Results 1-20 of 43,597 for speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies. First, in respect of Deputy Bacik's point, I am not sure this always come across in our domestic debates on European positions but four posts are currently being considered in Europe - the European Parliament President, the President of the Council, the President of the Commission and the High Representative for foreign affairs - and the different political groupings at...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: How many times do you want to speak on it? Are you voting against the arrangement to allow every Deputy to speak on it?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: There is a serious misrepresentation of the views of President von der Leyen by some in this country. Some have done so for political gain during the European elections. I attended the European Council last night with 26 other prime ministers and presidents. I have not heard any country within the European Union actively propose another name for President of the Commission. While...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I spoke yesterday to President Biden and I spoke specifically on behalf of Ireland about the importance of an immediate ceasefire. The president agreed that there was a need for a two-state solution. I think he said that in his read-out of the call. My question to everybody is what more can we do to bring about the circumstances where a ceasefire...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising the issue of Noah Donohoe and my thoughts are with his family. I am reluctant to talk too much about any individual case. I am conscious of the processes and the independence of the PSNI from political interference as one would expect, just like An Garda Síochána in this jurisdiction. However, I am always happy and eager to hear from...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The honest truth is that on any legislative issue, one gets to a point where the point of disagreement is just reached. I can absolutely assure the Deputy that the Minister-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: It was reached. I will explain to Deputy Howlin how the point of disagreement was reached. He has been in this House a very long time. The Minister and the Government have been listening to these issues through a whole variety of fora, through consultation, through Committee Stage-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The committee of the Oireachtas is not a residents' association; it is an Oireachtas committee of the Dáil. The Ceann Comhairle can clarify that is where Members of Dáil Éireann can go to tease through legislation. To be clear, the committee is of the Dáil. The only people who can attend it are Members of the Dáil.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: There was a lot of time spent there. The Minister considered the issues. Amendments are tabled on Committee Stage. Quite often, members of the Opposition, as is their right, table the exact same amendment, or a variation of it, on Report Stage. At some point, the Minister, with such lengthy legislation, which is trying to modernise housing planning so we can get things moving in this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising this important issue. I join with him in completely condemning what happened in Loughinisland. I very much agree with them on the point that just because time has passed, it does not mean that issues can be ignored. It does not mean that an approach can be taken to any issue that is not victim centred and is not centred in terms of justice,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bacik for the question and for acknowledging the role the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has played as a leader of his party. I am very conscious that he intends to continue in office, and that is a matter for the soon-to-be new leader of the Green Party in due course, but also continuing to serve his constituents in the Deputy's own constituency until the next election. He is a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The committee, chaired by Deputy Steven Matthews, who is here with us, had about 120 hours worth of hearings on Committee Stage. That is extraordinarily significant and for people watching this debate and Leaders' Questions, that is quite an unusual length of time on Committee Stage, as it should be with respect to getting this right. The Planning and Development Bill 2023 did complete...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: First, I agree with the Deputy that this was not a social or a national priority in all aspects of life, including in politics, until those like the Minister, Deputy McEntee, prioritised the issue. We have now seen this become an absolute priority. We have taken very significant assignments of responsibility and decisions within Government to say the Minister, Deputy McEntee, now...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this extraordinarily important issue. Before I answer her directly, may I acknowledge the fact that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has made the decision to step down as leader of the Green Party? Obviously, he has played a major leadership role in this coalition, and I want to acknowledge that. He is an honest, sincere, dedicated and decent politician....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Programmes (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I will start with that point. I will certainly ensure there is continued engagement with the Northern Ireland Executive. Members of our Government have already had bilateral meetings with the Ministers, Conor Murphy and Caoimhe Archibald. We will continue that engagement. We also want to see the Narrow Water bridge come in on time and on budget. Louth County Council is overseeing that...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Programmes (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I have checked that out and have been informed that is not the case. I am continuing to seek full information. I also had a multiagency meeting on the issue yesterday and my understanding is that there is currently a small amount of spare capacity in some of the facilities. To be very honest, the big thing we are working on in the short term is bringing a State-owned site that has been...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Middle East (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: We have to be very careful about that presentation by the Deputy. Somebody asking somebody to investigate somebody for something is a bit of a stretch. The President of the European Commission is not in any way, shape or form what the Deputy portrayed at all. It is important that we share the process with people in the country because there was a lot of misinformation around it during the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Departmental Programmes (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 22, inclusive, together. Ireland submitted its 2024 national reform programme, NRP, to the European Commission on 30 April. The NRP was subsequently also laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and published. The NRP is an element of the European semester, the annual cycle of economic and social policy co-ordination among EU member states. As...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I said I do not think I can address that.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: On the junior doctors, for clarity, I said that while it is important we all support people working in our public health service, it is not appropriate for me to comment specifically on industrial action. I would not appreciate it if people in other Executives commented on industrial relations matters in this jurisdiction.