Results 11,721-11,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----in such a complex environment can sometimes be difficult. In this case, that is what has happened. We are fixing the issue and the personnel will be home, albeit two weeks after they were supposed to be home. I do not believe that individual personnel are at fault. The complexity of the environment in which we are operating-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----is the reason for the delay.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: A report was done on this issue and that report has now come back. The Minister simply stated the facts and reality that neither he nor the Government has a function in this issue. There is a permit being sought and planning permission has been granted. EirGrid is now trying to manage the way in which it will build a North-South interconnector, which is a very important piece of grid...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: ------who are moving into the higher tax bracket at very modest incomes, in a way that is consistent with the measures implemented last year. That is what is called balance. We cannot continue to ask the same people to foot the tax bill for the increased spend we hope to deliver. We need a balanced budget which recognises the pressures middle income earners are under and the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: If I were a member of the Naval Service, I would be surprised to hear a Member of this House calling for Naval Service personnel to be brought home from the Mediterranean to focus on their main role and what they were trained for, which, according to the Deputy, is fisheries protection. Fisheries protection is not the limit of what we ask Naval Service personnel to do. The Deputy may not be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is not the first time the Deputy has targeted individuals who do not have an opportunity to defend themselves in the House. I have absolute confidence in the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces whom I know well and with whom I worked while I was Minister for Defence. On many occasions I visited the headquarters of the Naval Service in Haulbowline with him and other members of his...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Doherty knows that better than most but it does not suit his political narrative to accept it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: That is the reality.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We are well aware of the seriousness of the situation. The Deputy does not need to remind us.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am not going to give a budget speech today for obvious reasons, as Deputy Howlin will understand. As a result of the sacrifices made by so many people and businesses in the past decade, Ireland is in a position to spend nearly €7.5 billion on capital next year. That is an increase of 25% in expenditure on schools, hospitals, roads, social infrastructure and housing, among other...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We managed to give some modest relief to people last year and we hope to so again this year by moving thresholds in a direction that is slightly closer to international norms. All of the independent international assessments of the Irish tax system have shown that it is one of the most progressive tax systems in the world. To be fair to Deputy Howlin, he had a part in creating that. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We look forward to seeing Deputy Howlin's proposals. I am sure they will be assessed before final decisions are made from a Government perspective. The Deputy seems to be making accusations that we are not focusing enough on expenditure in areas such as childcare. He should look at the increase in spending on childcare we committed last year and wait and see what will be announced next...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: Deputy Howlin is calling for more expenditure. We are advocating for a modest package for middle income earners-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Government understands the frustration of many people who marched yesterday to make a point on housing. We are in the midst of a very pressurised situation for many families who are renting, cannot afford to purchase their own home or are waiting for social housing. The biggest priority in Government with regard to the domestic political agenda is and has been housing for quite some...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: We will deal with the delivery of an extra 8,000 social houses this year. We delivered-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: There is a difference between the numbers which the Deputy likes to quote-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----which are selective quotes to try to exaggerate for effect-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----as he does all the time. New social housing is not just about new builds. It is also about bringing other properties and acquisitions-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----back into new social housing stock. We will, and have in the past two years, dramatically increased the amount of social housing stock that is in use, but we need to do much more. We are talking about adding another 100,000 social houses to the housing stock over time, which is a hugely ambitious social housing plan which we will deliver on. I would contend that the delay in social...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Israeli Settlements (4 Oct 2018)

Simon Coveney: I think the Deputy and I agree on most things relating to this issue. In our view the expansion of settlements in the West Bank continues to undermine the viability of a two-state solution. The issues around Khan al-Ahmar, a relatively small Bedouin community, are very significant because of its strategic location. The international community will judge interested parties on whether they...