Results 2,341-2,360 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

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

Simon Harris: I have no interest at all in this country being used as a pawn in British politics. We have an agreement in place. It is called a standard operating procedure for processing and transferring asylum seekers between the UK and Ireland.

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

Simon Harris: I ask the Deputy to stop interrupting. The agreement has been in place since 2020 and it sets out the procedure. It is an operational guide that is rooted in the following legislation of this country: the International Protection Act 2015 and Part 18 of the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Act 2020, which the Deputy may or may not have...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising an issue about which he clearly, and understandably, feels passionate. Without wishing to make Opposition parties in this House feel uncomfortable, I do not doubt that all parties raise this issue on a regular basis. I do not doubt the bona fides of anybody on any side of this House in respect of wanting to see progress in healthcare and in respect of UHL....

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

Simon Harris: I certainly will come back to the Deputy on those three issues. I will liaise directly with the Minister for Health and revert to her then. I take the point about global figures and the need to make sure that we do not just use them and that we get under the bonnet. I would just say on the recruitment issue that I have endeavoured to do quite a bit of that in relation to UHL. By any...

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

Simon Harris: I reject out of hand the Deputy's hypothesis relating to our migration situation in this country. The reason we have seen a very significant increase in people coming, not just to Ireland but right across the European Union is multifold. None of them have anything to do with the name of the Minister for Justice of any country. That is very clear. Anybody with any understanding of...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising important issues relating to our health service. She has touched on a number of topics and made a point about recruitment that I want to respond to as well. She began by referencing University Hospital Limerick. I, too, welcome the decision by the Minister for Health and the HSE chief executive yesterday to send a specific support team to Limerick to help to...

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

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be at the opening.

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

Simon Harris: Am I to take from that that the Deputy does not believe there should be any cap on recruitment in the health service at all?

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

Simon Harris: You can hire whatever you want whenever you want. Is that this week's Sinn Féin health policy? If it is, can the Garda Commissioner hire whoever who he wants? Can the Minister for Education? I am just wondering where this ends.

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

Simon Harris: For a party that now aspires to be in government, Sinn Féin has to tell people what it is going to do every year. This year, we are very honest-----

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

Simon Harris: I am looking forward to-----

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

Simon Harris: Sinn Féin does not actually develop policy. Its Members just shout. What they actually need to do is explain to people how they would reform the health services. I thought we had an all-party agreement in this House called Sláintecare about how to do it and I thought Sinn Féin signed up to that too.

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

Simon Harris: You think that, every single year, you can just promise people everything and anything without actually showing them how it will be delivered. I ask people listening at home to please not fall for the misinformation, disinformation and noise.

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

Simon Harris: Some 2,268 more people will be hired into the health service this year-----

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

Simon Harris: -----and probably more than the 2,268. When disability services are included, 3,000 people will be hired into the health service this year. That is important. I am quite sure when the national children's hospital is built, the Sinn Féin Deputies will want to be at the opening and will see how good it is for children's health in this country.

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I certainly will not disagree with her in any way about how disturbing the testimony was at the inquest. I am conscious every time we discuss the issue in this House, rightly so, of Aoife Johnston's family. I express my deepest sympathies to her family, who have been devastated by her loss. My thoughts are with her family after what has been an...