Results 12,841-12,860 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: No, I said you do not have them.

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: With regard to homelessness we are making some positive progress. For example, rough sleepers are down by approximately 50%. We have put in place much better emergency accommodation and much more comprehensive emergency accommodation, particularly for families but also for individuals. We accept that is simply a temporary solution while the State needs to deliver homes for people through...

Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: He seems to be suggesting that because there are some refusals there is something wrong. I do not think anybody should be arguing for everybody who looks for this loan facility to get it. Some people may not have the capacity to repay. While of course the Rebuilding Ireland home loan scheme gives preferential treatment to people under certain conditions, we all have a responsibility to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The long-standing tradition of meetings at the highest level in Washington DC around St. Patrick’s Day affords Ireland a unique opportunity to engage with the US Administration and Congressional leaders at the highest level on issues of particular interest to Ireland, including immigration reform. For many years now, during the annual St. Patrick’s Day visits and throughout the...

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

Simon Coveney: St. Patrick’s Day provides Ireland with an unparalleled opportunity to promote our political and economic interests abroad, as well as access to key political and business contacts in leading markets around world. Recommendations for Ministerial travel over the 2018 St. Patrick’s Day period were based on input from our Team Ireland network of diplomatic missions and state...

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

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83, 87 and 99 together. I have clearly communicated Ireland’s position and priorities in relation to the draft Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland to the EU Taskforce as well as to my UK counterparts in recent weeks. I met with Michel Barnier immediately on 26 February and again on 19 March, following the recent round of intensive negotiations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff Training (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 84 and 85 together. The Training needs of my Department are identified as part of the annual goal setting phase of the Performance Management Development System (PMDS). They are then analysed and necessary training is provided in a number of areas including social media. In-house expertise is used wherever possible and training on the use of social media is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consultancy Contracts (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: No contracts have been awarded by my Department to the company referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Responsibilities (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 100 together. Co-ordination of the whole-of-Government response to Brexit is being taken forward through the cross-Departmental coordination structures chaired by my Department. Contingency planning for a no-deal or worst-case outcome, bringing together the detailed work being undertaken by individual Ministers and their Departments on issues...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Emigrant Support Services (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The budget for the Emigrant Support Programme in 2018 is €11.595 million and is unchanged in recent years. An increase of 5% on the 2018 budget would cost €579,750. An increase of 10% on the 2018 budget would cost €1,159,500. An increase of 15% on the 2018 budget would cost€1,739,250. An increase of 20% on the 2018 budget would cost€2,319,000.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation Expenditure (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: As I indicated in my reply to the same question from the Deputy on 16 January, the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s embassy and consulate network around the world continues to be important to Ireland’s economic development and the enhancement of our international reputation. The total network, of currently some 73 embassies and consulates and 7 multilateral...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff permanently employed by my Department and assigned to the Passport Service stood at 322 at the beginning of the year. This compares to 310 FTE staff assigned to the Passport Service at the same point last year. This year, since these figures were released, over 20 additional permanent staff have started with the Passport Service. In addition to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Peace and Reconciliation Programme (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: The Reconciliation Fund, which is administered by my Department, was established in 1982 to support civil society organisations in creating better understanding between the people and traditions of the island of Ireland, and also between Ireland and Britain. Over €48 million has been allocated to over 2,000 projects during this time. As part of the 2014 Stormont House Agreement, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Syrian Conflict (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95, 96 and 97 together. The situation in Syria continues to be one of utmost concern. The conflict, which is now in its eighth year, has cost over 400,000 lives. Over 13 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, including close to 3 million people trapped in besieged and hard-to-reach areas. Over 6 million people are displaced...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (29 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Over the course of many months, the Irish and British Governments, as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, have worked tirelessly to support and facilitate the parties in their efforts to form an Executive. The devolved, power-sharing institutions of the Good Friday Agreement are the best means for achieving accountable, representative decision-making for all the people of Northern...

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: Maybe I will give the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, a rest on this one. Two tangible examples are that the next significant national consultation of the all-island Brexit forum will happen in the Border region, and this morning, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, and the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, launched a €300 million loan...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I share the frustrations that have just been outlined. I am happy to reconstitute the cross-party group. I spent some time with victims of atrocities and their quest for the truth is powerful. Hopefully, we will soon see an opening of a public consultation process in respect of the introduction of new legislation consistent with the Stormont House Agreement in terms of legacy structures,...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Undocumented Irish in the USA (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I will follow up on the issue raised at the end of the Deputy's contribution. It is very important that I do not raise expectations that we can solve this issue easily. I have been in this House for nearly 20 years, as have many others. I and others have been to Washington many times trying to deal with the issue of the undocumented Irish. There have been false dawns over and over again....

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 102 together. Dealing with long outstanding issues relating to the legacy of the conflict in Northern Ireland is of the utmost importance to the Government. The programme for Government highlights this priority with specific reference to implementation of the all-party Dáil motions relating to the Dublin-Monaghan bombings. I acknowledge...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Other Questions (Resumed): Human Rights (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Coveney: On the Tamimi case, Irish and other EU diplomats attended the hearings in the military court as the case developed. An officer from Ireland's representative office in Ramallah was present in the court last Thursday when sentencing took place. During my visit to the Middle East in January, I raised directly with Israeli authorities my concerns about the detention of minors, as well as the...