Results 2,621-2,640 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

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.

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-----