Results 44,081-44,100 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Costello for raising the issues for Our Lady of Good Hope and for Bunscoil Synge Street. I know he raises on a very regular basis the issue of schools' capacity and facilities in his constituency of Dublin South Central. At Cabinet today we just agreed a very significant Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Education recognising its capital needs. I will ask the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Mac Lochlainn for raising this important matter. He is right to highlight the very important work done by our school transport escorts. I will seek an urgent update for him from the Minister for Education on this and revert to him directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. I extend to Deputy Healy Rae my sympathies on the passing of his friend Tim John Healy, and also to Noreen and the family. I am sorry for their loss. On the issue of pathology services in Kerry, I understand the sensitivities with time. At a time of tragedy or sadness, people just want their loved one back. I will certainly seek an update on the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Our colleague, the Minister, Deputy McConalogue, tells me that his Department is undertaking a recruitment campaign with regard to management teams at the moment. I accept very much the points the Deputy makes around the hazard they can be to road users, and the dangers. I will also ask the matter be raised with the RSA. In response to Deputy Murphy, students will absolutely continue,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. Individual commitments in the programme for Government are advanced through the co-ordinating mechanisms of the Cabinet committee structure. The ten Cabinet committees established by this Government reflect the full range of policy areas that are set out in the programme for Government. Cabinet committees meet regularly to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: In response to Deputy Tóibín's point, I travel around this country regularly and visit towns and villages of all sizes. I take part of the point he makes regarding the need to rejuvenate and regenerate many of our main streets in mid-size towns. I point to a number of projects across the country in terms of rural and urban regeneration and the funds that have been used. I think...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Programme for Government (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not want that to have to be the situation, quite honestly. I really do not. On the issue of LNG, the Planning and Development Act 2023 restated the factual position. The Government has not taken any policy decisions in that regard. Our policy position under climate legislation, and with respect to where we want to get to, is that we want to produce clean, renewable energy and to...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Child Poverty (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 9, inclusive, together. The child poverty and well-being programme office was established in the Department of the Taoiseach in spring 2023. Its purpose is to prioritise action across government in areas that will have the greatest impact for children and families experiencing poverty. From Poverty to Potential: A Programme Plan for Child Poverty...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Child Poverty (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Tóibín for raising the important issue of the well-being, safety, protection, mental health needs and so on of children in State care. The broad point the Deputy makes is about the need for those of us who hold positions of authority to take an active interest in the lives of those who may find themselves without a voice within the system. On foot of what the Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 to 12, inclusive, together. Last month, I chaired the Government’s inaugural competitiveness summit. In attendance were relevant Ministers, together with the chair of the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council, a senior representative of the OECD, and the chief executives of IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland among others from those...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for their questions. I turn first to Deputy Boyd Barrett's question on Cherrywood. I will inquire with the Department of housing about the situation with the town centre. I can say without getting overly involved, as someone who does not live a million miles away, that I know the scale of development that has happened there. There is no doubt a requirement for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Economic Policy (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: What I do not have, and what I cannot cut across are the planning conditions, but I will certainly inquire with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and ask that we revert to the Deputy on the issue. I thank him for highlighting it. On Deputy Murphy's question, the issue of housing was raised at the competitiveness summit and the issue of housing is raised in all commentary and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Legal Cases (16 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Three legal cases were taken against the Department of the Taoiseach during the period in question. All three cases were individual claims taken against the Department and all were concluded involving a small settlement and associated legal and ancillary costs. The costs for the three cases spread over four years are set out in the following table: Year Cost ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Data Protection (16 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Please see the accompanying table setting out two instances of a data breach identified within the Department during the past decade with one occurring in 2016 (pre GDPR) and one in 2022. The case in 2016 arose on foot of a complaint by an individual made to the Data Protection Commission (DPC) in 2017. The complaint concerned an allegation that a breach had occurred by way of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Travel (16 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The below table sets out foreign travel expenditure incurred in respect of within the Department of the Taoiseach and staff assigned to their Private Office, over the past five years. 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Government Chief Whip €0 €768 €5,809.69 €10,321.74 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (16 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The historical information requested by the Deputy, covering the years 2015 - 2023 has been set out in previous replies, the most recent of which was provided to the Deputy in reply to Parliamentary Question 5375/24 on 7 February 2024. The below table outlines the amount spent by the Department of the Taoiseach on public relations to date this year. Company Name ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Consultations (16 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The table below details the amount spent by the Department of the Taoiseach on consultancy over the past ten years up to end September 2024. Year Company Details Amount 2015 RA Consulting Design & Implementation of a Staff Consultation Initiative €9,298.80

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (16 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The table below details expenditure by the Department of the Taoiseach on advertising from 2015 to September 2024. As set out below, most advertising expenditure occurred in 2020, 2021 and 2022 and relates to public information campaigns during COVID-19, which played a vital role in communicating the various strands of the pandemic including the supports made available by Government. ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Commissions of Investigation (16 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The details requested in relation to the Commissions of Investigation for which the Taoiseach is the specified Minister are set out in the table beneath. Name of Commission of Investigation Cost to date from time of Establishment Dublin and Monaghan Bombings €2,632,702 Certain Matters Relative to An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Reviews (15 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach’s purpose is to help the Taoiseach and the Government to ensure a sustainable economy and a successful society, to pursue Ireland’s interests abroad, to implement the Government’s Programme and to build a better future for Ireland and all her citizens. The National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only body under the...