Results 2,681-2,700 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: EU Agreements (7 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I am deeply concerned by the desperate situation of civilians in Gaza. This remains a central priority for the Government, including at EU level, where Ireland is consistently calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. The Framework Programme for Research and Innovation - Horizon Europe - is the European Union’s largest research and innovation programme and encompasses all...

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I commend the Bills Office and my officials in the Department who worked so hard on this legislation. I genuinely thank colleagues for the really constructive engagement we have had. I look forward to this legislation now going to the Seanad. This is a real opportunity to have one singular research funding agency in Ireland and to have that parity of...

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies for their assistance. I should have thanked Bills Office staff for the huge amount of work they have done in preparing for tonight's session and for the turnaround times. I take the point Deputy Sherlock made about the ERC seriously. I am very happy to engage with eminent people such as Professor Luke O'Neill and others in the ERC, who serve Ireland well not just in...

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report Stage (Resumed) and Final Stage (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I believe that the aim of what the Deputy wants to achieve is already captured by the legislation. The chief executive is already accountable. This agency will be under the remit of the Freedom of Information Act, parliamentary questions, and the Minister of the day being accountable to the House. That is already the case. I also believe that the current provisions adequately capture...

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I have no doubt the Deputy believes what he is proposing is better than what is in the Bill. I will explain why I think what I am proposing is better. I hope he will accept my first point. This is the first time in the history of the State that we are placing arts and humanities research on a statutory footing. The Irish Research Council, which has done absolutely incredible work, does...

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: As professionals.

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Absolutely. I am differentiating between the word “professionals” and “employees”, but I do not mean to interrupt.

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: As do I.

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: On this issue, I very much agree with Deputy Sherlock and how he put it. That is the balance we are trying to get right. What is appropriate to belong within the legal remit of a research agency? What is appropriate to belong with independent autonomous higher education institutions? To be very clear on the European question, which I want to come back to again, we should not allow the...

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I appreciate that.

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I certainly would not answer for the Deputy. As the Leas-Cheann Comhairle suggested, I want to return very briefly to the point Deputy Sherlock made in the last grouping which also brings us very much into this grouping. I want be very clear that the advertisements in the booklet regarding appointments to the board of Research and Innovation Ireland gave the closing date as 3 p.m. on...

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: To be very clear, and again we teased through this on Committee Stage, which the transcripts will show, it is absolutely the intention that there will be researcher input into the work of the new agency. That is beyond question. There are structures within the legislation, including what would effectively operate as a subcommittee of the board, which will be overwhelmingly dominated by...

Research and Innovation Bill 2024: Report and Final Stages (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for tabling the amendments. A number of the issues he raised are ones I genuinely view as extremely important. I will very shortly publish the final report of the independent external review on researchers, supports, career structures and other issues. I intend to do that this month. The Deputy will remember that we published phase 1 just before the budget and we will...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Staff (6 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 233, 234 and 235 together. Redundancy or severance payments in the Civil Service generally arise with respect to specific categories of employees, as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform (DPENDR) and approved by Government. My Department was established in August 2020. Accordingly, there are no...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: It has been mainly people outside the House.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table below. The data was sourced from the HEA Student Records System. The table shows the proportion of enrolments in the Royal College of Surgeons by their domicile group for the most recent five years available. There has been substantial additionality in healthcare and medicine programmes for Irish and EU students. Along with...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Since the introduction of the Disability Act in 2005, building regulations have been updated with Universal Design in mind and a more comprehensive technical guidance document is now in place. ‘Technical Guidance Document M – Access and Use’, or TGD Part M which came into force on 1st January 2012 describes the minimum guidance to illustrate compliance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Disability Services (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: Under Section 25 of Disability Act 2005, public bodies must ensure that public buildings are accessible "as far as practicable" to persons with disabilities. This requirement is outlined in part M of the Building Regulations Act, and public buildings must abide by any amendment made to part M within 10 years of that amendment. All capital projects including new construction, material...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Education (5 Mar 2024)

Simon Harris: The information requested by Deputy Cairns is presently being collated by SOLAS. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.