Results 1,901-1,920 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Canney for raising a number of matters. First, I agree with him on the need to continue to invest and deliver more projects around Galway city and county and to address the huge congestion issues. I would point, and my colleagues have reminded me, to some of the progress that has been made in recent times. The Minister, Deputy Ryan, has made the point to me that the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I definitely was not trying to give the Deputy a history lesson but what I was trying to politely push back against the assertion that we are not investing in the transport infrastructure. I know those works I referenced in Oranmore and Ceannt are under way and I know the Deputy and others will welcome that. When it comes to Dexcom, the idea of its potential for a rail freight siding...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: Turn up the radio.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: Is it the Deputy's position that phone pouches are bad here but phone pouches are good in Northern Ireland? If it is not, will she call on the Sinn Féin Minister for Finance in Northern Ireland today to speak to her Executive colleague and stop the roll-out of the phone pouches in Northern Ireland? In Northern Ireland, Sinn Féin has already spent £250,000 on the provision of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: -----in Northern Ireland but not good down here. Then you should really stop-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I am sorry, I am allowed speak if that is okay. That is the first point.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: The second point is the Deputy says she has not met these people. She must not be listening to the radio because there have schoolchildren on the radio talking about the benefit in their schools. I referenced a school principal there from De La Salle College, Churchtown. On Tuesday, 5 November an article by Ken Foxe referenced six different schools contacted about their experience of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: It is not mandatory; it is not obligatory. It is Government listening to teachers and principals and providing them with another option. It is €20 per kid to help support their mental health if the school wants it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I would never age a colleague, but I do not think there is that big a difference in our ages so I am not sure how I have been a Government Minister almost all the Deputy's adult life. Leaving that aside, she likes to portray this Government's record in a certain way. That is fine, it is her job and I look forward to debating that on the campaign trail. This is the Government that steered...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this issue. I will make a number of points. First, when the Deputy talks about the state of our economy in terms of the use of taxpayers' money, she leaves out a number of facts. She leaves out the fact that this is a country running a budget surplus and that we have managed to put aside billions of euro to protect people from future economic shocks....

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: A Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions 2 and 4 together. On 25 October I received Prime Minister of Lebanon, Najib Mikati, for a bilateral meeting at Government Buildings. Prime Minister Mikati briefed me on the deeply concerning escalation of violence in Lebanon and the challenges faced by his government in managing the humanitarian consequences, including the needs of the very...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Capital Expenditure Programme (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach does not have any capital budget.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Inquiries (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together. The COVID-19 Evaluation Panel will commence its work in January with preparations continuing in the interim period. The Panel should submit a final report to the Taoiseach in approximately 12-18 months. The Panel may submit interim reports on specific modules on any matters where evaluation points to immediate policy, system or...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Capital Expenditure Programme (6 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government continues to prioritise and progress the Shared Island initiative, working with all communities and political traditions to build a shared future on this island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. Shared Island investment commitments and allocations are taken forward by Ministers and their Departments, working with Northern Ireland Executive and British Government...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I will ask the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, to take the two questions on transport if that is okay. I will respond very briefly on the other matters. I thank Deputy Griffin very much for raising the issue of the posthumous pardon for Sylvester Poff and James Barrett and for his role in that campaign. His suggestion as regards Ballymullen Barracks is appropriate and I will certainly follow...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue and wish Dr. Hillery all the best with her retirement. I take the point he made about the gap in service provision and the anxiety that is causing for people who need ophthalmology services. I will raise it directly with the Minister and the chief executive of the HSE and ask them to come back to the Deputy urgently.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue, which I acknowledge she has raised on a number of occasions. I can only tell her what my understanding is. My understanding is this was not a funding issue and that there was a challenge in identifying people, but I take the point the Deputy has a piece of paper from the HSE that does not fully align with that. I personally undertake to raise the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. His idea is a sensible one. I will certainly ask the Minister for sport and suggest she and the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, ask Swim Ireland to assist with that. I know from my constituency that can be helpful in mapping this out. We have seen an improvement in the availability of swimming pools and public pools. We need to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the anomalies or the need to maybe tweak the power up grant and grants and funding around solar panels. This is something I will speak directly to the Minister about, but he is aware of it. In years gone by, we allocated a lot of funding to support small businesses. Sometimes it has even been hard to get all that funding drawn down because of the rigidity of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy very much for raising the issue and I accept the sincerity with which he does so. We have obviously seen a number of very considerable enhancements for eligible homeowners, including 100% grants subject to that overall maximum grant of €462,000 per dwelling, which we increased only last month from the original figure of €420,000 and also keeping the grant...