Results 1,041-1,060 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I will add the communications situation she outlined to that raised in connection with Connemara. Just under 23,000 claims have been awarded and more than €5.2 million paid under the humanitarian assistance scheme. More money has been paid out under this scheme in respect of Storm Éowyn than any previous storm. That is because the storm was so bad compared...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue for his constituents. As he said, it concerns not just people who need to go to the airport to go on trips but those who need to get to the airport on a very frequent basis for work, and the impact the withdrawal of the Airport Hopper service has had on them. From what the Deputy said, I am particularly concerned about what seems to be a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I also acknowledge the excellent work in County Kerry that is being led by St. Francis Special School in Beaufort. I very much take the points he made about the need to look at respite provision in County Kerry, and the proposals he and his community have on the need for a respite centre. I will ask the Minister for disability to engage...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue for her constituents in Dublin Bay North regarding the need for progress on the long-awaited new Garda station. I will speak to the Minister for Justice and ask that he comes back to her with an update.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I hope when we do get the clarification that the Deputy will come back. Let me be clear: we are helping people from Ukraine who fled a war.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy asked a question and I am going to answer. We should be not give a widespread sense that people from Ukraine are getting new cars, new tyres and repairs----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I am sorry; I know the Deputy is new to the House but we have rules. He speaks and then I speak, so let me do so. I will get him more information regarding any such payments. People fled here from very difficult situations and I am proud of the level of support we provide them. I do not want to give a sense to people watching that there are widespread repairs of people's cars going on....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Shame on the Deputy. He was dog-whistling.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: There is a lot there but I take very seriously the point the Deputy made on behalf of the people in CHO 8 and more broadly the point she made regarding HCCI and its very worthwhile and constructive report, which was published recently. I undertake to comprehensively respond to and engage with that organisation and with others. I am lucky enough to be sitting beside the Minster, Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for the interesting suggestion he offered. I will ask the Minister to respond to it. There is no doubt that this is a serious issue. Since the end of 2024, the good news is that the RSA has been providing a monthly average of 19,111 tests slots. This is up from a monthly average in the previous year of 18,300. However, let us not fool...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I am sure it is a proud day for him to have his former students from St. Joseph’s Secondary School in the Dáil. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis and I welcome them. I will follow up on those two issues with the relevant Ministers in regard to the progress on the new school build for St. Joseph’s Secondary School and how we can move that forward and...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with every word the Deputy has uttered. We should never take for granted the progress we have made on certain issues. There is a rolling back in certain countries. There is no doubt about that. Ireland should continue, even more so at this turbulent time, to speak up and speak out in defence of our values. I am alarmed that the Hungarian Parliament has passed legislation to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue on behalf of this couple and her constituents in Galway and also for her representations to the Minister for Justice, Deputy O’Callaghan, on this matter. I will speak to the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, and ask them to come back to the Deputy directly on this. I obviously do not know the circumstances directly but I will...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy makes an interesting point. As we move beyond what has had to be an emergency response to migration, we need to get a much more sustainable, managed approach, one that involves not just the focus on accommodation but also on rules. That means for people who do not have a right to be here, we ensure they leave more efficiently. For people who have a right to be here, it is about...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is so right and I thank him for the question. This is an important topic for all of society. The programme, “Adolescence”, has provided a glimpse into how toxic influences are filling a void in young men’s lives. I believe it should be compulsory viewing in all our secondary schools throughout this country. Social media has such an influence on young lives....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Their behaviour is wrong, retrograde, degrading and damaging. They are normalising behaviour that is totally and utterly unacceptable. Everyone in this House should speak with one voice in this regard. They are social media pariahs, not social media influencers.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We can all agree that we want to see our schools fully funded and supported. I welcome the Department of Education’s intervention to advance funding to Sacred Heart Junior National School. My understanding is there has been quite a lot of engagement between the school and the Department going back a number of months. The Deputy is right,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I certainly do not want him, as an elected Member of this House, to have to go down the road of FOIs to try to establish information that should be freely given to him. Working with the Minister, Deputy Foley and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, I will undertake to make progress on this. The sum of €5 million is a lot of money in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I am so sick and tired of the Deputy misrepresenting my position and demeaning all that we do as sweet words. I would really love - I am not sure I would actually - if some time she were in Brussels with me at some of these meetings where we are working extraordinarily hard on these issues. She could ask any other member state, or indeed the Israeli Government, if they feel Ireland is not...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Sure, the Deputy does not trust me.