Results 3,281-3,300 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. In fairness, he has raised it with me on a number of occasions. It is something we have yet to find a resolution for, but I will accept his challenge to engage with broader Government colleagues on this to see whether there is a way. The Government has done more on all-island education than perhaps ever before, including the expansion of the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I certainly commit to taking action in this space and to meeting with the association that represents international students on the basis of its survey published today. I am already engaging with the Minister for Justice on the issue. It is a horrifying practice that is not acceptable in any way, shape or form. We are also bringing in an international education mark. It is an important...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: The Tánaiste and the Taoiseach are correct. What is needed is an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. We have called for that from day one. Other countries are now beginning to adopt that position, thankfully. We need to see all hostages released, including little Emily Hand, whom we are all thinking of and who turns nine on Friday. Emily was taken hostage by Hamas. We need all Irish...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Farrell for raising this important issue. I saw the devastation on television last night, with business owners reduced to tears. Some are fledgling businesses. I saw one woman whose business has only been open five years wondering if she would be able to reopen. That is why today the Government took what by any standard is swift action. My colleague, the Minister for...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government has noted the Labour Party's Seanad motion to be taken tomorrow. It is a constructive motion, and we look forward to engaging on it. There are varying levels of vacancy indicated from different data sources but the overall trend now is downwards and vacancy levels are decreasing. All 31 local authorities now have a full-time dedicated vacant homes officer funded by the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: Outrageous.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: First, my understanding is that there was no dissent at the Business Committee this week about the schedule so issues that Deputy McGrath wishes to raise can be raised again and considered in terms of finding time. The Deputy can speak for his county but I can speak for mine. My county is very much a welcoming place for people seeking humanitarian refuge and I think the Deputy's county is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for his contribution. In fairness to Government and everyone else, including Roscommon County Council, there was a view at the end of 2021 that a solution had been identified. Funding was provided and a huge amount of work went into getting to that point, including technical work between the local authority, the OPW, the funding application and the funding...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: -----and the largest Garda budget ever. These are the practical actions we are taking to build stronger, safer communities in Ireland.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice for raising this issue. I have never known him to be anything other than honest in representing his constituents, his people and his area. I will begin where he did by acknowledging that it has been an extraordinarily difficult time as regards flooding right across our country. He referred to some of the places affected: Midleton and other parts of Cork, Wexford,...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I have already outlined very clearly to the House that the Government is already taking action to do exactly what the Deputy is suggesting, namely, increasing Garda numbers. That can be seen in the steps the Minister for Justice has taken. What I said about Covid is a statement of fact. The Garda College closed at least twice, which caused disruption. The Garda college is now back open....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Minister has said, it will take time to catch up as a result of Covid, but catching up we are. This year will see between 700 and 800 new recruits go into the Garda College. The Deputy asked what we will do to protect the welfare, well-being and terms and conditions of gardaí. This week, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform will...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Tóibín. Let me begin where he did, by remembering Ashling Murphy’s family. I have had the honour of meeting on a few occasions Ray, Kathleen, Amy, Cathal and Ryan. It is fair to say that Ashling Murphy’s murder stopped all of us in our tracks. She was a young woman out for a walk or run by a canal and was brutally murdered. We all think of her...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: Objectively, the Government, the Oireachtas and the country have, to use the Deputy’s words, been firm and clear on this issue. In many ways, Ireland’s position is becoming the position of more countries. There is a growing coalition of countries calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. When other countries chose to abstain at the UN, Ireland did not. It is fair to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: She is hardly wrong.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: They tend to shout at you or sue you, so stop. Elections, politics and accountability are about making choices and the people of Ireland will have a choice. They will have a choice of a Government that is continuing to grow the size of the health service. What I say to those patients is very clear. We are offering €2 billion in additional health spending. I ask the Deputy, as...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bacik for raising the most serious and important of issues of our time in our world today. Even if we do not agree on the path to take, I thank her and many in opposition for their constructive engagement with Government. I too am proud that we are in a Parliament and country that was among the first in Europe and the world to call for a humanitarian ceasefire. I am proud...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cullinane for raising the important issue of how we ensure we continue to grow our health service by hiring more nurses and doctors and people to work at the front line. It is important when talking about the health service and recruitment levels that we bring a bit of context and honesty to the discussion. The first thing to say is that as of September, there were 143,075...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: The Minister for Health is supportive of this because there needs to be some link between the budget we allocate in this House and what happens in relation to a public service. The reality is that the HSE is now on course to exceed the 2023 funded workforce target. To be clear, this is for 2023. Budget 2024 will come in on 1 January, which is weeks away. In 2024, the Minister for Health...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I will.