Results 42,181-42,200 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Official Travel (7 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: As part of the Team Ireland Trade Mission to South Korea, I led the Tertiary Education, Research, Innovation and Science mission. I visited Seoul National University on Friday 3 November along with a delegation of academics from a number of Irish higher education institutions including UCD, TCD, Maynooth University and TU Dublin. I toured the campus and met with an Irish student undertaking...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (7 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that Budget 2024 contains a package of measures to support households with the cost of living. These cost of living measures include a €1,000 reduction in the student contribution fee for those higher education students who are eligible for the Free Fees Initiative (FFI). Under the FFI, the State provides funding, exclusive of the student contribution, toward...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (7 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: There is scope for Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to include actions targeting gender under-representation in institution-level gender equality action plans, which are required at institutional level to receive funding from the European Commission under Horizon Europe, or have been developed through HEI participation in the Athena Swan Ireland gender equality charter. HEI...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Education (9 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Senator Cummins for his tireless work in delivering a university for the south east and, subsequently, keeping the pressure on night and day to ensure we successfully acquired the Waterford Crystal site for the expansion of one of Ireland's newest and most innovative universities. I am delighted to be back here to discuss where we are at with the acquisition of the former Waterford...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Third Level Education (9 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I share the Senator's ambition on that. This is a high-priority project. It will involve me, at a point in time, needing to engage with my colleague in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform. One way or another we need to bring finality to this and I think everybody shares that view. Can I just say that a couple of people, or maybe a few more...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: EU Funding (8 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: The European Globalisation Adjustment Fund for Displaced Workers (EGF) assists Member States to provide active labour market supports to workers made redundant in major restructuring events. While consideration of an EGF application in respect of Cartamundi Ireland is ongoing, the full range of state supports have been made available to the workers who lost their jobs at the company. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Oideachas trí Ghaeilge (8 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: Tá sé beartaithe agam PQanna 141 agus 142 a thógáil le chéile. Tá sé tábhachtach an ról éagsúil a imríonn an stát ag gach céim den chóras oideachais a aithint. Is comhlacht reachtúil de chuid na Roinne Oideachais agus Scileanna í an Chomhairle Náisiúnta Curaclaim agus Measúnachta (CNCM) a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (9 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: My officials are engaging with SOLAS in relation to compiling the information sought regarding Therapy Assistant Grade provision in 2022 and 2023. This information will be forwarded to the Deputy upon completion.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising the important issue of how we ensure we continue to grow our health service by hiring more nurses and doctors and people to work at the front line. It is important when talking about the health service and recruitment levels that we bring a bit of context and honesty to the discussion. The first thing to say is that as of September, there were 143,075...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: The Minister for Health is supportive of this because there needs to be some link between the budget we allocate in this House and what happens in relation to a public service. The reality is that the HSE is now on course to exceed the 2023 funded workforce target. To be clear, this is for 2023. Budget 2024 will come in on 1 January, which is weeks away. In 2024, the Minister for Health...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I will.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: Deputy Cullinane needs to get over himself. I am not making this about Sinn Féin at all. I am making it about the choices Irish people have between this Government versus that government. Those choices are clear. The Deputy does not have to take my word for it on what the Sinn Féin alternative health budget was. His leader said it on RTÉ on "This Week" on Sunday. Now, do...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: She is hardly wrong.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: They tend to shout at you or sue you, so stop. Elections, politics and accountability are about making choices and the people of Ireland will have a choice. They will have a choice of a Government that is continuing to grow the size of the health service. What I say to those patients is very clear. We are offering €2 billion in additional health spending. I ask the Deputy, as...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bacik for raising the most serious and important of issues of our time in our world today. Even if we do not agree on the path to take, I thank her and many in opposition for their constructive engagement with Government. I too am proud that we are in a Parliament and country that was among the first in Europe and the world to call for a humanitarian ceasefire. I am proud...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: Objectively, the Government, the Oireachtas and the country have, to use the Deputy’s words, been firm and clear on this issue. In many ways, Ireland’s position is becoming the position of more countries. There is a growing coalition of countries calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. When other countries chose to abstain at the UN, Ireland did not. It is fair to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Tóibín. Let me begin where he did, by remembering Ashling Murphy’s family. I have had the honour of meeting on a few occasions Ray, Kathleen, Amy, Cathal and Ryan. It is fair to say that Ashling Murphy’s murder stopped all of us in our tracks. She was a young woman out for a walk or run by a canal and was brutally murdered. We all think of her...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I have already outlined very clearly to the House that the Government is already taking action to do exactly what the Deputy is suggesting, namely, increasing Garda numbers. That can be seen in the steps the Minister for Justice has taken. What I said about Covid is a statement of fact. The Garda College closed at least twice, which caused disruption. The Garda college is now back open....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Minister has said, it will take time to catch up as a result of Covid, but catching up we are. This year will see between 700 and 800 new recruits go into the Garda College. The Deputy asked what we will do to protect the welfare, well-being and terms and conditions of gardaí. This week, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform will...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: -----and the largest Garda budget ever. These are the practical actions we are taking to build stronger, safer communities in Ireland.