Results 2,421-2,440 of 45,281 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bacik for her good wishes. I look forward to working constructively with her in this House. I really appreciate her raising this issue. I will watch the RTÉ documentary very closely this evening because I share the views and concerns that she has echoed and that the Tánaiste echoed at the weekend on the impact of social media on the mental health and well-being of...

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

Simon Harris: I assure Deputy Shortall that I appointed people both to Cabinet and as Ministers of State based on their ability. Obviously, leaders and taoisigh can consider a variety of issues. I would point to gender. Every female Fine Gael TD seeking re-election is now a Minister or Minister of State, so that is a commitment to gender. Geography does have an important role to play in politics - it...

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Lowry for raising this important issue as regards carers. My colleague, the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Humphreys, has increased the income thresholds for carer's allowance such that from June a couple earning up to €900 per week and having €50,000 in savings will still be able to qualify for the full carer's allowance payment. The Minister has also...

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies for their contributions. In relation to the EU migration pact, let us be really clear: we will have a very long debate in this House, we will have a vote in this House and there will be ample opportunity for that. For those who are watching in, the motion that is before us today is simply to refer the pact to the committee for scrutiny. That is what we generally do. It...

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

Simon Harris: ----- but the appropriate thing is for it to go before the justice committee. How the justice committee decides to assess-----

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

Simon Harris: Give me-----

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

Simon Harris: Just give me one second. Deputy Verona Murphy has been at this for long enough to know how it works. I do not tell the justice committee what to do. There would be uproar if I started telling the justice committee-----

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

Simon Harris: No, go down-----

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

Simon Harris: Go down to the-----

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

Simon Harris: The way these things usually work is that the committee sets out its own work.

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

Simon Harris: Every Member of this House is welcome to go to the justice committee, make contributions and put forward their views in relation to it.

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

Simon Harris: In relation to the EU migration pact, there is a motion to refer it to the justice committee. The justice committee can scrutinise it. It will come back here, and the Government will give it ample time. Deputy Murphy can make her contribution both before the justice committee-----

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

Simon Harris: -----and here in the Dáil.

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

Simon Harris: There were a number of other suggestions for debates. I am happy to facilitate a debate in this House at the appropriate time on abortion services. We should take that issue to the Business Committee. I am sure Members will want to discuss that matter. Similarly, some of the other issues around land use and Shannon, etc., can be explored at the Business Committee. Deputy Shortall...

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

Simon Harris: I do not have any donors. Stop it with your slurring of people.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I will undertake to engage with my Government colleagues. As she has rightly indicated, this cuts across a number of Departments. Many of the organisations fall within the Department of children. I have outlined on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, that Tusla has made payments. Some fall within the Department of Health or the health agency family. Some are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I also went further. Elections sometimes interrupt people's tenure of service but in 2019 I also brought about regulations to designate the professions of counsellor and psychotherapist under the Health and Social Care Professionals Act. I established the Counsellors and Psychotherapists Registration Board. I appointed its members in February 2019 and they held their first meeting in May...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Collins. I appreciate the passion with which she discussed the issue. I just do not believe phrases like "treating them like dirt" add much to the debate, though. That is the Deputy's view.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: It is the Deputy's view and their view. Here is my view: this Government, which I am proud to lead, very much respects and values the work carried out by these workers. The Deputy is right that there are many aspects of our public services, including health and social services, that rely on people who have been traditionally outside the public sector. We are the better for it as a country....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I accept the sincerity of her view. Whether people agree or disagree with her view, it is well known in this House. We should not engage in revisionism. An awful lot has happened. We had a constitutional ban on abortion. We had the eighth amendment. This House was not empowered to legislate at all. We all went out, across party lines, and campaigned. It is kind of...