Results 1,101-1,120 of 45,373 for speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Canney for raising this matter. We had an update from the Minister, Deputy Burke, at the Cabinet today. I do not have the figures in front of me but from looking through the table, local authority by local authority, it looks to me that around 60% of those eligible so far have applied for the grant. We will certainly keep under review the deadline for that grant. I think it...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: There is so much muttering going on it is hard to speak. We have to get this legislation correct and I think the appropriate way to proceed is for the foreign affairs committee, where the Bill will be at, to consider this issue this evening, to be briefed by the line Minister and the sponsor of the Bill, to receive presentations from both, and then for that committee to advise us on how to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I can only account to this House what I have been informed. I have been informed what I have relayed to this House by the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs. That is my information. That is all I can relay to this House. In relation to Deputy Naughten, I can discuss that with the Minister but we are not proposing to make time available, to tell the truth, because we have a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government will continue its work in that area.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: First, I wish to inform the House that today, the Government appointed the first ever ambassador from Palestine to Ireland. That is an important moment. Deputy Pringle should not tut-tut about that. It is something that is seen as very important by the Palestinian Authority. If Deputy Pringle wants to tut-tut about that, that is on him. The ambassador is very pleased at being appointed,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: I am getting an echo back.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: All of us, including the Deputy and everybody else in this House, will have a chance to put forward proposals to carers in the days ahead as to what we would do to support them over the next number of years. I am proud of a number of the measures we have taken, under the leadership of the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, in providing additional payments before Christmas to our carers, as well as...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is right that there was a period during the year where we had to put restrictions on hiring new posts in the health service because many more thousands of people had been hired than had been budgeted for.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: We worked our way through that, and there are lots more people working in the public health service now, including in Kerry. There are around 410 additional staff in Kerry hospital today. I think there has been an increase of around 177 nurses in the lifetime of this Government. When it comes to reducing wait times we are making progress. We are one of the few countries in Europe that has...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: -----for cataract procedures in Kerry has fallen this year compared with last year.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: No, you know why it is-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (5 Nov 2024)

Simon Harris: You would swear the Deputy was paying for the bus. The reality is that we are reducing wait times. We have opened up more ophthalmology capacity in the south west. The Deputy has pointed to additional capacity that exists in this jurisdiction that does not require anyone to be brought out of the jurisdiction. We will continue to do more to drive down waiting times.

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...