Results 43,741-43,760 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: We take it extraordinarily seriously. The Deputy's constant misrepresentation of the position of the Minister for Justice, time and time again, and indeed some of his commentary on some of the changes she has tried to make and the introduction of wokery into public debate, has certainly not helped, quite frankly. If we are deadly serious about creating a zero-tolerance approach to domestic,...

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

Simon Harris: Let me start and see where I can agree with the Deputy. We need more gardaí; that is a statement of fact. That is why we are putting a huge focus on Garda recruitment and retention. He will also see more measures from us this month on that. Regarding roads policing, I have met the Garda Commissioner and the assistant Garda commissioner with responsibility for roads policing and of...

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

Simon Harris: Let us not just say everything is down to the gardaí. When getting behind the wheel of a car, we all have individual important responsibilities. The second issue on which I agree with the Deputy is the issue of sentencing. While we might not agree on how we get there, we have set up the Judicial Council under the Judicial Council Act 2019. A body of work is currently under way on...

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Collins for raising this important matter. I note he raised the issue of the horticulture course in Skibbereen with me previously in this House. I have done a bit of research on which I will engage with him in a moment. There is huge importance in investing in talent and in our people. We need to have an education system that has multiple pathways for people to reach their...

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

Simon Harris: I will certainly undertake to look into it because I know a little about it from my time in that Department. I was down in the Cork College of Further Education and Training and made aware of the horticultural course. I am trying to remember if I visited the actual facility in Skibbereen. I am not sure. I could have, because I was involved in a number of discussions about horticulture in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue, and I thank the media committee for the work members across parties have put into the RTÉ issue over a sustained period. I look forward to reading their report and recommendations. I particularly thank the Chair, Deputy Niamh Smyth. I assure the Deputy that there is action on this. The Tánaiste, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and I met...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I am sorry to hear about those job losses and my immediate thoughts are with workers and families affected, as I know are the Deputy's. I will of course work with him on this, as we have done in the past. I think the Minister for State, Deputy Higgins, was in Drogheda this week with regard to the regional enterprise plans. We remain committed to doing everything we can to support the town....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I take the point about the bad news received in Drogheda today. I am happy to meet with the Deputy. As he knows, I am scheduled to meet shortly with the group of enterprise stakeholders who have come together in Drogheda. They have a plan and a view and I will follow up to arrange that.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I am reading a note on this. I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this serious issue. I am told, specifically with regard to CHO 4, which is Cork and Kerry, that the HSE has advised that data showed an increased referral rate across the region of 63%, specifically for primary care psychology waiting lists. There seems to be a particular challenge in this region that I do not believe is...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: -----but I will speak with the Minister and come back to the Deputy with the response.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I doubt that many people in this country favour strike action and I think most people, as the Deputy said, want to see an end to the disruption. I am very conscious the least helpful thing anyone in this House, most of all me, could do is wade right into this while Labour Court hearings are under way today. A huge amount of work has gone in to get to this point. I thank both parties for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: There is no need to be provoking or rubbing salt in the wounds of Dublin Deputies, but I congratulate Galway on their win at the weekend. The Deputy raises a very important issue. The last time I raised it there was a lot of tut-tutting from top brass in the GAA and they were very disappointed with my comments, but I would say this to them, respectfully. Far more people are disappointed...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: In fairness to Deputy McGrath, he was good enough to send me a note today to say representatives of the Tipperary spina bifida group are in the Dáil and I would love to get a chance to say hello if I can. I will be here for quite a while yet. I wish them well and thank them for being here, along with the Irish Wheelchair Association. There are two issues. I understand that the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I was just speaking to the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, on this matter while the Deputy was speaking. I will discuss it further with him and the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman. My understanding, though, is that these are transfers, as opposed to evictions, whereby people are being asked to transfer to other locations, but-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: Okay. I will take a look at the specific situation the Deputy has raised and discuss it with the Minister of State and the Minister. What we are doing, and we have to be honest about this, is that the number of people coming from Ukraine has fallen and we are reducing our footprint in terms of leases and contracts-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I accept that this has to be done in a way that is careful and compassionate and I accept that a number of communities across the country are, rightly, highlighting the sensitivities around this. I am not familiar with the specific situation relating to Galway but I will make myself familiar with it today.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: First, I acknowledge the very good and important work Deputy Ó Cuív has done in this area over many years and appreciate the great support he has been on occasion in a variety of roles. In regard to the individual case, he will understand, not that he is asking me to, that I am not going to comment on the rights and wrongs of it here without full knowledge, but I will certainly ask...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this serious issue, which is one I discussed with the Minister for Health on Monday, I think, at the Cabinet committee on health. There may well be a particular challenge in Carrigaline and in parts of Cork but the Deputy is right to suggest that it is a more national challenge. I know the Minister for Health and his Department have given consideration to what...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. No one likes the idea, by any manner or means, of any person, but particularly an older person living in isolation, being in any way fearful in their own home. The home should be a safe haven for people. I will certainly pass on the Deputy's specific comments about Roscommon and Galway and the importance of a Garda presence in rural areas to the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I know the Deputy's particular area of expertise in this area, both as a constituency TD and before his political life in this House. I take seriously what he says. This is a Government that will always support farmers. I am very conscious of how horrific the weather has been for them this year and the huge stress that has created. I have visited a number of farms with the Irish Farmers...