Results 101-120 of 43,300 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy mentioned cats, dogs and jeeps. Can we just rise to a higher level here, if the Deputy does not mind? We are dealing with a very serious situation. What people in this country want to know is that we are getting to grips with it and that we are using the various policy levers at our disposal to try to make progress. What I say to them is that when we look at the Ukrainian...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: We continue to look at a range of measures. The Deputy mentioned the Minister for Justice. I ask the Deputy to look at the actual decisions the Minister has taken around faster processing times. It is not a question of rounding people up; it is a matter providing them with clarity when they come to a country. They either have a right to be here or they do not. If they have a right to be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: If they do not have a right to be here, we make sure they leave. This is the policy of the Government.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I am not sure where to start there. On housing supply in Kerry, the Deputy was with the Minister for housing at the opening of a new housing estate in Castleisland very recently. That is one of many examples of real progress being made in respect of housing. I thank the Deputy for turning up to report that progress for his constituents in Kerry; it is important he does that. On the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bacik. We will obviously have to work with parties in this House on any legislative proposals we bring forward. My commitment is that the Cabinet makes the policy decision on future funding by the summer recess. The Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, has been very clear that when we look through the 15 recommendations that pertain to the Government there will be a clear need...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: It seems we will have to wait for day 140 to find out how the leader of Sinn Féin intends to deliver on her commitment given in The Irish Times that she would provide people in this capital city and county with homes for €300,000.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Sinn Féin motion to be debated tonight does not do it. As for promising people leasehold, people do not want leasehold. People want to be able to go out and buy their own homes. That is what the people the Deputy, too, must be meeting across the country tell me as well. The people in the box rooms-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I will tell the Deputy what we are delivering now. The Deputy has a leader and she did well there, so allow me to respond. We have already delivered 4,000 affordable homes. We have 21 local authorities so far-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: -----and we are on track for more than 6,000 this year. I have shown the Deputies and, more important, the people at home, who do not want to see Sinn Féin playing politics with a crisis, how we are continuing to make progress. The Deputy asked how we are going to fix it. I will tell her how we will do it. We are going to deliver record supply this year. Already this year we have...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bacik for raising this matter. I was very pleased that the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin, yesterday brought to Government the three reviews into RTÉ that the Deputy referenced. These are the reviews prepared by the independent expert advisory committees, the review of governance and culture, and the review of contractor fees, HR and other matters in RTÉ. The...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what I agree is a really important issue regarding housing. From going across the country and engaging with young people and their parents, I know that home ownership can still feel out of the reach of many people. We are working day and night to change that. We are working every single day to make progress. I am very happy to report progress, because...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I attended a Special European Council meeting in Brussels on the 17/18 April. Over a working dinner we discussed a range of international issues including Ukraine, the Middle East, and the EU’s relations with Türkiye. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine joined by video link. On 18 April, we had a comprehensive discussion on Europe’s competitiveness and the need to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I discussed the situation in the Middle East by phone with Prime Minister Sánchez on Monday 6 May, including plans to recognise the state of Palestine. This was also the focus of our discussion when the Prime Minister visited Dublin on Friday 12 April. We shared deep concern at the potential impacts of an Israeli military operation in Rafah. The international community has made it...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together. I met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels on 11 April. Our meeting covered many of the significant issues currently on the EU’s agenda. We discussed the very worrying situation in Ukraine, and the country’s urgent need for continuing financial and military support. We...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government made and announced allocations from the Shared Island Fund most recently on 20 February, with funding commitments to: contribute to the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast; introduce an hourly-frequency rail service between Dublin and Belfast; create a renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site in Meath; and, move ahead with construction of the landmark...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: No employee within the Department of the Taoiseach or the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only body under the aegis of the Department, is currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Stardust Fire (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Stardust fire was a national tragedy that has left a particular legacy of pain for the country and most particularly for the people of North Dublin. It has had a lasting impact on all those who attended that night. Following the State apology, it was communicated to the families that the HSE’s National Counselling Service is available to provide dedicated counselling for those...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event were to occur. It will include a consideration of...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Three of the four Citizens' Assemblies committed to under the Programme for Government have been completed. The relevant government departments are now drafting detailed responses to the Dublin Citizens' Assembly and the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. An Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use is expected to shortly commence examining the most recent report, from the Citizens'...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Yes, I understand. I definitely heard the Deputy. Deputy Conway-Walsh raised the issue of defects in apartments and the interim scheme and the longer one. I will send her a written note. In short, up to the end of March, 128 applications are being progressed under the interim funding across 26 local authority areas, representing more than 13,000 residential units. Approximately 80% of...