Results 2,701-2,720 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy very much. I think the budgetary process gets earlier every year. I very much understand the serious issues raised by the INTO and I thank the organisation for doing so. From my engagement with schools, I know the cost pressures they are facing are real. The Government does, obviously, want to help support our schools. The way we will do this, obviously, will be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank Deputy Collins for raising this issue. This Government certainly understands the challenges being faced by the tourism sector and small and medium businesses. That is why we have taken a number of measures in recent weeks to further support them, whether that in terms of the doubling of the cost of business grant for people in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I appreciate the sincerity of the point the Deputy is making but I would also say this. We have to be honest in this House about Airbnb and how much people can make on that over a couple of days versus renting out the place for a month. We have to have a balanced conversation. There is either a housing emergency in Ireland or there is not. Let me be clear, there is such an emergency. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I have been to your constituency and on the main street of Kinsale I heard about the need for this. I swear to God I did. I remember the mother who spoke to me on that street. This Government is not going to let her and her kids down.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: It is usual in parliamentary democracy that people wait to read legislation when it is published. We will publish it. The Deputy can then read it and then bring forward amendments. Let us have a debate on the floor of the Dáil. Do not do this usual thing of claiming that the Government does not understand rural Ireland and so on. That is nonsense.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: You were offending at that point.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not need your permission.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: Why are ye upset, lads?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge the Labour Party's success in the European elections and congratulate Deputy Bacik's colleague Deputy Ó Ríordáin on his election to the European Parliament. I believe he is still Deputy Ó Ríordáin.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I know Deputy Bacik would not wish to misrepresent our position. There will be no rowing back on workers' rights. There is nothing I have said, nothing the Government has done and nothing the Government has indicated that suggests I am rowing back. The question, and it is a legitimate question, is on the pace at which costs come at small businesses. This is why, prior to my election as...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: When would you like it?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Canney for raising these matters. The Government wants to remove any barrier that exists to the development of housing and housing schemes, such as the Deputy has indicated. I am concerned when I hear Deputy Canney highlighting these important issues being perceived as barriers in his community. I am very eager to work with him and to work through the structures in Galway to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: There is a lot of hand hygiene and a lot of people washing their hands here. Let me assure the Deputy we will not wash our hands of our responsibility to deliver for the people of Galway in terms of housing supply. I am pleased with the progress we are making on social housing, as Deputy Canney has acknowledged. I also acknowledge that we need to do more on this. We continue to be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I again thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I assure her that the words "dismissive" or "dismissing" could never be attached to me or this Government when it comes to this issue. It is an issue on which everybody in this House and everybody in Ireland wants to make more progress. There has been a significant increase in mental health presentations, particularly among younger people,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Government welcomes yesterday's publication of the report of the Low Pay Commission. The Government, and specifically the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will now give it consideration. He will carry out an economic impact assessment and will then make recommendations to Cabinet, if that is the appropriate thing to do. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what is an extremely important issue. I share her view that more needs to be done and that we need to make much more progress. I thank the Deputy for raising the case of Maggie, in particular. Indeed, I would be very happy to make contact with Maggie's mother and engage in any way I can. I understand the Minister of State for mental health has met the...

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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Nolan for raising this issue. I agree with her that school caretakers and secretaries are crucial parts of school communities. We all see this as we travel around the country and in schools in our own communities. I will certainly talk to the Minister for Education about the ancillary services grant and the impact the Deputy believes this is having on schools in her...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Dea for raising this very important matter. I begin by extending my sympathies to the family of Nicole Morey. I think the whole country extends its sympathies to that family and community at this horrific time. The Minister, Deputy Humphreys, did update the Cabinet on this matter today. The Deputy is correct that she has asked the task force looking at these issues in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this issue on behalf of the community of Shannon Vale. It sounds like an horrific situation for that community for this to have been going on for so long. What might be of use, and I am happy to do this if it is, would be for me to ask that Uisce Éireann and others would convene a meeting of Oireachtas Members for the constituency to see if we can-----