Results 43,661-43,680 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I will come back to the Deputy directly about it. It had not been brought to my attention.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: Let me say, without commenting on any specific case for a variety of reasons, that anybody with a criminal conviction should not be a member of the Defence Forces, plain and simple. Its own rules refer to the fact that the dismissal process should begin for anyone who has been given a custodial sentence or a suspended sentence. The question I want answered is if that loop has been closed....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: We have a lot of work to do when it comes to getting to where we need to be in relation to refuge spaces and safe houses. The Minister has, as the Deputy said, established Cuan, the new statutory agency. It will, which is quite important, publish regular - I think monthly - progress reports in terms of how we get from where we are now to where we need to be. In relation to the specific...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 6, inclusive, together. Climate change is among the most pressing global challenges of our time and addressing it is a central ambition of the Government. As a committed partner in global efforts to combat this shared threat, Ireland has adopted challenging emissions reduction targets at both EU and national levels. We also face our own domestic...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies for raising these issues. Starting with Deputy Ó Murchú and the issue of Carlinn Hall in Dundalk, this is a matter he has raised before in the context of how we need to have a better support scheme for renewable energy and district heating and, ideally, for the optimal use of waste heat. I will speak directly to the Ministers involved in this regard and ask...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 18, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on housing last met on Thursday, 30 May. The committee is scheduled to meet again on Thursday, 11 July. The committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the implementation of Housing for All and the programme for Government commitments regarding housing. At almost the mid-way point of the year,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: There are a lot of issues there. In direct answer to Deputy Durkan's question, and to a number of others, in terms of what we are doing and what we can do, we are building housing again at a level that we have not seen in a very long period. I know that cannot come fast enough for people looking for a roof over their head, people wondering if they can move out of the box room and people...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I had written that down. My apologies, I am trying to read my own handwriting. Deputy Ó Murchú said the affordable scheme needs to be looked at and reviewed. I will raise this specifically with the Minister, Deputy O'Brien.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 20 together. I was very pleased to have had the honour to meet with the Ambassador of the State of Palestine to Ireland on 6 June. The ambassador told me it was the first time a Palestinian representative had been welcomed to the office of the Taoiseach. The ambassador was very gracious in acknowledging the work of the Government and Ireland in...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: While I acknowledge, on one hand, that Deputy Boyd Barrett welcomed, albeit he said we did it belatedly, our recognition of the State of Palestine, I do not believe that anyone sees it as hollow symbolism. I accept the point and the debate about the need to do more and the questions as to what comes next and how we can continue to apply maximum pressure. These parliamentary questions relate...

Nomination of Member of Government: Motion (26 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I move: That Dáil Éireann approves the nomination by the Taoiseach of the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, for appointment by the President to be a member of the Government. I wish to inform the House that the President, acting on my advice, has accepted the resignation of Deputy Michael McGrath, as a member of the Government. I also wish to inform the House that I and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information (26 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: The details sought by the Deputy in relation to the number of FOI requests received in the past three years by my Department and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only body under the aegis of my Department, are set out in the table beneath. Year Number of FOIs received by Department of the Taoiseach Number of FOIs received...

Appointment of Minister and Ministers of State (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I wish to announce for the information of the Dáil that having informed the President that Dáil Éireann had approved my nomination of Deputy Jack Chambers to be a member of the Government, the President on 26 June 2024 appointed him accordingly. On the same day, I assigned the Department of Finance to Deputy Jack Chambers. On 27 June 2024, on my nomination, the Government...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I, too, want to begin by paying tribute to Deputies Shortall and Catherine Murphy on their significant decision. I want to acknowledge them both as very formidable politicians. I believe Deputy Shortall is the longest serving female TD in the history of our State. That in and of itself is an historic record that deserves commendation. Through her work on Sláintecare, she brought...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I will get to affordability. So far this year, we are seeing around 500 people per week buying their first home. Sometimes, we get the impression from Deputy McDonald that no one is buying a house and nothing is happening, but that is simply not the reality. On top of that on the social housing side of things, we saw the largest number of social houses allocated last year than at any...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: Is it the Deputy's position that she accepts every recommendation of the Housing Commission report? Is that her position? We have written to her on the issue and we are awaiting the Deputy's response as the Government. If it is the Sinn Féin position that she accepts every recommendation of the report, she might just clarify that. I will sit down if the Deputy might just clarify...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: Yes, thank you.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I gave the Deputy time for a bit of straight talking. Yes or No?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I gave the Leader of the Opposition an opportunity to say "Yes"-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: -----that she accepted all of the recommendation or "No" she did not and she refuses to answer. The Deputy wraps herself in reports when it suits her but she is not a details person. She is refusing to get down into the details. Which recommendations is she in favour of and which recommendations is she against?