Results 2,441-2,460 of 45,281 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for repeating her contention. Obviously, I do not agree with her. Even the three-day wait period has seen clarification on how it operates since the Covid pandemic. That used to involve two in-person visits but that is now not the case. That was something that came about during Covid that was deemed to work clinically well in the health service and was therefore...

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

Simon Harris: I, too, pay tribute to those who spoke out. As the Deputy correctly said, I was very influenced and informed in my own views. I am also very conscious, as the Deputy said, that they played a much larger role than any politician in this House, most particularly myself, in bringing about a successful "Yes" vote because they spoke to the people of Ireland and the people of Ireland responded...

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

Simon Harris: I will specifically answer those three questions, but I am conscious that people follow these debates and discussions at home and in the time available to me I want to say a few things. First, six years ago abortion was constitutionally banned in this country, so a lot has changed. We had a referendum, the result of which was decisive. Since then we have steered legislation through this...

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

Simon Harris: Gabh mo leithscéal. It does matter because when you publish draft legislation alongside a referendum, stating that it will be the law if people vote "Yes", it has to count for something. I welcome the constructive way in which the Deputy engaged on the matters. I am not being coy about the three matters. I am being honest. The Government has yet to consider them, but we intend to...

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald. First, I answered her three questions sequentially and clearly. I will continue to engage with her on the three answers I gave her. Second, it is a little dismissive to suggest words and rhetoric when 120 procedures this year is not rhetoric and massive levels of investment in theatres and hiring more nurses and doctors are not words; they are real actions. I know...

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

Simon Harris: How do you square that circle in terms of extra staff and extra investment?

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

Simon Harris: It is true. It is in Sinn Féin's alternative budget available on sinnfein.ie.

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

Simon Harris: Gabhaim buíochas le Deputy McDonald and I thank her for raising what is an extraordinarily important, stressful, and worrying issue for many families in Ireland. As the Deputy has rightly said, I have met many of the families, there are many families that I know and many children whose faces and names I still remember. Nobody, not Deputy McDonald or me, nobody on this side of the House...

Appointment of Ministers and Ministers of State (16 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I wish to announce for the information of the Dáil that having informed the President that Dáil Éireann had approved my nomination of Deputies to be members of the Government, the President on 9 April 2024 appointed them accordingly. On the same day, I nominated Deputy Micheál Martin to be the Tánaiste and assigned the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Department...

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: So will you.

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: You are out of time, Mary Lou.

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Tonight as we hold our first Cabinet meeting, this Government will establish the Cabinet committee on children, education and disability. I am determined to put a focus on disability. It is about breaking down silos across Government and making change happen more quickly. We are determined to bring new coherence and faster progress on solving the issues that matter most to people with...

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: : Go raibh maith agat a Cheann Comhairle. I beg leave to announce for the information of the Dáil that I have informed the President that the Dáil has nominated me to be Taoiseach and that he has appointed me accordingly. This Government will need to be both energetic and laser-focused on delivery on housing, health and helping families, farmers, small businesses and on equality...

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: In re-appointing Deputy McEntee as Minister for Justice, I am working with her and tasking her to continue her momentum of delivering stronger, safer communities by continuing to fast track legislation to give judges new powers to make sure heinous criminals serve long sentences before they can ever be considered for release.

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: We will bring in body cameras and up-to-date technology-----

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: -----to help gardaí carry out their duties.

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: We will expand prison capacity, Deputy McNamara, and bring forward new measures to increase the penalties for knife crime and antisocial behaviour. We will give the Criminal Assets Bureau more powers to strip criminals of their assets more quickly. We will also work with our European partners to ensure a firm and fair migration system. This country is a welcoming one and knows the benefits...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Go raibh maith agat, a Cheann Comhairle. Go raibh maith agaibh as ucht bhur gcuid vótaí. Gabhaim buíochas le Peter agus Heather do na focail cineálta. I accept this nomination to serve as Taoiseach and commit to doing everything I can to honour the trust placed in me today. I thank my party, Fine Gael, and our partners in government, Fianna Fáil and the Green...

Taoiseach a Ainmniú - Nomination of Taoiseach (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I am from Wicklow.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Expenditure (20 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: As part of the policy response to the Funding the Future framework published in May 2022, I identified the need to address cost as a barrier to higher education. I also outlined my intention to pursue funding measures on these issues through the Estimates process, including in respect of reductions to the student contribution payable by free fees eligible undergraduate students. From...