Results 2,401-2,420 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I will send the Deputy a copy of The Sunday Times or Business Post. I have read that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Deputy Bacik spoke about the triple lock. The Government has today given the go-ahead for the Tánaiste to draft legislation in relation to this. I am sure there will be an opportunity for him to engage in the House on this through a variety of means, including questions that take place to him. Legislation will come forward and the Deputy can take this up with the Business Committee. ...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: They are sworn members of An Garda Síochána. Shame on you. Condemn the attacks-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: -----on the gardaí that happened-----

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: -----in my constituency and community this week. Nobody in this country has a right to attack a man or woman of An Garda Síochána and you should condemn that outright, but of course you will not.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: That is a very serious charge.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Then condemn it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Shame on you.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I know where it is.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: The approach we need to take is to hit them where it hurts, that is, in their pockets and on their financial balance sheet and that is what we intend to do under legislation I imagine the Deputy probably supported, as did many people across the House. It is not only about asking the companies nicely whether they wish to do things. This is far too serious an issue for our children, our...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Pringle for raising what he is right to say is an extraordinarily serious issue. Listening to his final words is a reminder of all of the progress we have been beginning to make as a society in destigmatising some issues and promoting equality. The risk of that being undone or damaged by dangerous online use of social media is pertinent. I met the DCU anti-bullying centre in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this important issue. Let us begin on a point of absolute agreement. The Government does not wish in any way to see any rural area, or indeed any area of Ireland, least of all in County Tipperary, lose connectivity. That is the exact opposite of what we have been working to achieve and making good progress on over recent years with the national broadband...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Lowry again for raising this issue. The Minister of State, Deputy Smyth, has been here to hear his comments directly, and he and the Minister, Deputy Ryan, will continue to keep Deputy Lowry updated on this. As I said, I cannot comment on an individual company, for obvious reasons. There is a regulatory process and engagement with the Department and ComReg. As Taoiseach,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not think it is objectively fair to say the Government has failed on accommodation. I do not think there is a community across Ireland who believes that. If you look at the scale of challenge this country has faced and the amount we have done as a people to provide accommodation in very difficult circumstances, that needs to be acknowledged. There are no easy solutions when it comes...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: -----but they also want to know that there is a functioning rules-based system as there is and on which the Minister, Deputy McEntee, has taken a number of measures to make more effective. Regarding the data issue, I am very confident that the information that has been provided to the Government on processing times is exactly what people are seeing in the International Protection Office....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: -----entered over-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Pardon me?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I speak for the Government of which the Tánaiste is a part and I am very confident in saying that the Tánaiste, I as Taoiseach and all members and parties of the Government are very clear on this. The Tánaiste made a valid point yesterday that does not contradict the Minister, Deputy McEntee's point at all.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question. First, we have data and we gather data relating to the International Protection Office. While I am not suggesting the Deputy is, we cannot ignore the reality of the island that we live on and the peace settlement that we have on this island. So, we do not count the number of people who come over the Border by nationality or anything else; we know that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Deputy Howlin knows this well too. As I imagine Deputy Bacik knows, when people present at the International Protection Office, very experienced staff, who have done incredible work in a very intense environment, carry out interviews and the likes, and garner, not anecdotes, but data and information on how people have come to our country. They are telling Government and we are telling the...