Results 1-20 of 33,700 for speaker:Simon Harris in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Flexible Work Practices (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The Civil Service has a Central Policy Framework for Blended Working. Guided by this the Department of the Taoiseach launched a Blended Working Policy in November 2022 with staff members invited to submit applications for blended working arrangements. By the end of 2022, approximately 45% of departmental staff had applied for and were subsequently approved for a formal blended working...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach, in line with the rest of the Civil Service, actively supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. In addition to training and presentations on diversity and inclusion related topics, the Department also supports staff attendance at relevant conferences and staff participation in mentoring...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach does not oversee any capital projects and has no capital expenditure subhead in its Estimates. A review of the available records confirmed no contracts or expenditure with the company in question.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland was created on 10 April 2024 and will oversee implementation of Programme for Government commitments and ongoing developments related to Northern Ireland. It is expected to meet during the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: From 2019 to date in 2024, the Department of the Taoiseach incurred total expenditure of €2,769,053 for advertisements online and on digital media platforms. The bulk of the expenditure from 2020-2022, €2,738,055, related to the dissemination of information related to the COVID-19 pandemic with public information campaigns on a range of online platforms including Google, X...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Staff (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together. Ministerial personal staff employed on temporary contracts are entitled to severance/ex-gratia payments, including statutory redundancy, when such contracts are terminated, including following a change of Government. The severance terms are set out by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and are calculated based...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland was created on 10 April 2024 and will oversee implementation of Programme for Government commitments and ongoing developments related to Northern Ireland. It is expected to meet during the coming weeks. A previous Cabinet Committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland met four times since June 2020, on the following dates: • 29th October 2020 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (22 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Cabinet Committee on Health is scheduled to next meet on 1 July.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (21 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services which oversees implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy and public services was re-established when new Cabinet Committees were put in place following the appointment of the new Government in April. The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services last met on 20 November and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Climate Action Plan (21 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach prepares progress reports on the delivery of measures committed to under the Climate Action Plan. These progress reports provide a detailed breakdown of completed and delayed actions and are published online, once considered by Government. The final progress report for the 2023 Climate Action Plan (CAP23) was published on the 5th of March this year. It...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Middle East (21 May 2024)

Simon Harris: As the House will be aware, the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the situation in the Middle East is of great international concern. Since my election as Taoiseach, I have had many discussions on the situation with my international counterparts. The issue was discussed at the special meeting of the European Council in April, when Leaders committed to working with partners to end the conflict in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Priorities (21 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Over the last three and a half years, the Government has significantly advanced our Shared Island initiative and continues to progress this important dimension of the Programme for Government, working with all communities and political traditions for a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. On 20 February, the Government announced over €800m in funding for Shared...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Employment Rights (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only corporate body under the aegis of my Department, is not aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under its remit.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: From 2019 to date in 2024, the Department of the Taoiseach incurred total expenditure of €10,720,362 for advertisements in print media. The bulk of the expenditure from 2020-2022, €10.58 million, related to the dissemination of information for COVID-19 public communications with campaigns including significant regional and local spreads across the print media. The remaining...

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...