Results 2,121-2,140 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Sometimes I think if pass the parcel was an Olympic sport, bureaucracy in this country would win a gold medal. I can see there are a number of agencies involved with one saying it is a job of the other. I will use my offices to try to bring clarity to the situation on behalf of Deputy Griffin and Tommy Griffin for the residents of Bog Road and see if we can get an up-to-date timeline in...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: My comments then are even more so my comments now. What we are seeing in terms of civilian casualties, children, women and civilian infrastructure,is unbearable and there needs to be an immediate cessation. We have taken a number of practical measures. We have given significant support to humanitarian aid including to UNWRA at a time when other countries pulled back. We have been only one...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I will indeed. I thank Deputy Shanahan for raising this. On taking office, I had a very good meeting with a number of Irish-language groups and groups representing Gaeltacht areas. There is a real need to do a lot more in this space. The Deputy’s two constructive suggestions are ones I am happy to take away and come back to him on.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Collins for raising the important issue of Cork roads funding and the condition of the roads. It is an issue I hear from my own colleagues in the county of Cork. I will look at the comparison he gave of Kildare and Cork and will ask the Minister for Transport to get back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will upset the Ceann Comhairle.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Murphy for raising the issue. As the Deputy said, the Tánaiste travelled to the region only last week and had a number of meetings, including with humanitarian workers at Rafah. The Government has been very strong, as have all parties in this House, with regard to the importance of aid being able to flow. I know that the humanitarian aid ships - the freedom flotilla -...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I am sure Deputy McGuinness will be flattered by the Deputy's belief in his excellent abilities. He is an excellent public representative but we obviously have systems in place with regard to school buses. We have brought forward a very significant reform. I accept it is a very real issue, including in my own constituency. I will ask the Minister for Education to look into the specific...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for welcoming the scheme. It is a scheme where, thankfully in the last couple of days, we have seen a very significant uptick in the number of people applying. The take-up rate was quite low and has increased a lot but as the Deputy said, there is still funding in that scheme. I will talk to the Minister about the specific issue the Deputy has raised and see if it can be...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Harkin for raising the issue. I do take on board the importance of community engagement, and I meet communities as I travel around the country. I think there should always be engagement with communities. I understand that the Abbey Manor Hotel shut down in 2009. It was derelict for over 13 years before being purchased by new owners in 2022. That is certainly what I am...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Connor for raising the issue. I am conscious the Minister of State with responsibility for integration, Deputy Joe O'Brien, is here as well. The Government is eager to support communities and to assist with integration and services. Communities across Ireland have done much to assist and it is important that we try to respond to the needs of those communities and to engage...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bruton for his contribution and for the work he is doing on positive ageing from the position of our own political party. I am aware of a number of really good initiatives like the Age Friendly Ireland programme, and the real impact that is having. I am conscious of the Minister of State with responsibility for older people, Deputy Butler, who does an absolutely excellent job...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy on this. We got an opportunity to engage on this in my previous role so we do need to rectify this. I am going from memory now but my understanding is that primary legislation is required. In my last role, the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, and I brought a joint memorandum to Government with regard to progressing this through housing legislation. My...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy pointed to a couple of issues. We are all very proud of the work being done by staff in the hospital. The Deputy is right to make that point. Staff working on the front line in UHL are doing extraordinarily good and important work in providing the very best care they possibly can to the people of the mid-west. We are not in any way, shape or form moving away from the very...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: When I was on my way in the car this morning, I heard on the radio that it was the Deputy's birthday. I meant to wish her a happy birthday in a moment of levity.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I am sure she is delighted to be spending it with me. I hope she gets some time to enjoy it later. I thank the Deputy for raising a very serious issue. It is a rare issue on which the Deputy and I agree. Our view on the UK legacy Act has been clear since the legislation was first published. We are opposed to it. It is a unilateral move in the wrong direction and represents a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I wish the Deputy a happy May Day as well. I thank her for raising this issue. This Government has taken any number of measures in terms of workers' rights, whether that is the statutory sick scheme, domestic violence leave or parental leave. I appreciate the area the Deputy has raised is very important and sensitive to many people. I will familiarise myself with where that is within the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Of course, I would disagree with that assertion of the Government's actions. As the Deputy said, the Government did introduce the increased stamp duty. The Government is continuing to keep this under review and has not ruled out going further in this regard. The Minister for Finance said that himself in recent weeks. I will ask him for an update on that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy has a better understanding of how to run a sweet shop in Bray that he has of migration policy because this Minister does measure metrics and talks about them to this House.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I will come in and buy a lollipop from the Deputy in Bray.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Processing times are down and deportations are up. The numbers of countries on the safe country list are up. More gardaí are being freed up. We are working with our European colleagues because we recognise that this island on its own cannot solve migration issues. We must have effective policies in place around returns, which is a word I do not like, by the way, when we are talking...