Results 11,301-11,320 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have outlined on the record of the Seanad and publicly why we cannot support the Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018. We do not believe it to be legally sound or capable of being implemented. I understand the political frustration that produced the Bill. Palestinians and the Palestinian National Authority have strong advocates in both Houses, and I am one of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I have some knowledge of this issue, having been previously in a Department that was involved with and connected to Dublin City Council. As the Deputy knows, this has been an ongoing discussion for quite some time, trying to ensure we have the best possible pre-hospital emergency response capacity in Dublin. Undoubtedly we have a very well trained and highly capable fire service in Dublin...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is a very reasonable request that any decision made would be fully transparent and that the people who make decisions would be fully accountable. As the Deputy said, the way democracy works is we have to ensure we are accountable for the decisions made but we also need to rely on the expertise of those involved. Politicians are not, with respect, paramedics.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: If it is the case that people are being stonewalled, or that people are not co-operating with the process that needs to come to a conclusion, that is a different issue. Obviously, the Government and the Minister will be interested in this and they need to be accountable to the House to make sure money is being spent appropriately, that the services are well resourced and that the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is the process that is under way.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has raised many issues. I will pick up on a number of points. He seems to be suggesting we should be taxing on the basis of asset values rather than income.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: If that is what he is suggesting every farm in the country will be put out of business.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: On the issue of whether Ireland is a high tax or low tax economy, if we ask a person on €35,000 year who is paying the higher rate of tax on some of their income, or close to it, because the threshold is just above this now, and if we compare Ireland to other countries, we ask people on middle incomes to pay the higher rate of tax on a much higher percentage of their income than in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is true.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The threshold whereby people get taxed at the highest rate of tax in Ireland is much lower than it is in most other countries.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: If we look at what we have just done in the most recent budget and in previous budgets, our priority has not been on tax cuts. The priority has been on increasing public expenditure, improving public services and supporting people who need the support of the State in multiple sectors that have not had the type of investment needed through a recessionary period. Expenditure versus tax cuts...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I accept that radical change is needed in the childcare sector for many of the reasons the Deputy has outlined but I also want to say that is exactly what is happening. Over the last four years, we have seen the amount of money available for reforming and changing the childcare sector increase by 117%. The available budget for childcare has gone from €265 million to €574...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The only way to measure progress here is to look at trends. We are clearly coming from a difficult place with regard to childcare costs in Ireland. If the Deputy looks at turnover in staff, where people are paid low wages, there has been a decrease of 3.5% in staff turnover in the last year. It is still too high but it is moving in the right direction.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: We have seen capitation rates increase over the last two years to try to address that and ensure some of that money is transferred to staff and staff supports. We have seen other measures that complement the changes to childcare, from the initial introduction of one free year of pre-school to now having two free years of pre-school for parents and families; an extension to paternity leave;...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Like him, I extend the sympathy of everybody in this House to the Marron family. Two children and a wife have been left without a father today because of an outrageous and tragic set of circumstances that could not have been anticipated for the family concerned. We are thinking of them today and they are very much in our thoughts and prayers. ...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The O'Farrell case, which is also absolutely tragic, is the subject of a GSOC investigation. When that report from GSOC is available to the Minister, we will take the appropriate action at that stage. Regarding this tragedy that happened to the Marron family, this case has also been referred to GSOC and, therefore, I am somewhat limited in what I can say but it is important to say that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (29 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: While the United Kingdom's European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 does not make specific provision for withdrawal from the EEA Agreement, in the accompanying Explanatory Note it is stated that "withdrawing from the EU means the UK will also cease to participate in the European Economic Area (EEA) Agreement as the UK will fall outside the geographic scope of the Agreement and will therefore no...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: All the reports that have been produced on contingency planning for various Brexit outcomes revolve around what is called a central-case scenario which assumes a withdrawal agreement and a transition period. If necessary, we will produce documents on a no-deal Brexit scenario, which will be more complicated and will put more pressure on the system to deliver. We have been preparing for that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is why it is being assessed independently.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Negotiations (28 Nov 2018)

Simon Coveney: The negotiations on both the EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement and political declaration on the framework for the EU-UK future relationship, both of which we were endorsed by the European Council on 25 November, were conducted on behalf of the EU27 by the EU's Chief negotiator, Michel Barnier, and the Commission's Article 50 Taskforce. Brexit is a priority issue for this Government, and the...