Results 1,021-1,040 of 45,281 for speaker:Simon Harris
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: They liked that Deputy. I was in Kerry and there was nothing speedy about it actually. I was there for most of the day.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: Sorry now, hang on a second. The Deputy has to give me a bit of a chance. I was there and indeed when was I driving by on the road, I saw this very large portacabin-type thing - I do not know what it was - with Deputy Healy-Rae's face emblazened across it asking people to vote-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: -----so he is clearly ready for battle.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: No, it was not a lorry I saw. The Deputy is clearly ready for battle.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: We will check that.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: I welcome the retired nurses from Kerry and thank them for their service in the health service. I will certainly have a word with them in a moment about some of the issues the Deputy has raised. I am not across the detail of that and it does not tally with my information but I will have a word with them in a moment. When it comes to the health service, I accept of course that it has to...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I wish to begin by expressing my appreciation, and, I am sure, that of everybody in this House, of everybody who has worked or is working or volunteering with Templemore Community Services Centre and indeed day centres right across Ireland. We are lucky to have around 300 day centres and around 300 meals on wheels locations right across the...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: I know time is getting short around here but that was very quick and efficient. I stood up only a minute ago but the Deputy has said the HSE and committee are having the meeting tomorrow. That worked out well. This is an important issue. I am pleased to hear from the Deputy that the meeting between the HSE and Templemore Community Services Centre will take place tomorrow. The...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: That is okay.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: Deputy Bacik has made a number of important points. As regards the targets, being honest, there is probably not much surprise about the fact that the targets are rising. The Deputy has suggested figures, as have all Opposition and Government parties, as to where housing needs to get to. We have heard figures getting to-----
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: We will have our detailed debate soon, but 50,000 to 60,000 homes are figures I have heard in this House and from people right across the building sector. Being honest, however, nearly the more important part, or at least as important a part, was getting the national planning framework for this. The old version of the national planning framework does not an ability to deliver that number of...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: No. I genuinely believe this Government can approach the end of its tenure pointing to the fact that there are very many more homes of a whole variety of different tenures in Ireland now that were not there before this Government came to office. By any objective measure, not only have we hit targets, but we have actually exceeded targets as well. While I appreciate the constructive way...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: The target was a fair reflection of what could be delivered when we were having to rebuild a construction sector almost from scratch. As a result, we have now absolutely exceeded the targets. Deputy Bacik has been a voice in this House calling for revised targets to be published, which the Government has now done today. That anchors the discussion for the weeks ahead. This Government...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: I have still to respond.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: Deputy McDonald is terribly confident about the outcome of the next election when she says I am walking out the door for the final time and all of this sort of stuff. It is good to see the arrogance is back. The reality is that this Government took a responsible decision today. We decided to set housing targets for the next five years to show people how, over the period from now to 2030,...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: We can credibly show people how we are going to do it. Sinn Féin is still refusing to answer the question of the issues the banks raised with it. When will the Deputy tell us what they are? When will she answer those questions?
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: As I rise, I am very conscious of the funeral today of a giant of the press gallery, David Davin-Power. I know I join colleagues across this House in extending my sympathies to David's wife Dearbhla, to his five children and to his wider friends and family. I know we all think of David and his family at this very sad time. We all remember him fondly in this House, as well as his incredible...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: I very much look forward to that as well because people watching should know Sinn Féin wants to abolish the Land Development Agency, an agency that is now capitalised to deliver 18,000 homes. What is Sinn Féin's priority when it gets into government? It is to spend God knows how long passing legislation to scrap that agency when it is building homes. I have been there with the...
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: What are the issues? People trying to get a mortgage want to know that. It is about a change here. It is not going to be just about Sinn Féin asking me questions. We have questions about its housing plan as well.
- Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)
Simon Harris: The third thing is what does Sinn Féin say-----