Results 301-320 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: May I speak? I am sure Pearse does not need your help.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: We are going to produce a new housing plan in July. Deputy Doherty can be quite assured that part of that new housing plan will be significant additional funding and enabling provisions for Irish Water and, indeed, for energy. We have been clear, and we were very clear in the election, about what we would do with the proceeds from the Apple account in terms of how that money would be...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Over the past number of years I have been in government, we have seen a very significant increase in the number of homes delivered in this country. We saw 133,000 new homes delivered between 2020 and 2024, with 92,500 of them delivered between 2022 and 2024. Deputy Doherty never acknowledges that bit. He never acknowledges that we have rebuilt a construction sector and rebuilt an economy,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: -----if Deputies want to work constructively and not politicise the issue of housing, to actually make real progress in the time ahead. We now have the legislative background-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am not going to be shouted down by the Deputy. I am going to speak, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Between now and the month of July, we are going to work on a housing plan; not a glossy document but a targeted list of actions we can take in relation to water, energy and planning that will get us to 300,000 homes. I assure Deputies we have the money and capital to make this happen. What we now need is political support across this House and in communities to drive on delivery.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I hope the Deputy will support the establishment of a housing activation office that will do exactly what he said, which is bring in people from Irish Water and the local authorities and put them in an office working together to break down those silos so we can deliver the homes for our people.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Doherty. Housing is the biggest domestic challenge that this country faces and the people in this country face. It is the biggest societal challenge on a domestic level and it is now a real economic challenge as well. We have to do more when it comes to housing. We, the parties that formed the Government and the Independents who support it, were very clear that if...

Seanad: Situation in Gaza: Statements (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am very pleased to have an opportunity to be here today and I thank Seanad Éireann for inviting me. I have commitments in the other House so I will take this debate along with the Ministers of State, Deputies Thomas Byrne and Neale Richmond. I said in the other House yesterday and will say today again at the outset that I hope the starting and end point of this debate will be not be...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland, along with our EU partners, adheres to the One China Policy. This means that we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and that we recognize the People's Republic of China as the legal representative of China. This does not preclude the development of economic, cultural, and people-to-people connections with Taiwan; nor the meaningful participation of Taiwan in relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 178, 235 and 236 together. As a small, highly globalised economy, it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a strategic focus on the international trading environment. The Government Trade Forum plays an important role facilitating direct engagement between Government Ministers and key stakeholders and experts as we shape the national,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has consistently and strongly advocated for the promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTQ+ people, including in our relations with Hungary. We have regularly raised our concerns about serious Rule of Law backsliding and the targeting of civil society and minority rights in Hungary, including in direct contacts with our Hungarian interlocutors. Through my Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am deeply concerned by the continued and wide spread use of the death penalty in Iran. Iran has significantly increased its executions in recent years, and now reportedly carries out more than half of all the executions in the world outside China. Accordingly, the death penalty is a principal focus of Ireland's engagement with Iran on human rights issues. Ireland is strongly opposed to the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 182 and 184 together. The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and is very well staffed to meet the current level of demand. To date this year, the Passport Service has issued over 440,000 passport books and cards. The Customer Service Hub is responding to almost 12,000 phone and webchat queries per week. The turnaround times...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I have been following with concern the tensions between India and Pakistan which resulted in military exchanges between the two countries in recent weeks. I welcome the complete and immediate ceasefire that was announced on 10th May and which has now been extended indefinitely. It is positive that communication channels have reopened between both countries and I very much hope that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s approach to the appalling humanitarian situation facing the Palestinian people, particularly in Gaza, has been consistent in working to promote respect for international law, including international humanitarian law, and accountability for violations of that law across the Occupied Palestinian Territory. The Genocide Convention prohibits genocide and obliges its...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: North-South Implementation Bodies (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: There is always scope for exploring the expansion of Areas of Cooperation and the work of the North South Bodies, in line with the Good Friday Agreement. Any such expansion would require the agreement of the Northern Ireland Assembly. There is however a wide and evolving range of cross-cutting issues which can, and are, being discussed within the existing areas of cooperation of the North...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Developing Ireland’s many rich political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people links with the US is an important priority for me as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, just as it is for this Government. Today, our bilateral relationship is characterised by significant and mutually beneficial economic ties. Our overall economic relationship is valued at...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 215 together. Ireland’s consistent position remains that we need a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue on trade with the United States. This is also the position of the EU. The suspension of the 20% so called reciprocal tariffs on the EU by the US, along with the EU also pausing its own rebalancing measures, has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Access (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I strongly condemn the continuing Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have brought fresh suffering to the people of Gaza and have breached the ceasefire. Israel's plans to expand its military operation in Gaza and establish its prolonged presence are extremely alarming and will further compound an already dire situation. 58 hostages remain held in captivity by Hamas, which is...