Results 43,721-43,740 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cabinet Committees (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I raised the Middle East on a number of occasions with President von der Leyen. I spoke to her again over the weekend specifically on funding for the Palestinian Authority. Fundamentally, President Von der Leyen's view gets misrepresented. She is in favour of an immediate ceasefire, she has increased humanitarian aid, she believes in a two-state solution, she believes-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cabinet Committees (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not agree with the position of the European institutions on the association agreement because it needs to be reviewed. That requires the courage of European prime ministers and presidents to join with me and the Spanish Prime Minister in making that call.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Cabinet Committees (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I respectfully disagree with Deputy McDonald on that. I will continue my work in speaking up for the Palestinian people. They, their President and their ambassador to Ireland know that. Deputy Wynne raised the Ukrainian refugee situation at Loop Head and the relocation of those refugees. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, to come back to the Deputy on this issue. The Deputy has...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 to 15, inclusive, together. The National Economic and Social Council, NESC, advises me on strategic policy issues relating to sustainable economic, social and environmental development in Ireland. NESC is currently working in four main areas. Throughout 2023, NESC engaged in a programme of activities to mark its establishment in 1973. This is an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I will start with that issue. The short answer on that is that I agree. I met with ICTU last week at the Labour Employer Economic Forum. It is not for me to speak for the unions but it is fair to say this was a very pressing issue for them. They are right to be. It is important that when unions are good enough to come to the table, some of the issues they highlight as a priority do get...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I will raise that and particularly the issues it raised with the Deputy about some of the changes it needs. I am happy to revert in writing. On Deputy Barry’s question, yes, I would encourage a company to take seriously the recommendations and findings of an OECD body and a national contact point as well. I will make inquiries with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: No-----

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: -----because the Government’s intention was always to allow for every cent of funding to go into the health clinic in the west quad, including a number of new schools in TU Dublin. That is separate and distinct to the work we are doing with many other public sites and the extra capital that we put into the Land Development Agency. The Deputy has a different view from me on whether...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: However, the Land Development Agency is delivering a number of projects on public lands. It is unfair to suggest that the DIT buildings were ever intended for anything other than the purpose of providing funding for TU Dublin.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: How would the Deputy plug the hole? That might be for a longer conversation but the situation is that those funds are required for a number of projects in TU Dublin on what they call the west quad.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I would also point out that the decision has only been made in relation to not transferring to the Land Development Agency. What actually happens with the site in terms of ownership and the provision of housing, should it be housing, and the composition of that is a matter for further planning applications and so on. There has been a jump and a presumption that either there will be no...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: No, the Government made a decision on Part 9 of the Land Development Agency Act. That is entirely correct. Respectfully, there would not be a Land Development Agency if it was up to the Deputy because she does not believe in it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: State Bodies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: That is okay too. I am not saying that there cannot be future housing development on that site and as part of a planning permission for that site that cannot involve social and affordable housing. They are genuinely different points. Deputy Murphy raised the apartment and duplex defects scheme. I need to get him a note on that because I do not have the information to hand. My...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 to 18, inclusive, together. I was delighted to host the child poverty and well-being summit on Thursday, 23 May in Dublin Castle. I welcomed the former UK Prime Minister and Chancellor, Gordon Brown, who shared what he had learned from his experience of reducing child poverty rates in the UK in his keynote address. My colleague the Minister for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Child Poverty (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Alan Farrell for raising the school meals programme. This is fundamentally important in tackling child poverty and child hunger but it is also a measure above and beyond that for all parents. It is an assistance in respect of both cost and convenience. People are time poor as well. It is also enables us, because we link it to our healthy eating guidelines, to make sure a...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Policies (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach’s Annual Reports for 2020, 2021 and 2022 are published on Gov.ie and the Department’s 2023 Annual Report is in preparation and will be published when approved by Government. Since 27 June 2020, the Department of the Taoiseach has been working with other Government Departments to progress key national priorities set out in the Programme for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I have to begin by acknowledging that since we last met as a Dáil only yesterday, four lives have been lost on our roads. I know that communities in counties Mayo and Westmeath have been devastated by the news of this loss of life. I know that I join with everybody in this House in sending our deepest sympathies to the families of those who have died. Tragically, this brings the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I suppose when you are Taoiseach rather than leader of the Opposition it is not good enough to just define the problem. You have to tell the people of Ireland the actions you are taking. Let me absolutely agree there is a huge body of work that we need to do in relation to Dublin city centre and I will tell the Deputy eight things we are doing. We are putting bodycams on our gardaí....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I acknowledge it is an issue that she rightly raises on a regular basis, as one would expect, because it is a major issue and one of challenge. I assure her and the people of her constituency who are experiencing the barriers issue and the people more broadly across Ireland that we are endeavouring in real time to move from an emergency response to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I agree that this is not sustainable. There is no one in this House, and I doubt there is anyone in Waterways Ireland, who would not like to see the barriers removed. It just needs to be done in a way that is safe. I am conscious that Waterways Ireland is having to monitor that. A whole variety of safety issues need to be considered. We are seeing some examples around the country of...