Results 43,541-43,560 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising this issue. I intend to meet with Family Carers Ireland this month. We intend to review the means tests for supports for carers. It is the Government's view that they need to change and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, wants to examine this issue in the context of the budget. I do meet too many carers who are not benefiting from or are locked out of being...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what is an extremely important issue. I share her view that more needs to be done and that we need to make much more progress. I thank the Deputy for raising the case of Maggie, in particular. Indeed, I would be very happy to make contact with Maggie's mother and engage in any way I can. I understand the Minister of State for mental health has met the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I again thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I assure her that the words "dismissive" or "dismissing" could never be attached to me or this Government when it comes to this issue. It is an issue on which everybody in this House and everybody in Ireland wants to make more progress. There has been a significant increase in mental health presentations, particularly among younger people,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. The Government welcomes yesterday's publication of the report of the Low Pay Commission. The Government, and specifically the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will now give it consideration. He will carry out an economic impact assessment and will then make recommendations to Cabinet, if that is the appropriate thing to do. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I acknowledge the Labour Party's success in the European elections and congratulate Deputy Bacik's colleague Deputy Ó Ríordáin on his election to the European Parliament. I believe he is still Deputy Ó Ríordáin.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I know Deputy Bacik would not wish to misrepresent our position. There will be no rowing back on workers' rights. There is nothing I have said, nothing the Government has done and nothing the Government has indicated that suggests I am rowing back. The question, and it is a legitimate question, is on the pace at which costs come at small businesses. This is why, prior to my election as...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: When would you like it?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Canney for raising these matters. The Government wants to remove any barrier that exists to the development of housing and housing schemes, such as the Deputy has indicated. I am concerned when I hear Deputy Canney highlighting these important issues being perceived as barriers in his community. I am very eager to work with him and to work through the structures in Galway to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: There is a lot of hand hygiene and a lot of people washing their hands here. Let me assure the Deputy we will not wash our hands of our responsibility to deliver for the people of Galway in terms of housing supply. I am pleased with the progress we are making on social housing, as Deputy Canney has acknowledged. I also acknowledge that we need to do more on this. We continue to be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: Go raibh maith agat, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I thank Deputy Collins for raising this issue. This Government certainly understands the challenges being faced by the tourism sector and small and medium businesses. That is why we have taken a number of measures in recent weeks to further support them, whether that in terms of the doubling of the cost of business grant for people in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I appreciate the sincerity of the point the Deputy is making but I would also say this. We have to be honest in this House about Airbnb and how much people can make on that over a couple of days versus renting out the place for a month. We have to have a balanced conversation. There is either a housing emergency in Ireland or there is not. Let me be clear, there is such an emergency. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I have been to your constituency and on the main street of Kinsale I heard about the need for this. I swear to God I did. I remember the mother who spoke to me on that street. This Government is not going to let her and her kids down.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: It is usual in parliamentary democracy that people wait to read legislation when it is published. We will publish it. The Deputy can then read it and then bring forward amendments. Let us have a debate on the floor of the Dáil. Do not do this usual thing of claiming that the Government does not understand rural Ireland and so on. That is nonsense.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: You were offending at that point.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not need your permission.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: Why are ye upset, lads?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: How am I out of order?

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising the issue. I absolutely assure the Deputy that the Government has been very clear that we want to see a redeveloped Casement Park delivered in time to host the Euro 2028 games. That is why our funding commitment was confirmed in February. As the Deputy will know, the Casement Park redevelopment is owned and managed by the GAA, working with the Northern...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I can indeed. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I want to see this issue resolved, as does the Minister, Deputy Humphreys. I know the excellent work the national advocacy service does and the Deputy is quite right to outline it. My understanding is that efforts continued late into the night to try to avert this strike and all parties were involved in the process, including...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not agree at all with the Deputy in relation to saying we know the derogation is not going to continue. It is absolutely Ireland's position at a European level to continue to seek to maintain this derogation, and this is the position I, as Taoiseach, will take at the European Council when these issues arise. I am concerned that this is not a position the Deputy would take if she were...