Results 10,581-10,600 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is not what I said.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: No. I am surprised at the defensive tone of the Deputy's questioning on this issue. The Minister is trying to act in a way that is transparent, open and responsible------

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----to prioritise first and foremost the safety of children. We know there have been cases of children who have been in totally inappropriate situations linked to Scouting Ireland in the past. Scouting Ireland is a very positive organisation and we want it to work, but we also need to ensure that Tusla brings its experience to bear on the necessary restructuring and procedures that need to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: That is why the Minister instructed that the CEO work with Tusla at the highest level of the organisation------

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: -----to make sure that is the case. If she was not still concerned in regard to the need for that work to continue, she would not have said it. The letter states that parents should seek assurances that no overnight trips take place without adequate numbers of trained supervisors. Scouting Ireland must ensure that each of these supervisors knows the exact steps to take if a child comes to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Of course we want the best drugs to be available for rare conditions and other conditions. They are going through the assessment process. Cost must be a part of that discussion. The onus is on the company to come back with a proposal that I certainly hope the HSE will be able to consider favourably.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I assure the Deputy that I, as a deputy head of Government and as a parent, try to act every day in terms of the responsibility I have. I do not think we should be trying to paint the HSE as some kind of cold body that does not want to grant reimbursement for Spinraza. It does want to grant it. The HSE rare diseases technology review committee recommended that it should be approved. As it...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: This is a priority, just like it was a priority to get other rare disease drugs approved to date in 2019. There are families awaiting and needing decisions on reimbursement and the absence of those decisions has been going on for too long. In the case of Spinraza, it has been going on for too many months. We also have to ensure that we have in place a system which makes decisions on the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Calleary for raising this sensitive and important issue, which has been raised repeatedly. When I have taken Leaders' Question, it has come up almost every second week for many months now. SMA, as has been described, is a terrible condition with awful consequences for sufferers, and I am sure extraordinary stress for families as well. I completely understand the stress...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Let me give the House the information that I have. I certainly stand open to questions. Following detailed consideration of an application from the manufacturer, Biogen, the HSE leadership team made the decision that it was unable to recommend reimbursement of Spinraza at the price quoted on 12 February. On Thursday last, 21 February, the HSE wrote to the company informing it that the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I encourage the company to engage and ensure that we find a way, for patients and families who are stressed and suffering because of the anxiety and the wait on this issue, to bring that wait to an end if it is possible to do so.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I have been given a note by the HSE.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I will verify the information that I have. I have a date next to that reimbursement price that was proposed of 12 February, which I suspect may be accurate. Perhaps there has been a change since then in the price that is on offer. If there is, there is a structured mechanism for the company to engage.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I ask the Deputy not to trivialise this important issue. We want to get it resolved. There is an absolute willingness on the part of the Government to do that. However, when we are talking about facilitating drugs for rare conditions, as we have been done this year, if we ignore price as part of the discussion, we could pay money that could go into other drugs.

Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2019: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: We would accept a bit of it, too.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: Like everybody else, while I have been in the House this morning I have been reading on my phone about the UK Supreme Court decision in relation to the murder of Pat Finucane and the attempts by the family to secure a full public inquiry. The Government's position remains clear and consistent. We believe an independent public inquiry into the Finucane case should be established in line with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: At a political level, a successful meeting of the All-Island Civic Dialogue on Brexit took place in Dublin Castle last week. It was the fifth meeting of the dialogue to date. There has been engagement between civil servants in Dublin and Belfast on understanding the challenges of Brexit and the responses that may be necessary, particularly in a no-deal scenario. We have had some very good...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Issues (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy is right that the next five years will be crucial for the EU and for Ireland's place in it. There is no question about that. I hope that Brexit will not still be an ongoing issue in August, September and October, although it could be. To be honest, I do not want get above myself; this is a call for the Taoiseach. He will make a recommendation, taking into account many of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Issues (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: As already stated, it is not my call. As a member of the Government, I will have an input into the decision but this is ultimately down to the Taoiseach's judgment. I disagree with the Deputy's overall point. This is a democratic process; the Government is democratically elected and represents Ireland's interests. Every day it make decisions on behalf of the people and it can be changed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (27 Feb 2019)

Simon Coveney: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 9, 20 and 34 together. The continuing absence of vital institutions of the Good Friday Agreement is a source of deep concern for the Government, as it is for the British Government. The Government will continue to do everything in its power, in accordance with its responsibilities as a co-guarantor of the Good Friday Agreement, to secure the effective...