Results 12,141-12,160 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: I will give a direct answer to that question. There is a huge responsibility on the Law Society, and if it wants to prevent the Government changing its approach towards the work it does, and the balance between what the Law Society does and what the State does in terms of regulation, it needs to deal with this issue with a firm hand. The Deputy said that it has ensured that a number of...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Intoxicating Liquor (Breweries and Distilleries) Bill 2016 is scheduled for next week. Perhaps there is an irony in that.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: Those who are involved in the Intoxicating Liquor (Breweries and Distilleries) Bill 2016 understand the differences between the two because they are genuinely different issues. On the ongoing saga of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017, the Members who are filibustering on it should reflect on the impact their tactics are having on other important legislation which is being delayed. I do...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: I have been involved in the discussions on how structures can be put in place to deal with legacy issues. I have met many families, both unionist and nationalist, since I started this job, which I am privileged to have. The stories are heartbreaking; families have been waiting for far too long for truth and justice in many cases. There is a big responsibility on everybody, whether in the...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Government will support Mr. Harris in that, as well as supporting a transparent and appropriate set of structures to ensure we can move forward-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: There is a difference between filibustering and voting against legislation.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: If the Deputy does not agree with the legislation, he should vote against it, but he should not hold up the democratic will of this House-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: -----which is aimed at saving lives.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: I listened to the Deputy.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017 is being introduced to save lives in counties such as Tipperary.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: If the Deputy believes it is bad legislation, he should vote against it and let democracy take its course. When I speak about Ireland abroad, I am proud of the fact that we have never, in my political lifetime, chosen to use migration or immigration as a source of political division or to create fear across society.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: I hope that will continue. We should not talk about how we manage people who come to Ireland illegally in the context of protecting our society. That is done by An Garda Síochána, which does a good job at protecting citizens.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: People who come to Ireland illegally do so either to claim asylum or because they are economic migrants, and we have systems to ensure that we can test the difference between both. We should focus on those systems rather than creating ambiguity or grey areas that play on the fears of citizens.
- Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: I know Dublin Pride is happening this weekend. I expect in this weather that it will be a great celebration, as well as a great party, full of colour and with many families. Every year the Pride parades, in Dublin, Cork or elsewhere, involve more children and that is to be welcomed and supported. Turning to the specifics of the questions Deputy Pringle raised on legal official recognition...
- Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: Those are fair questions and I will come back to Deputy Pringle with a detailed answer because I do not want to give an off-the-cuff response to a detailed provision of a broader item of amending legislation. I will say directly to people listening outside of this House and to same-sex couples looking forward to having their family unit fully and properly recognised in law, that legislation...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: The Government is acutely aware of the financial challenges faced by families and businesses from high electricity and gas prices. The Government's position is that a competitive electricity market, alongside energy efficiency, represents the most effective means of reducing household and business energy costs in Ireland. Domestic customers can avail of discounts either by contacting their...
- Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: There were a lot of questions there.
- Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: Deputy Howlin also made a lot of comments. I am in very strong agreement with what he said regarding Africa in particular. I have been making a very similar case at EU Council Foreign Affairs meetings. The EU relationship with Africa needs to be the big new idea in the context of the future of Europe and its external policy. We are going to witness a population growth of about an extra 1...
- Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: We are giving leadership on the EU-Africa issue and hopefully in the autumn I will be visiting Africa with the German Minister. Germany has a very similar approach to Ireland on this issue and we need big countries and big economies to back this type of thinking if we are to fund any project addressing the neighbourhood relationship we are to have with that continent. A big part of the...
- Leaders' Questions (28 Jun 2018)
Simon Coveney: -----as opposed to relying on amnesties. We need faster turnaround times for decisions and we need generosity, openness and transparency in terms of how those decisions are made. The signal we need to send to other European countries, and to the Irish people, is that we need a fair and generous system, that makes decisions quickly.