Results 2,401-2,420 of 45,281 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the environment and climate action was formally reconstituted last week. It oversees implementation of the ambitious programme for Government commitments in regard to the environment and climate change. The committee has met on 21 occasions since July 2020, most recently on 22 February. I intend to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. The Government definitely has an open mind on this. There are potentially lessons that can be learned from some of the responses we have put in place to assist people in the humanitarian situations arising in Ukraine and elsewhere in the world. I see the excellent use of modular or rapid-build housing in many places such as Backweston and Mahon in...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. As he may be aware, in late 2020, the Department of Social Protection commenced an investigation into the PRSI classification of RTÉ's contractors. RTÉ provided the Department with lists of 695 workers who were engaged on a contract basis in 2018, 2019 and 2020 and these form the basis of the investigation. The scale of the investigation...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I appreciate Deputy Clarke raising the issue and the seriousness of it. The information I put on the record of the House is the information I was given, that an interim plan was discussed with the clinical lead at a meeting last week - that is what my note tells me and I can only relay that to the House - and that hospital management provided a commitment to finalise a solution to address...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: There is nothing yet. The Government will run until March 2025, but I will get an update from the Minister about the important issue the Deputy raised. I know he has raised it before and that people are looking for timely news about it. I will get him a written note.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: While I am not directly familiar with the issue, my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, tells me she spoke to the new Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht, Deputy Thomas Byrne, this morning and he has committed to take a look at the issue. We will revert to the Deputy directly about it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I appreciate the seriousness of the issue the Deputy raised and the pressure small businesses are under. I intend to work with Government colleagues to see how we can support small businesses. The budget will be published in October. The budget conversations seem to start earlier every year, but I take on board the seriousness of the matter the Deputy raised and I am happy to engage with...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Whitmore for raising this issue that she raises regularly, as she rightly should. It is a stressful issue for people in Greystones, for parents and specifically for the young people who are wondering what the name of their school will be. I spoke with a school principal in Greystones about this yesterday and to the Minister for Education directly today. We need an urgent...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Murphy for raising the issue. I will seek an update for him from the Minister and the CEO of An Post.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I will seek an update on that situation. The Government's perspective is that it wants to increase autism classes. I do not mean this in relation to Deputy McGrath's comments but we should not just use the term "ASD" because autism is obviously not a disorder. The Government is committed to increasing the number of autism classes. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I will, and I have because this is an important issue. There is a scarcity of specialist-trained paediatric nursing staff. This has posed significant challenges to the continuity of paediatric services at the regional hospital in Mullingar in recent years. My understanding is that the hospital has maintained the provision of existing services catering to more than 12,000 children. I think...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: -----needs - hang on one second - and avoid any impact on paediatric diabetes patients and their families. I will keep a close eye on this. I will talk directly to the Minister for Health and come back to Deputy Fitzmaurice directly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Crowe for his good wishes and for highlighting the issue of flood insurance and the challenge in accessing it for his constituents. I know this is a very real and sensitive issue in his part of the country and a number of other parts as well. Just last week, I appointed Deputy Richmond as Minister of State at the Department of Finance with responsibility for insurance. I...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I certainly will. I have been listening to reports on this issue in the media in recent weeks. I know it is an extraordinarily frustrating situation for people relying on accessing the railway line from Galway to Ennis and Limerick. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy O'Donnell, to keep a close eye on the issue and to encourage the stakeholders to get on with the plan. I will come...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: What Deputy Andrews will not do is slur my home town. We should not be divisive on these issues. There are real challenges regarding Mount Street; the Deputy is quite correct. There are real challenges concerning international protection, the International Protection Office being located in the vicinity of Mount Street. The Government is working around the clock to try to find alternative...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: -----by the way, are in my constituency. Rather than seeking to divide the House or pit one community against the other------

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: -----it is the people of County Wicklow, as Deputy Whitmore and I know, who are now trying to assist in providing responses. This is about a whole-country response. I very much take the point about the need to continue to invest in the inner city. We will very shortly set up a Dublin city task force. I would welcome the Deputy's thoughts and input into that.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I share Deputy McDonald's view on the importance of apprenticeships. I was very pleased as Minister for further and higher education to see the highest number of newly registered apprentices ever in the history of the State last year. That is a good thing. We have also seen the expansion of the number of apprenticeship programmes. That is also a good thing. The Deputy is right that some...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy.