Results 41-60 of 43,498 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: When is the Sinn Féin First Minister going to deliver a child poverty strategy in Northern Ireland?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I acknowledge the work of SAOL, and people are happy to engage with that organisation. There are a couple of issues, and I would like to address each of them. On comprehensive employment and the need to do more for people with disability to access the workforce, I acknowledge that it was a former colleague of the Deputy's, Fergus...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I welcome the opportunity to discuss the important issues highlighted by the Barnardos survey published this morning. I am very grateful to Barnardos for the work it does and the survey it produced. I thank its dedicated staff and volunteers. Objectively, Ireland is making progress when it comes to child poverty. The consistent poverty rate for children is now lower than it has been at...

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.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I will have to seek an update from the Minister for Health on the WHO pandemic treaty. I am not personally aware of any advice in that regard. On the EU migration pact, I am confident of the ability of the Government and the Houses of the Oireachtas to opt in and there will be no legal requirement for a referendum. We are certainly not proposing one but we are proposing plenty of time in...

Ireland's Recognition of the State of Palestine: Statements (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Hear, hear.

Ireland's Recognition of the State of Palestine: Statements (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I first thank the Ceann Comhairle for his words of leadership in this matter, which I wholeheartedly endorse. Last Wednesday, with the Tánaiste and the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, I announced that Ireland, alongside our partners in Spain and Norway, was recognising the State of Palestine. Today, the Government gave formal effect to that decision, and now Ireland has formally...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, tells me it was raised with her last week, I think, in the Seanad. It is an issue the Government will look at. I am conscious, regardless of where the responsibility lies, that it is a real frustration for people. In the run-up to the budget, let us see if we can address this. I will ask the Minister for Transport in the first instance for a review.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: We intend to invest more in roads, the TII and local authorities including in Cavan and Monaghan.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I expect news very shortly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Costello for raising this matter. I believe this matter falls within the remit of the Minister of State, Deputy Calleary, in the Department. I will talk directly to the Minister of State and come back to the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I know Deputy Madigan has had a long-standing interest in this issue and I thank her for raising it. I am eager that any outstanding issues in the programme for Government are advanced and progressed. I am sure the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, is working on this. I will get an update from her for the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Pringle for raising the issue. I am sorry I do not have information to hand on it but I will ask the Minister to answer the Deputy's question directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: It is a very sensible suggestion from Deputy Cahill. I will convey it to the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, and ask him to revert to the Deputy. The next big thing on which we all need to unite and pull together is making sure we maintain the derogation. The first step in Ireland's national effort regarding that is the European elections on Friday week when we need to elect MEPs who...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Andrews for raising the issue regarding the Irish Glass Bottle site. This is an issue which the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has also raised. I will ask the Minister for housing to come back to the Deputy directly on the point he made around the affordable and social housing on the site.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising the issue. I can hear the frustration in his voice on behalf of his constituents in east Cork. I will ask both Uisce Éireann and the Minister for housing to come back to the Deputy and me on this matter.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Smith. I look forward to a full debate on the report of the Housing Commission. I appreciate the practical point the Deputy makes about things that could be done quickly. As he says, social housing support income levels and income levels for other schemes have been increased. We need to be alert to any kind of poverty traps where people trying to work find themselves...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy knows, we have taken two measures already, namely, the higher stamp duty rate and the planning changes brought in by the Ministers, Deputies McGrath and O'Brien, respectively. We are continuing to keep this under review. That is what we voted on in January. I said we would continue to examine it. My party also put it in our manifesto yesterday for the local elections....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I have no knowledge in relation to that but we are acting as a Government. We are taking practical actions on a constant basis to support humanitarian aid, to try to bring about a ceasefire and peace, to recognise the State of Palestine, to work at a European level in relation to the association agreement and to recognise that the best way for peace for Israel and Palestine is a two-state...