Results 61-80 of 43,298 for speaker:Simon Harris
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bruton for raising this issue and for his own work in that Department previously on offshore renewable energy. I share the view of my predecessor that this is Ireland's Moonshot where we go from being a net importer of energy to a net exporter of it. It is a significant opportunity for Ireland, Europe, jobs and our economy. I will get the Deputy an update on the work of the...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: I have just consulted the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, in real time on this issue. I thank Deputy Connolly for her acknowledgement of the Minister of State's work on this. The Minister of State and I very much accept and appreciate that there is a demand here. That excuse - insofar as it is one - does not fly. It is my understanding there is a derogation around staffing as well. The...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Devlin for raising this important matter. I understand the college currently offers three programmes: a bachelor of education in Montessori education which is NFQ level 7; a bachelor of education, honours, in Montessori education at NFQ level 8; and a bachelor of arts in psychology at NFQ level 8. I understand that arrangements have been agreed between St. Nicholas, the...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Cathasaigh for raising this important matter on the joint family visa applications. I will talk with the Minister for Justice to see if it is a resourcing issue and if there is any way to assist. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Farrell. I am just trying to get the most up-to-date figures and I will send them to the Deputy in writing if she does not already have them-----
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: From my previous role, and also from checking in on this recently, I understand that the plan is still to resolve the backlog issue during the course of this year. The Deputy will be aware there is always a wait time between each phase but when the wait time goes beyond the normal wait time then it is not acceptable. There is a well-funded plan with Solas. I will ask the Minister to come...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: This is a very serious issue and I thank Deputy Lowry for raising it. I will continue to engage with the Minister for Health on this. There are two issues. There is obviously a very serious and acute issue at University Hospital Limerick, on which everyone in this House and most particularly Deputies from the mid-west want to see progress. We all know that. There are also the very strong...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McGrath. I will ask the relevant Minister to follow up directly with the Deputy on this matter.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: It is a very important issue because we are seeing more and more people cycling, including more younger people and more people cycling to work. Schemes such as the bike to work scheme have worked very well. There are also bikes people can rent across this city and in other places. It is a good way of getting around, it is environmentally friendly and it is good for one's health, both...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: We will certainly take a look at the Bill and engage in good faith on it. We have brought in a number of measures to try to ensure vacancy is addressed and that renters are protected through RPZs and other measures. We will look at the Bill in good faith. I am happy to engage and will ask the Minister for housing to do that.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: I will not comment on any individual protest but, more broadly, our universities should reflect on links and divestment. I note that a number of them are now doing so, which is important. I do not buy into the idea that this House or this Government has done nothing on the Palestinian situation. I do not believe the Palestinian Authority, and certainly not the Israeli Government, think...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald. As I have said in exchanges with her in the House before, the health service is funded to grow the number of staff this year and to hire more nurses and doctors. Yes, it has to live within its overall workforce ceilings. Of course, it does. All public agencies are meant to. However, funding has been provided for 2,200 new people to work in the public health...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: Just to be very clear, what we did on Mount Street had a very positive impact. A total of 290 more people got accommodation and access to sanitation and we managed to avert a public health near-emergency. I am very pleased with that multi-agency response. I continue to believe it was the right action to take. I became Taoiseach four weeks ago. I took charge of this situation. There...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: It is absolutely true that a situation has now arisen in respect of the Grand Canal. Last week in this House, I stood here and told the Deputy we had to deal with Mount Street. I am telling him now that we will deal with the Grand Canal. Action will be taken. I accept Deputy Bacik's bona fides on this matter, knowing it is in her constituency as well. I need to say this: we have to...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: -----where we provide more accommodation and that accommodation will fill up. We also need to be very honest about this. We now have some parties in this House talking about not being in favour of open borders. Deputy McDonald used to say there was no such thing as an open borders policy. I would like her to identify for me which open border on the island of Ireland she would like to now...
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: Sinn Féin's local election candidates are delivering leaflets promising that it will end the open border policy. I do not know what that means. Will Deputy McDonald please explain it?
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: There is a video of the very fine Deputy beside her saying Sinn Féin is against it. I look forward to the debate we will have in this House on an open border policy because there are no open-----
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: The only open border-----
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: Sorry, I do not know what is going on here.
- An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (8 May 2024)
Simon Harris: Even the rest of the Opposition thinks it is true.