Results 2,321-2,340 of 46,208 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Workplace Relations Commission (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: A process is ongoing with Section 39 organisations to ensure all employees can access their entitlements under the WRC agreement. As this process continues it has come to light that there are other community groups, who are funded through different pathways and although operating similarly, are not technically Section 39 organisations, such as local drug and alcohol taskforce groups, who have...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Legal Cases (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of the Department, have not taken any legal cases against another Department, Government agencies or State bodies in the period specified.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Urban Development (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: On 7 May 2024, the Government agreed to appoint a Taskforce to adopt a holistic outlook of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin City Centre. The goal of the Taskforce is to make Dublin City Centre a more thriving, attractive, and safe cityscape; and a desirable location to live, work and do business and visit for all communities. The Taskforce is taking an evidence-informed approach in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers on 17 July. We discussed relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom and agreed that the time was right for a reset of the partnership. We discussed the unique partnership between our two countries, and agreed to put in place arrangements to strengthen it further. This included a commitment to annual summits at Taoiseach /Prime...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cross-Border Co-operation (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government has prioritised and progressed the Shared Island initiative since it was launched in 2020, working with all communities and political traditions for a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. On 20 February last, the Government announced the largest ever package of funding for cross-border investments. This included a commitment of €600 million to the A5...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. I appreciate Deputy Boyd Barrett's point that we need to do more and do better when it comes to children’s disability services. The Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, wrote to me specifically about a number of cases in Dún Laoghaire. There seem to be particular concerns with the scale of the teams, and the Deputy has...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: -----is a significant cause for concern. There is some encouragement. We ran a recruitment campaign that concluded a little while ago. At the end of May, 160 offers were made to successful candidates. I am going from memory here, rather than my note, but I think approximately 53 job offers from the figure of 160 have now been made and processed. There is another recruitment campaign...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: There is an interesting discussion to be had about that, particularly regarding master's level degrees. I am a big fan of reducing fees; I did it twice. At master's level in particular, there is a conversation to be had, especially if the person is willing to work in the Irish health service, about whether that is an intervention that could be made. That is under active consideration. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: -----who is due to retire on Monday but has no wish to retire on Monday and neither do the people of Dundalk wish to see him retire. I will ask my colleague, Deputy Dillon, who is the Minister of State with responsibility in that Department, if anything can be done. There is obviously a role for the local authority there but I do not wish to speak for it. The Deputy’s office might...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: It is an important point. What we have to look at as well as the funding of our children’s disability services is how we can use technologies and reform the delivery of services. I hear that from parents and that is one issue that is being supported.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 27 June in Brussels which dealt with an extensive agenda. Leaders agreed a package on appointments to key EU institutions following the European Parliament elections and adopted the EU’s strategic agenda for the next five-year institutional cycle. We also took stock of EU enlargement, and agreed a roadmap for internal reforms to ready...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for raising a variety of issues. First, Deputy Boyd Barrett and I do not agree on a lot on foreign affairs, but I have said in this House recently and in the European Council, as well saying it publicly at the peace summit on Ukraine, that I do believe there is an inconsistency in the approach being taken by many countries in relation to conflict, and not this one. I said...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together. The Cabinet committee on children and education and disability oversees programme for Government commitments relating to children, education and disability and receives detailed reports on identified policy areas such as child poverty and well-being, local area disadvantage and the reform of our disability services. In addition to the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I agree.

Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: Not that I am aware but I will double check for Deputy Murphy. I thank Deputy Brendan Smith for the point he made today and has made on a number of occasions about the importance of the opportunity for Ireland and Britain to engage at a senior level. In my initial conversation with the Prime Minister, we spoke about the importance of getting the structure for engagement right, for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together. I attended a meeting of the European Council in Brussels on 27 June. I was delighted to travel to Brussels with my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill. At the meeting, which had an extensive agenda, leaders and heads of state and government agreed on a package of appointments and nominations to top...

Ceisteanna - Questions: British-Irish Co-operation (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. I attended the 41st British-Irish Council summit, hosted by the Isle of Man, on 21 June. The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, represented the Government at the summit dinner the night before. The council welcomed the restoration of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Executive and the North-South Ministerial Council and the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising the issue of the community hospital in Ballyshannon and the fact that there are unoccupied or unused beds in that new facility.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: It is. I will speak directly to the Minister of State, Deputy Butler. She is obviously familiar with the situation because she was at the opening with the Deputy. I will ask her to come back to him directly and to see what can be done.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: We are all almost duty-bound to name our local radio stations now. Not for the first time in this House, Deputy Michael Healy-Rae seems to be more familiar with the detail of some matters than I am. Let me assure him and, more particularly perhaps, radio broadcasters and the like that the Government has not yet made a decision. The Government intends to make a decision this month in regard...