Results 40,381-40,400 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: -----and is trying to grab anything.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Deputy Ó Ríordáin has probably objected to more homes than any other member of Dáil Éireann. He has probably objected to more-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: He probably has-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Deputy Ó Ríordáin is not a múinteoir anymore. He does not need to wag his finger at me.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Do not wag your finger at me-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: -----and stop objecting to homes in your constituency.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: It is running out because the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is allowing my time to be taken.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I will talk to you directly. Sadly, we saw this last weekend when the Labour Party promised to deliver "one million homes in ten years" to tackle the housing crisis, which is a direct quote, with no ifs, no buts, no asterisks, no caveats and no detail. A few hours later, it turned out that only half of them would be new homes. Retrofitting a home is...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: To paraphrase a former Labour Party leader, however, is that not what you say during a national conference?

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: This Government will reaffirm today that we have a majority in Dáil Éireann, and Dáil Éireann will reaffirm its confidence in this Government to get on with the job. We will continue not to reduce housing to an issue of sloganeering but actually to work night and day with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to come at the housing challenge from all angles. This is a Government...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: He cannot plead ignorance. The Deputy was in government. He knows how challenging it is.

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Amendment No. 1 provides that the proposed new section 3DA of the Firearms Act 1925, as inserted by section 10 of the Bill, shall not begin until the completion of all stages of the proposed new section 26B proposed in Deputy Kenny’s amendment No. 2. Colleagues will be aware the proposed new section 3DA of the Firearms Act 1925 provides that, “On the day that is 3 months after...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I, too, thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for his work on this issue and for the way in which we are engaging on it. I hope we will engage to find a way forward. As the Deputy has said, he discussed this issue with my colleague, Deputy McEntee, on Committee Stage. It is an issue my Department has been considering and one on which I have spoken in recent weeks because I share the...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for their contributions. I will engage constructively. Subject to this House passing the Bill, it will move to the Seanad where we will have an opportunity to tease it through further. We will also have an opportunity with Private Members' time and the general scheme of a sexual offences Bill we intend to bring to the Cabinet shortly. Further to Deputy McNamara's point,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, universities are autonomous institutions within the meaning of the Universities Act, 1997 and, as such, are responsible for HR matters, including the management of any legal cases arising. As Minister, I rightly have no direct role in that regard, and, accordingly, my Department does not collect nor have access to the data requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has not awarded any contracts to the listed companies since its formation in August 2020.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Official Travel (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Due to my dual Ministerial responsibilities, costs incurred for my St. Patrick's Day trip were shared by my two Departments. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science does not yet hold a complete record of information requested in a readily accessible format. Once available the information will be forwarded to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Official Engagements (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: My most recent visit to Dublin City University was on Friday 03/03/2023 to launch the DCU report "Community Needs Analysis with FET students: thoughts around progression from FET to HE" and to attend the DCU FET Open Day. We also discussed student accommodation on that visit. There are currently no other invitations to visit DCU with my office for consideration. However, I did meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. With regard to the residency criterion, in order to be eligible for a grant, a "student", as defined in Section 14 of the Student Support Act 2011, must demonstrate...