Tag Archives: Simon Coveney

An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, has today announced the appointment of the Tánaiste and two members of Government. Simon Coveney, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, has been appointed as Tánaiste. Heather Humphreys  has been appointed as the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation. A first term TD, Josepha Madigan has been appointed as the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. An Taoiseach said, “Appointing the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney as Tánaiste will enhance his role in the Brexit negotiations currently underway and will make it easier for him to coordinate the work of other departments with respect of Brexit. “In appointing Minister Humphreys to the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, for the first time in seven years the minister will be from outside the Dublin region, and also from the Border. This is particularly relevant in the context of Brexit and also the Government’s commitment to bring more jobs and good jobs to all …

DEPUTY Michael Harty has said he is looking at his position in relation to supporting the current Government, arising from a lack of delivery on assurances he received under the Programme for a Partnership Government. He said 15 months after he voted for Enda Kenny as Taoiseach and with a new Taoiseach about to be selected, many people, including him, will be re-evaluating their positions. “It’s up to Fine Gael to elect their leader. I haven’t a preference of one over the other. It’s 15 months since I voted for Enda Kenny. I did that on the basis that there was a possibility that there would be a general election if there wasn’t a nomination for Taoiseach on that morning. I felt it was the responsibility of all TDs in the Dáil to provide a Government. “That Government has been in place for the past 15 months. There is to be a change of leader and I think everyone is …

A contender in the race for the Fine Gael leadership, Housing Minister Simon Coveney will visit a number of sites in Ennis this afternoon (Friday). Mr Coveney will visit to Laurel Lodge, Ennis, a homeless facility, at 1pm, before moving on to Pairc na Coille Bungalows , 27 of which are leased senior citizen accommodation units. The minister’s visit to Ennis will conclude at Aisling, Shanaway Road, Ennis, to view a former unfinished estate. Twenty-three units are under construction, with a completion date of July, while a further 11 units are due to be completed by September.

TAOISEACH Enda Kenny will retire as Fine Gael leader, with effect from midnight on Wednesday. The Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar is the 2/5 favourite to succeed Mr Kenny as party leader, while one time favourite, Housing Minister Simon Coveney is the 7/4 second favourite. Fianna Fáil leader Michael Martin is the current 1/2 favourite to be Taoiseach after the next General Election, with Leo Varadkar next at 9/4. In a statement following the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Kenny said, “Last year I indicated I would not lead the Fine Gael party into the next General Election. I will continue to carry out my duties as party leader in an acting capacity, until my successor is elected through the Fine Gael Leadership election process. After 15 years at the helm, including two stints as Taoiseach, Mr Kenny wants the party executive to expedite hand over process by June 2 but stressed that he will …

Housing and Local Government Minister Simon Coveney, today (Wednesday) afforded key local development and community development stakeholders an opportunity to have their say in the development of an implementation plan for the Framework Policy for Local and Community Development in Ireland, which was approved by Government a year ago. The National Forum took place at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin, with more than 230 participants in attendance. The forum afforded communities, their representatives and those directly involved in local development and community development an important opportunity to discuss critical issues facing our communities and to input to the development of the implementation plan. The plan will contribute to the Programme for Government commitment to produce a coherent policy framework and develop a strategy to support the community and voluntary sector and encourage a cooperative approach between public bodies and the community and voluntary sector. The event centred around five thematic workshops that aligned closely with the themes of the Framework Policy. …

IFA Connacht regional chairman and Flooding Project Team chairman, Tom Turley has called for a meeting of the National Emergency Coordination Group to put in place an action plan to deal with the current severe flooding. Making a direct appeal to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney and Minister for Public Works Simon Harris, he said, “Farmers across the country have endured a very difficult situation, particularly in western, north-western and midland counties. Already, IFA is reporting devastation to thousands of acres of farmland, households cut off, and animals having to be moved to higher ground. “The problem is particularly acute on the River Shannon where already Lough Allen has reached the peak water levels of the 2009 winter floods. In other areas such as Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Longford, Westmeath, Roscommon, Offaly, Clare and Limerick vast amounts of lands and households are flooded many of which have never experienced such devastation. “There is now a need for a clear Government response. While river …

THE Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney has announced that almost €7.8 million will be issued to Clare farmers under a special scheme. The Department of Agriculture have started to issue €117 million in payments nationally and €7,797,885.91 here in Clare under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme. “These payments will provide a financial boost for the 3,564 farmers in Clare who have been approved to receive this payment. The Minister also confirmed that payments will continue to issue as individual farmers’ cases are confirmed eligible for payment,” Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said in welcoming the payments. “It is also expected that 70% of the Basic Payment Scheme will be paid from October 16, with balancing payments issuing from December 1. It is essential that we continue to support farmers in every way we can during the current challenging times. Fine Gael’s top priority is to secure the economic recovery. We have a clear plan …

A new package of measures has been announced by Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney to address difficulties in the dairy and pigmeat sectors. This is good news for Clare farmers, according to Fine Gael TD Pat Breen. “These measures are very welcome for Irish dairy and pigmeat farmers. Particularly positive is the decision made by the EU Commission to allow advance payments of 70% under the direct payments scheme and 85% for rural development schemes before completion of controls. These advance payments are expected to be made to farmers in Clare by mid-October and should significantly ease cash flow, he said. Deputy Breen said this package from the EU Commission is the result of hard work at a European level by the Minister for Agriculture Simon Coveney and reflects the majority of the demands presented by the Minister to the Commission in a six point plan. “The increase of more than 100% in the rate of private storage aid for …