Results 5,801-5,820 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am indicating that we intend to look further at how we can refine the civil and criminal interactions, as we discussed earlier in the Seanad. I do not want to pre-empt those considerations but it is what we intend to do. Everything we are doing with this legislation, in other legislation we are bringing forward and everything we do under the zero tolerance strategy for domestic, sexual...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his amendment and for the passion with which he spoke to the issue. I understand that the period in the amendment relates to the length of an order under section 10(4), which is being referred to as the no-contact order. Where a person is convicted of an offence under the newly amended section, the court may make an order requiring the offender not to communicate with...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Naughten for introducing the amendment and for raising the matter previously with my colleague the Minister, Deputy McEntee, on Committee Stage. I am particularly conscious of the challenges faced by victims in prosecutions for harassment and stalking. The trial process, while respecting the rights of the accused, must absolutely respect the rights of the victim and it must...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I again thank the Deputy. I think everyone in this House can unite behind wanting to reduce the further trauma a victim could face when bringing criminal proceedings to encourage and help people to come forward. Trying to support a victim in the journey through the criminal justice system is very much at the core of our work and at the core of the zero-tolerance strategy towards domestic,...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I, too, thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for his work on this issue and for the way in which we are engaging on it. I hope we will engage to find a way forward. As the Deputy has said, he discussed this issue with my colleague, Deputy McEntee, on Committee Stage. It is an issue my Department has been considering and one on which I have spoken in recent weeks because I share the...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for their contributions. I will engage constructively. Subject to this House passing the Bill, it will move to the Seanad where we will have an opportunity to tease it through further. We will also have an opportunity with Private Members' time and the general scheme of a sexual offences Bill we intend to bring to the Cabinet shortly. Further to Deputy McNamara's point,...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Report and Final Stages (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Amendment No. 1 provides that the proposed new section 3DA of the Firearms Act 1925, as inserted by section 10 of the Bill, shall not begin until the completion of all stages of the proposed new section 26B proposed in Deputy Kenny’s amendment No. 2. Colleagues will be aware the proposed new section 3DA of the Firearms Act 1925 provides that, “On the day that is 3 months after...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coroners Service (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and for the opportunity it provides me to supply what I hope are some useful updates to the House on the issues he raised. The Coroner Service is a network of coroners in districts throughout our country. As the Senator reminded us, coroners are independent, quasi-judicial officials whose function is to investigate sudden and unexplained...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coroners Service (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I fully acknowledge that. It is very important that the Senator has highlighted and raised this issue.It is a sensitive and important matter which requires constant focus and attention. He is right that for this process to work seamlessly and efficiently requires all parts of the pipeline to work effectively. This is not in any way a criticism of the health service or hospitals. As the...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: We need bit of order in the House, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: First, there is a complete misrepresentation being put forward by the Opposition, which is this monopoly on concern and compassion. It has been made very clear by Government. Deputies heard from the Taoiseach's speech today and from the contributions of all Ministers the options that are being put in place to support people around the time period of six months. The six months was used to...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: -----and is trying to grab anything.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Deputy Ó Ríordáin has probably objected to more homes than any other member of Dáil Éireann. He has probably objected to more-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: He probably has-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Deputy Ó Ríordáin is not a múinteoir anymore. He does not need to wag his finger at me.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Do not wag your finger at me-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: -----and stop objecting to homes in your constituency.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: It is running out because the Leas-Cheann Comhairle is allowing my time to be taken.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am sorry, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle. I will talk to you directly. Sadly, we saw this last weekend when the Labour Party promised to deliver "one million homes in ten years" to tackle the housing crisis, which is a direct quote, with no ifs, no buts, no asterisks, no caveats and no detail. A few hours later, it turned out that only half of them would be new homes. Retrofitting a home is...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: To paraphrase a former Labour Party leader, however, is that not what you say during a national conference?