Results 17,921-17,940 of 46,081 for speaker:Simon Harris

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. The bipartisan way in which we have approached Brexit is important. It is also important that, at this sensitive stage, our approach is maintained. We have shown that when we approach issues of national importance in a bipartisan manner, we can achieve great things for this country. It is important to maintain that in respect of all our commentary and engagement on...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I accept his bona fides on this. He has raised this issue for many years. As a Government, an Oireachtas and, indeed, a country, we have to work our way through two issues. The first of these is how to protect mortgage holders and the second is how to ensure that we have a functioning, stable banking system, not for the banks but for citizens who need access to...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I think Permanent TSB should go before an Oireachtas committee. It is time to see a little bit of humility from the banks, which the taxpayers have supported through very difficult times. They could do an awful lot worse than show a bit of humility and engage with the people's representatives. That should happen. It is a matter for the bank but that is my personal view. Equally,...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: There has been no decision on who to sell them to. The Minister for Finance has not been consulted. Deputy Pearse Doherty should get on board the train that is in the station now. It is the one that will work with the Government and the other Opposition parties to let us find a way through this that recognises we need to have stable, functioning banks for our citizens and to protect our...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: His is the party that-----

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: The Deputy should not scare people because there are parties in this House that told people throughout the most difficult and darkest years of our history that their homes would be repossessed, that a second bailout would be needed, that we should go the way of Greece, that is, that we should send the troika home and that it should take its money. It seems some parties in this House might...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Michael Collins for raising this important matter for the people of Bandon and for the St. Brogan's College school community. The outline he has provided shows how important this is for many families who worry whether their child will have a place in the school of their choice, come September. I understand that St. Brogan's is a multidenominational, coeducational second level...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I got to know the people of Bandon quite well when I was a Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, OPW, and visited during the flooding. I am very pleased we have been able to deliver a flood relief scheme for the people of Bandon and will now deliver the temporary accommodation for St. Brogan's College.

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: We have already approved the building of the permanent accommodation. As the Deputy has said, it is important that people now get on with the appropriate phases of planning, tendering and procurement in order to deliver this as quickly as possible. The Deputy made a reference to the Government's commitment to education. Let me be very clear that the Government's commitment in this...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Healy for raising this very important issue on the assessment of needs for children with disabilities. He is entirely correct; this is an area in which the State needs to do an awful lot more. The lost decade affected the ability to recruit to and invest in vital public services and this means that we have a backlog through which we need to work. We are committed to doing...

Leaders' Questions (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Healy and I accept the challenge. The Deputy is correct in that we have to get on top of this matter and deal with it. We are committed to doing that. We have shown this commitment with the significant increases we have already provided to the health service this year and to disability services specifically. These increases build on the increase in 2017. I am aware that...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Donnelly. I understand that this is priority legislation for the Department of Justice and Equality this session. I expect the Deputy will see progress on it in this session. It is an issue which my colleague, the Minister, Deputy Kevin Boxer Moran, has been progressing through the programme for Government. The court and land conveyancing Bill is a priority for this session.

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Doherty. The Government has made very clear its preference for continued customs union between Britain and Ireland. The best way to protect the interests of the people of Northern Ireland from Brexit is to re-establish the institutions in Northern Ireland. I know this is a view that the Deputy and I share, as do the Government and the Deputy's party. I note that the...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Sherlock for raising that important matter. Obviously the ordering of business is a matter for the Business Committee. I have no difficulty with further debate or discussion in this House. There has already been discussion at the Joint Committee on Health, in which I participated. There was also discussion in the Seanad yesterday in which my colleague, the Minister of...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this specific issue. If he wishes to provide me with the details, I would be very happy to look into the case. On fulfilling the commitment in the programme for Government, measures we have taken in recent months have included a significant increase in funding for respite and home help, more special needs classes around the country, an automatic entitlement...

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I am happy to answer if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle wishes me to. On this matter, it would be entirely disingenuous to try to conflate the issue of a referendum on the eighth amendment with the issue of the error on the part of RED C.

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: This error affected a discussion on climate change rather than abortion. I do not know why the Deputy fears letting the people of Ireland have their say. That is all I want.

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: Let the people of Ireland have their say.

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: They will have their say in May.

Questions on Promised Legislation (22 Feb 2018)

Simon Harris: I answered the question.