Results 501-520 of 45,281 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy says we have no mandate but these people have a mandate. The Deputy has just shouted across the floor of the Dáil, in case people at home missed it, "No mandate". Ceann Comhairle, everybody has a mandate.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Ceann Comhairle said in her letter yesterday, which I read-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Ceann Comhairle said in her letter yesterday, it is up to the Members of this House, the democratically elected people of this Dáil, to decide the Standing Orders. It is absolutely in line with democracy after an election for Government and Opposition to put forward amendments and then have a vote on the floor of the Dáil. That is what we intend to do. We are going to do...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy asked about missions.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I will do my best. I was asked a question as to what missions we could not participate in.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Let us check the transcript. I heard the Deputy ask clearly where-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: -----I would like to send people on missions. It is almost impossible. I am just trying to answer the question. I am allowed to answer. Am I allowed to speak? Is that okay? I know the Opposition does not want the backbenchers to speak but am I allowed to speak?

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Thank you. I would really like to speak. I have given the Deputy four examples and nothing to do with 25 years ago. Last time I checked, 2022 was three years ago; 2017 was not long ago and nor were 2015 or 1999. Let the people at home know the following. This Government and I are in favour of military neutrality. What we are not in favour of is Vladimir Putin having a veto over where...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: No, I will not, as we have already had a very extensive process. Let me agree with the Deputy on one thing: the people of Ireland expect this place and the people who show up to do their work to start talking about the issues that matter to them and addressing issues around housing, special needs education and disability. What they certainly do not expect is this sort of immature behaviour...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: A Cheann Comhairle, I could do without the cacophony.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. Let the people at home know that, in the next six weeks, there will be 90 priority questions to various Ministers. Sinn Féin will have 47, Labour will have 12, the Social Democrats will have 11 and those on the Government side will have none – zero. How is that fair? How is their democratic mandate lesser than that of Members of the Opposition?...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Let us deal with that also.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: They are using my time. There is quite a bit I want to say on this. We have engaged extensively and we have also moved.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Sorry, but we did. The Deputy was not at the meetings; her leader was there. We have moved.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Not with me. We have moved. We had a position and we were willing to change it because, in fairness to the Opposition, it is important to listen. We did not go ahead with the proposal that would have seen Opposition questions during Leaders' Questions eaten into. Under these proposals, the Members opposite all get the exact same amount of time for questions to leaders. That is not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: We live in a parliamentary democracy in which the mandate of everybody, in government and opposition, counts. In so many parliamentary democracies, including the one just across the water, of course government Members of Parliament can ask the head or deputy head of government questions. That happens in PMQs in the House of Commons every single week. So, enough of the hyperbole.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: We have lots of hyperbole.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I have answered the question. We have had meetings, for dozens upon dozens of hours. We had a democratic vote in this Parliament of the people's representatives and now we intend to get on with the people's business. Deputy Carthy raised the issues of trade and tariffs. What he has done in opposition today is utterly childish. At a time when it has never been more important for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I will deal with that now in a moment.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Yes, it does.