Results 11,861-11,880 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Documents (25 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The UK Government White Paper of 12 July on the future relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union remains the stated position of the UK Government on the framework which is to be agreed alongside the legal text of the Withdrawal Agreement. The EU’s negotiating approach remains as set out in the European Council Guidelines of April 2017 and March 2018. The...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is clearly an issue of real concern. I have experienced it in my constituency too. This is something that needs to be factored into the HSE service plan in terms of resources, both financial and human. I suggest that this is an obvious question to tease out with the Minister for Health when he takes Question Time.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The only update I can give to the Deputy is that there are ongoing consultations between the Minister's Department and trade unions. I do not have an exact date.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will have to come back to the Deputy on this, but I would be surprised if the Minister had committed to that. I would be surprised if that was the case but I will need to confirm it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will come back to the Deputy on this. I understand that the Government is happy to progress the issue. It has been debated a number of times in the House and the Taoiseach has answered questions from the Deputy on the issue. We are serious about doing it, but I will have to come back to the Deputy on the timing of the legislation.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I advise the Deputy to correspond with the Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, on this matter. If it is an issue, I am sure he will look at it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I cannot go into a detailed response on that matter under the Order of Business, but I agree there is a need for action. The Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and others are ensuring that this is a priority with regard to recruitment and resources and around policy change in this area. The current waiting lists and waiting times are too long, and this is why we will prioritise it.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are more sustainable ways to heat homes than burning oil. There are Government grants available to help people do that, especially for solar panels and so on.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: I am sure the Deputy would appreciate the climate benefits of that kind of switch.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: First, the Government is not closing any post offices.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: There is an agreement between management-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----and unions in An Post. There is no compulsory closure of any post office. It is a decision for postmasters to make in consultation with An Post.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: There are guarantees relating to proximity to post offices that are also being implemented by An Post. I assure the Deputy that this is a Government that prioritises rural Ireland, and as someone who has lived in rural Ireland for a lot of my life-----

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: -----I am well aware of that and the conversations around the Cabinet table. If anything, there is a prioritisation for rural Ireland rather than the opposite, which is what the Deputy seems to be suggesting.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy has raised a lot of questions there and I would like to spend a lot of time answering them because this is a brief with which I am very familiar and in which I am still very involved. To answer her direct question regarding a rent freeze, I do not think it is a good idea, not because I do not want to introduce measures that provide relief for renters but because the core of the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: It is time for action and less talk and that is why we are implementing the Rebuilding Ireland plan, which is a five-year housing plan that is working. The Deputy said the vacant site levy is not working but that has only just started. It does not work overnight.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: We cannot retrospectively correct things from two years ago. We are setting about-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy does not want to hear the answers - that is the problem - because she wants to keep talking about the problems. We in government recognise that there are huge pressures on the housing market and that is impacting on families right across the country but, in particular, in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford and in other areas. We are setting about fixing those. There...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: Five thousand people were taken out of homelessness last year. We know that 7,000 new social housing units were added to the market last year. It will be 8,000 this year and 10,000 and 12,000 in the years ahead.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (20 Sep 2018)

Simon Coveney: We know that last year 14,500 new homes were built in Ireland. This year it will be over 20,000. Two years ago that figure was less than 10,000, so we are moving in the right direction.