Results 41-60 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Mary Lou McDonald said she does not want institutional investment in Ireland.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Eoin Ó Broin said he and Deputy Doherty meet them regularly. Sinn Féin is all over the place on housing. Its policy did not work so it does not have a housing policy now. All it has is noise and street activism. We will be taking specific measures to support students; do not worry we will, because we have their backs.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: We will expand the rent pressure zones and Sinn Féin needs to work out why it wants to bring in reference rents and push up rents and why it wanted to abolish the rent pressure zones. Shame.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: You are in favour of reference rents.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Sherlock for highlighting this really important issue. The short answer is that I believe the State is too reliant on the private market when it comes to nursing home provision. This is why we established a commission of care. We need to look at the entire model of how we care for older people in this country. I also think the fact we have one statutory scheme as to how we...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I join with Deputy Doherty in extending my sympathy to all of those caught up in the very tragic and horrific plane crash this morning. We think of all of them and their families in what is an evolving story with, no doubt, more information to come. I too want to extend my sympathies to the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh, on the loss of her mother. Ar dheis Dé go...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Security (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with everything the Deputy has said. We face multiple and varied threats. This is not just Ireland but all other European countries as well. I was cheering inside when the Deputy said that neutrality cannot be used as an excuse for complacency. We all value military neutrality but sometimes when defence and security are mentioned in here, questions are raised about military...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Security (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is absolutely right. I can assure him that it will be all of those things and it will be multifaceted. Certain Departments have primacy in terms of their direct responsibility for the security of the State and the country. My Department and the Department of justice are obvious ones in that regard. However, all Departments and all agencies have a role to play. That is why I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 80 together. The Government remains fully committed to seeking and securing justice for Seán Rooney, his family and for the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served with him with pride and distinction. During my recent visit to southern Lebanon, I conveyed this in very clear and blunt terms to the new Lebanese Government, its...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Yes and yes. Yes, the plan is to get the service back up and running on a 24-7 basis as quickly as possible. The exact timeline for that, to be blunt, depends on the individual conversations the Air Corps leadership is having with individual people in terms of air traffic control. Those conversations are under way and I am hoping for a readout with an update on that very shortly. There...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with the point Deputy Smith makes about the need for that kind of structural, strategic look at those key pinch points, those personnel, and I take the point he makes about commercial activity. To Deputy Crowe's point, without over-commenting on it for a load of operational and security reasons, there are workarounds in place to ensure support for the Garda in terms of the Garda...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Security (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for the question. As he rightly says, our programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, sets out a number of commitments relating to national security. It is probably the most robust programme for Government in terms of national security and the focus, quite rightly, on security and security defence infrastructure. It acknowledges that this is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Governor of the Central Bank outlined the legal and practical situation yesterday at the Oireachtas committee. Nobody wants to see anything happening that in any way provides any support, direct or indirect, to the Israeli Government's horrific actions and the genocidal activity. We have to operate within the laws of the land and the laws of Europe, but we continue to work our way...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 20, 23, 29, 34, 42, 62, 66 and 79 together. I thank Deputy Smith for this question. It is a very important one on an important issue; it is a critical matter. I have already set out to the House a number of immediate steps that I have taken to ensure the restricted air traffic control service operating in Baldonnel is restored to full service. In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: People need to have a clear debate and people need to stop the spread of misinformation. I heard the leader of Sinn Féin, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, speak about sending our sons to war. Let us get real. There is no proposal to send anybody's son to war. There are genuine differences on the policy of a triple lock. That is great and a legitimate thing to have. We also have to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 36 and 39 together. I thank Deputy Smith for raising this question. Our peacekeepers in Lebanon are part of an international UN-mandated force under the command of UNIFIL. They are part of Ireland's long and proud history of peacekeeping, and I know from my recent visit to our troops in UNIFIL that they are making a really important contribution in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Smith. I believe that when the representatives of Palestine met the foreign affairs committee and addressed the matter, they referred to Ireland and possibly Algeria as two of the most supportive countries of their actions. Perhaps that is not articulated enough in the House. This country, the Government and the Oireachtas are doing everything we possibly can, and we will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Sorry-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: To be clear, the United States of America used the veto. I have no issue about that. I think I referenced the President of the United States on a number of occasions today in regard to my concern about the potential use of the veto. The United States used the veto, and I think it was an appalling use of it. It is a sign of the dysfunctionality of the Security Council. I fully agree with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy. What I am saying is I have a very open mind on his question. I believe we will need to do something in this space and I am considering what would be the best structure to put in place to examine this is because we should not just talk about recruitment and retention in general in respect of the Defence Forces. I hope and think we will be able to make more progress....