputy is saying but because there is no trade union representation it is difficult to facilitate a structured engagement that would be equivalent to that which existing recognised trade unions have. There are other mechanisms to allow sectors that do not have trade union representation to input into the process in parallel with the formal negotiations that go on. Whether...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: What is required is to examine ways in which people who are working in, and contributing to, the economy and who want to stay here can potentially find a pathway to legitimising their position with the documentation to back that up. The Minister is willing to look at that but it needs to be managed in a way that does not give the impression that Ireland is looking at amnesties or that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for the compliment.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I sense a honeytrap there.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: Please do. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on any decision of An Bord Pleanála in this House. It is an independent agency which makes decisions every day that we need to respect.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: The only mechanism that can question those decisions is the court system if someone chooses to test such a decision through judicial review of the process by which a decision is made as opposed to the actual planning decision itself. One of the issues that arose during the work on the Project Ireland 2040 plan, which I was very involved in, arose from the learnings from the Athenry data...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I do not think the British Government sees what it published this morning as a viable solution in the medium to long term. That is why it has described it as a temporary solution, which is clearly inadequate in terms of the longer term. The European Union, understandably, will want to protect the integrity of the Single Market and customs union, as will Ireland, and, at the same time,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: On the points the Deputy makes in respect of undocumented Irish, I am sure that is an issue that will be raised by the Taoiseach with the President of the United States tomorrow. It has been raised every year for a number of years. We have been looking for legislative vehicles that could allow that to happen in a way that would protect Irish people in the United States who are undocumented....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: No. I will not say today that I will do that without being able to follow through properly. I have stated that the Government is considering this issue. I take the Deputy's point and do not disagree but amnesties can be a dangerous space.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: First of all, this Parliament will meet if it has to in order to respond to political decisions debated and made in Westminster. That is what we will need to do. Even today a team from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is meeting with the European Commission on these issues. There have been many meetings and discussions in recent weeks and months on how we can collectively...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for those questions. As we have been throughout this process, we are very close to the European Union through the Commission, the Barnier task force and the other member states. Along with the Taoiseach and other Ministers, the Minister of State, Deputy Helen McEntee, and I have spent a lot of time building up an understanding among our colleagues and friends across the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: The proposals released by the British Government this morning relate to a no-deal Brexit scenario, which is by no means certain at this stage I am glad to say. Further votes are scheduled in Westminster today and tomorrow on possible Brexit scenarios. Ireland will respond to these proposals as part of the EU27 and, of course, in partnership with our EU colleagues. Our core objective is,...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: First, I am very glad to have an opportunity to address this legislation in the Seanad today. I will be back to deal with some of the other sectoral issues in respect of transport and justice issues.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: He is on important national business, I suspect, like many others.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: No, actually, he is at the Special Olympics.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 Mar 2019)

Simon Coveney: We will have an opportunity to address some of the concerns I have heard outlined, which are linked to these amendments even though they are not in them, in respect of the ability to drive across the Border and so on. In respect of amendment No. 15, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation already commissioned a wide-ranging review by the OECD on SME and entrepreneurship policies...