Results 43,481-43,500 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: Road safety is a priority for me and the Government. Since becoming Taoiseach seven weeks ago, I have chaired two meetings on road safety, we have allocated an additional €3 million to public awareness campaigns and we are working with local authorities to see what more we can do on road safety. We all have to amplify the message around killer behaviours, especially as we approach...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am pleased the Cavan-Monaghan drugs unit was able to recommence. I share his view and that of everyone in government that we want to see Garda numbers increase. We are seeing progress on that. The college is back open and busy. The fair distribution of new Garda recruits is important. I will share the Deputy's views with the...

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

Simon Harris: Truthfully, I am not across the detail of it. It has not been brought to my attention, but I will speak directly to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, about the issue. Any such matter would have to comply fully with competition law and other laws of the land such as employment law and an impact assessment should be considered. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: From 2019 to date in 2024, the Department of the Taoiseach incurred total expenditure of €2,769,053 for advertisements online and on digital media platforms. The bulk of the expenditure from 2020-2022, €2,738,055, related to the dissemination of information related to the COVID-19 pandemic with public information campaigns on a range of online platforms including Google, X...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Staff (28 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 71 and 72 together. Ministerial personal staff employed on temporary contracts are entitled to severance/ex-gratia payments, including statutory redundancy, when such contracts are terminated, including following a change of Government. The severance terms are set out by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform and are calculated based...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (28 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. A previous Cabinet Committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland met four times since June 2020, on the following dates: • 29th October 2020 ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health last met on 12 February 2024 and is scheduled to next meet on 1 July. In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and of Cabinet committees, I meet Ministers on an individual basis to focus on different issues. I meet regularly with the Minister for Health to discuss progress and challenges...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I am listening.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. Obviously, Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, were about when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet, so Members will have to excuse me if I must come back to them on some of the specifics because quite a few of the questions strayed very significantly, I would imagine, from the Standing Orders, although they are valid and important...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 16, inclusive, together. On 7 May 2024, the Government agreed to appoint a task force to take a holistic view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin city centre, north and south. The goal is to make Dublin city centre a more thriving, attractive and safe cityscape, and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit. The task...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for his comments on the task force and for welcoming it and welcoming the appointment of David McRedmond. I, too, thank Mr. McRedmond for the work he is doing. It is interesting that the Deputy mentioned the impact of Covid. He is correct that in looking to establish this task force, it was looking at examples of capital cities and the impact Covid has had on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 21, inclusive, together. At its meeting on 10 April, the Government established ten Cabinet committees as follows: children and education and disability; economy and investment; environment and climate action; EU and international affairs; Government co-ordination; health; housing; migration, integration and Ukraine; Northern Ireland; and social...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for the range of questions. I join Deputy Smith in thanking all our emergency and uniformed services who have kept the country safe on many occasions in different ways. The Border communities the Deputy represents are particularly acutely aware of the huge level of service provided by those people. I echo those words. I know Dún Uí Néill barracks because...

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.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this important issue. It is important because parents of children with special educational needs do rely on the summer provision. It provides excellent support to children during the summer period. It The programme also provides excellent support to families. I assure parents who are watching in today that I intend to prioritise special educational...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: What I invite the Deputy to do is to not mislead people. What the Deputy has conveniently suggested is that the change in the capitation rate has resulted in a reduction in service, when, actually, more schools are providing it this year than last year. The number in that regard is up to 1,700 from 1,400. Those are additional schools - we can all do the maths. The reality of the...