Results 21-40 of 43,300 for speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Many Members of the Opposition have asked for a debate on migration. I am happy for there to be a debate in the House on migration. It is a matter for the Business Committee to decide when best to schedule that. We have our business schedule this week. Sinn Féin has had many Private Members' Business motions. Are there three this week?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Sinn Féin also has two Private Members' motions in this House this week. One is on a very important topic indeed. There are options for people in terms of how they wish to use their proportion of Dáil time. We are happy to have a debate on migration in this House and we are happy to engage with the Business Committee as to how best to go about that and the appropriate time for that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Let us also have a degree of context and fairness when we have that debate. The Government met today and considered ten actions on how we can look at a variety of ways to make our migration system more sustainable. This is not a question of abject failure. It is a question of looking at how the numbers have gone from about 3,500 people a year to one where we saw 106,000 people fleeing war...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: There are many legitimate requests for a debate on migration. What is not legitimate is when Members of this House say things that are completely offensive and Trumpian in fact such as things like "mouthpieces in the media" or that there has not been a debate. I am telling the Deputy that is untrue. The Ceann Comhairle can check the record of this House. There have been many, many...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: He then says there have been no debates.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not have the figures in front of me - I will check - but I would imagine that housing commencements in Galway city are increasing-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: -----as they are across the country. I will check. I am not taking from the Deputy's point. Across the country, housing commencements are increasing. I assure the Deputy that when State agencies like Uisce Éireann and others make investment decisions, they do so cognisant of the national planning framework and the national development plan. A new national planning framework will...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising the question. I think she will understand and appreciate that I may have to come back to her on some of the specific issues she has highlighted in relation to her constituency, as is right and proper for her to do. On a broad level, when we look at the issue of housing and balanced regional development, I accept the importance of needing to look at in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: That is true; I have not met her on them yet anyway.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: That is either an unintentional or deliberate misunderstanding of the Government's increased cost of business scheme, which is targeted. I am sure Opposition Deputies have often got queries into their constituency offices as to why someone over a certain threshold does not qualify. There are very clear thresholds showing that this is being targeted, as Deputy Smith knows. If any Member of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: That is what you wish we would do. That is what you would thrive on us doing. That is what you would like to tell people we do.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Every time I speak it is something. Every time you speak it is authoritative and every time I speak you try to degrade it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: That is because you know everything and fair play to you. I will tell you this. We cut taxes. We cut childcare costs. We increased the minimum wage. We introduced statutory sick pay. We support remote working. We are building more homes. We have the backs of workers in this country. We do not need any lectures from you on it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: That figure is not correct.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I always find it slightly amusing that when the Government says something, it must be about the local and European elections, but when the Opposition does something, it has nothing at all to do with them. I am sure Deputy Bríd Smith is hoping to get a few votes herself in the election, and I wish her well. The Government had an important discussion today on a series of proposals for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: It might be funny to laugh and joke over there-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I would appreciate that because I doubt Deputy Cairns needs the assistance of Deputies. It might be funny to laugh and titter over there about this but there are real people living in these homes. There are real people with roofs over their heads and they are additional housing solutions that this Government has invested taxpayers' money in providing. When it comes to housing, we take a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: It is not, and I do not really know what tut-tutting does.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: And your rhetoric certainly will not solve it either. Proposing to abolish all of the schemes that we put in place that help people to move out of the box room and into their own homes certainly will not make progress either. I have answered the question very clearly in relation to long-term leasing and the Government's plan to end that by 31 December 2025. That is the Government...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cairns for also raising this matter. First, context is important. While I have already outlined the Government's intention to end the use of long-term leasing by the end of 2025, I want anybody watching in at home to be aware that this is a very small part of our overall housing provision and a very small part of our social housing provision. If the Deputy will allow me a...