Results 12,481-12,500 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney
- European Communities (Brexit) Bill 2017: Second Stage [Private Members] (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: I welcome the opportunity to set out the Government’s views on the Bill. First, I assure the Deputy of the Government’s support for what I interpret as the underlying spirit of this Bill, which is the need for frequent and fruitful engagement between the Government and the Oireachtas on all issues relating to Brexit. The Government recognises this in principle and, more...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: It is not all bad news, by a long shot. The EPA report on bathing water in Ireland in 2017-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: It is not just about Dublin. This is a national-----
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: The overall quality of Ireland's bathing water remains good and 132 out of 142 beaches meet strict EU standards. Seven bathing waters are at poor status, which compares well with other northern European states. Having said that, it is still not good enough and we need to continue to improve. We need a plan for each of the areas where the water quality is not as good as it needs to be and...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: I will raise this issue with the Minister concerned and make sure he comes back to the Deputy.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: I do not have that information but I will see if it is available. If it is, we can try to send it on to the Deputy.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: It is on the priority list and the drafters are working on it. The Deputy can expect progress on it this year.
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: I share the Deputy's frustration and concern but my job is to get things moving, which is what I am trying to do. In the past week, there have been some positive developments in Northern Ireland with regard to the launch of a public consultation process around legacy which is something we have been waiting for quite some time. It is hugely important to many families in Northern Ireland....
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: I am very conscious that as we moved through Leaders' Questions today, the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, and many families of the Dublin-Monaghan bombing victims were commemorating 44 years since it happened. I have met the families and they are decent people looking for the truth. We want to help them get it. I have raised the issue with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in recent...
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: Let me answer the questions in relation to post offices and other services, but can I just say that the contribution the Deputy has just made would suggest that rural Ireland is dying on its feet? I know west Cork-----
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: No, I know west Cork well. I know Ballydehob well.
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: I also know that there are parts of west Cork that are thriving. This is a great place to live. There are challenges in relation to post offices and we have worked with An Post. An Post, in particular, has worked with postmasters to come up with an agreed approach to ensure that we have a post office infrastructure that can survive into the future recognising the modern realities that they...
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: People have also challenged the Government and we are responding to that. We are seeing parcel services being expanded through the post office network. We are seeing new Government services. There is a digital assist pilot programme being rolled out. An Post has promised new financial services through its post office network before the end of the year. Instead of throwing our hands in...
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: -----An Post, working with postmasters and getting agreement and endorsement from them in a ballot, as well as working with the Minister, Deputy Naughten, in particular, who has really taken this issue hugely seriously as a priority in government, is ensuring that we have a future for a post office network that can help a thriving rural economy to grow and develop in the future. Of...
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: Let us not paint rural Ireland as part of this country that is dying on its feet-----
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: -----because it is simply not true.
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: In relation to Government interest and vibrancy in west Cork, we saw 200 jobs created in Skibbereen across three companies last week and the Minister of State at the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Pat Breen, was there for that. That reinforces what I am saying, that west Cork is a vibrant community. West Cork has challenges that we need to address through policy and...
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: If one looks at the new digital assist pilot scheme, two out of the 20 pilots are in west Cork. I take to a certain extent Deputy Michael Collins's point that there are challenges that we need to face to ensure that living in rural Ireland is a vibrant proposition for people and we need to ensure that basic services and infrastructure are there to allow for that, but that is exactly what the...
- Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: I might, if there is a detailed follow-up, ask the Minister of State at the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Damien English, to contribute. We discussed the report in Cabinet this week. Effectively, the report endorses what the Government has been doing, particularly with regard to Ireland 2040 and medium-term planning to make sure we see the next phases of...
- Leaders' Questions (17 May 2018)
Simon Coveney: I thank Deputy Bríd Smith for giving me an opportunity to speak about this issue. As the Taoiseach stated earlier in the week, with some notable exceptions, the referendum campaign has, by and large, been respectful. Given that this is such a divisive and difficult issue for many, people have engaged in considered discussion of it in their homes. I have spoken to many people in their...