Results 43,581-43,600 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Flexible Work Practices (12 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The Civil Service has a Central Policy Framework for Blended Working. Guided by this the Department of the Taoiseach launched a Blended Working Policy in November 2022 with staff members invited to submit applications for blended working arrangements. By the end of 2022, approximately 45% of departmental staff had applied for and were subsequently approved for a formal blended working...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Data (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach, in line with the rest of the Civil Service, actively supports diversity and inclusion in the workplace and is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all staff. In addition to training and presentations on diversity and inclusion related topics, the Department also supports staff attendance at relevant conferences and staff participation in mentoring...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Contracts (11 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach does not oversee any capital projects and has no capital expenditure subhead in its Estimates. A review of the available records confirmed no contracts or expenditure with the company in question.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald for raising this extraordinarily important issue. Before I answer her directly, may I acknowledge the fact that the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has made the decision to step down as leader of the Green Party? Obviously, he has played a major leadership role in this coalition, and I want to acknowledge that. He is an honest, sincere, dedicated and decent politician....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: First, I agree with the Deputy that this was not a social or a national priority in all aspects of life, including in politics, until those like the Minister, Deputy McEntee, prioritised the issue. We have now seen this become an absolute priority. We have taken very significant assignments of responsibility and decisions within Government to say the Minister, Deputy McEntee, now...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bacik for the question and for acknowledging the role the Minister, Deputy Ryan, has played as a leader of his party. I am very conscious that he intends to continue in office, and that is a matter for the soon-to-be new leader of the Green Party in due course, but also continuing to serve his constituents in the Deputy's own constituency until the next election. He is a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The committee, chaired by Deputy Steven Matthews, who is here with us, had about 120 hours worth of hearings on Committee Stage. That is extraordinarily significant and for people watching this debate and Leaders' Questions, that is quite an unusual length of time on Committee Stage, as it should be with respect to getting this right. The Planning and Development Bill 2023 did complete...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The honest truth is that on any legislative issue, one gets to a point where the point of disagreement is just reached. I can absolutely assure the Deputy that the Minister-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: It was reached. I will explain to Deputy Howlin how the point of disagreement was reached. He has been in this House a very long time. The Minister and the Government have been listening to these issues through a whole variety of fora, through consultation, through Committee Stage-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The committee of the Oireachtas is not a residents' association; it is an Oireachtas committee of the Dáil. The Ceann Comhairle can clarify that is where Members of Dáil Éireann can go to tease through legislation. To be clear, the committee is of the Dáil. The only people who can attend it are Members of the Dáil.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: There was a lot of time spent there. The Minister considered the issues. Amendments are tabled on Committee Stage. Quite often, members of the Opposition, as is their right, table the exact same amendment, or a variation of it, on Report Stage. At some point, the Minister, with such lengthy legislation, which is trying to modernise housing planning so we can get things moving in this...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising this important issue. I join with him in completely condemning what happened in Loughinisland. I very much agree with them on the point that just because time has passed, it does not mean that issues can be ignored. It does not mean that an approach can be taken to any issue that is not victim centred and is not centred in terms of justice,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising the issue of Noah Donohoe and my thoughts are with his family. I am reluctant to talk too much about any individual case. I am conscious of the processes and the independence of the PSNI from political interference as one would expect, just like An Garda Síochána in this jurisdiction. However, I am always happy and eager to hear from...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I spoke yesterday to President Biden and I spoke specifically on behalf of Ireland about the importance of an immediate ceasefire. The president agreed that there was a need for a two-state solution. I think he said that in his read-out of the call. My question to everybody is what more can we do to bring about the circumstances where a ceasefire...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: There is a serious misrepresentation of the views of President von der Leyen by some in this country. Some have done so for political gain during the European elections. I attended the European Council last night with 26 other prime ministers and presidents. I have not heard any country within the European Union actively propose another name for President of the Commission. While...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies. First, in respect of Deputy Bacik's point, I am not sure this always come across in our domestic debates on European positions but four posts are currently being considered in Europe - the European Parliament President, the President of the Council, the President of the Commission and the High Representative for foreign affairs - and the different political groupings at...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: How many times do you want to speak on it? Are you voting against the arrangement to allow every Deputy to speak on it?

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I met Cara and her father, Mark, briefly this morning when I came back from Brussels. I met them in the courtyard of Government Buildings before the Cabinet meeting. I will formally and properly meet Cara this week with, I hope, other relevant Ministers as well. I have here her letter, which she gave me this morning. She is an incredible young person. We have taken a number of steps...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Nash. We are having a meeting of the Cabinet committee on health in early July, I believe, and I look forward to seeing whether we can bring progress to that issue of the pay and numbers strategy there because discussions are ongoing between the HSE and the Department of Health. However, there is broad agreement in relation to the pay and numbers strategy. The Minister has...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cairns for her kind words for the Minister, Deputy Ryan, and I congratulate her on her own good news. I know everyone in this House is genuinely delighted for her and for Barry and we wish them all the very best. It is nice to have good news in this place too. I thank her for raising the very important issue relating to the Women’s Aid report and the work relating...