Results 18,641-18,660 of 46,095 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: Hear, hear.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: I do not wish to start on a note of disagreement but the last time I was in the House it was for the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill and I was here for an awful long time as well. The Senator seems to enjoy having me here.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: I do not know whether it is me or the Senators but we often seem to have very long and considered debates, but they are always terribly fruitful and respectful and I do not think tonight was any different. I thank Senators on all sides of the House for their considered contributions. I join with all of them in noting, with all sincerity, that it has been a very respectful debate

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: I am nearly getting worried now that respectful is becoming clichéd and it should not, because it is so important and we have managed so far to have this Bill move through the Dáil and now move through the Seanad. We have had debates on Oireachtas committees and generally the tone of the debate has been encouraging. We can passionately disagree on this without calling each other...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: -----that it must be repealed. That is my very strong view. I join with others in acknowledging the leadership that is being provided by many colleagues through a very long process. When people talk about this being rushed I think that is kind of bizarre-----

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: -----because this has been a very lengthy, thorough process with the Citizens' Assembly and the Oireachtas committee. I commend my colleague, Senator Noone, for her chairmanship, all Members of this House who were on it, and all Members of the other House who were on it, the leadership I have seen in individual political parties, and the leadership I have seen from individual leaders of...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: This is not a debate about whether one is for or against abortion. Rather, it is about whether one wants to put in place a safe and legal system or leave in place an unsafe and illegal one.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: However, this debate is not about introducing or stopping the introduction of abortion in Ireland. If only it were that simple. Women in Ireland are having abortions. Let none of us make them faceless and nameless. They live in Senators' counties and towns and are possibly members of their families. Abortion is here, so how will we make it safe? People talk about certainty. There is...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: We are ensuring the woman who makes the choice, as many will, to go to full term with her pregnancy in the knowledge that her baby will die within hours or days will be supported. That is a valid choice that many women will make and we are not supporting such women well enough. That is why we are putting in proposals in respect of perinatal hospice care and ensuring that women have better...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: Much has been said about protection for the unborn. I hope for more discussion in that regard because we all want to protect life. I do not believe we are divided in that respect although, at times, it may suit us to pretend that we are. No one in the House is more pro-life than I. It is ridiculous to say that a person is anti-life. We are all pro-life. The issue is what sort of...

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: Mothers and women protect their babies. They do not need people to protect the unborn from its mother. I trust mothers, I trust women and I trust Irish women.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: I believe that the Irish people trust Irish women and doctors.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: We must stop talking to each other in this House of the Oireachtas and, rather, let the Irish people talk to each other.

Seanad: An Bille um an Séú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht 2018: An Dara Céim - Thirty-sixth Amendment of the Constitution Bill 2018: Second Stage (27 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: Let us have a respectful debate, tease out the issues and be vigorous in our arguments but respectful in how we put them. Let us provide the people of Ireland with their chance to have their say by the end of May. I thank the Members of the Seanad for their time and consideration on the issue.

Questions on Promised Legislation (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Howlin for the question. As he knows, I have asked Professor Philip Nolan, the President of NUI Maynooth, to chair the national review, work on which has commenced. The review team is available to brief Members, as appropriate, and will engage in public consultation so that people in the south east and all other parts of the country will have an opportunity to have their say....

HPV Vaccine: Motion [Private Members] (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Alan Kelly for putting down this very important motion. I genuinely believe it is one of the most important Private Members' motions we have had in this House in long years. As Deputy Burton eloquently said, it is not a party political pop or a motion to score points. It is providing the House with an opportunity to unite and send out a very important, powerful message that...

Written Answers — Department of Health: Medical Card Applications (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Departmental Correspondence (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: The information that the Deputy seeks is not readily available.  Therefore, I have asked the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) to investigate the matter and reply directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Health: Hospital Equipment (28 Mar 2018)

Simon Harris: As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly.