Results 1,141-1,160 of 45,281 for speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is entirely right to call out the scare tactics that are applied in relation to farmers and agriculture. It is going on for far too long. Farmers have mental health, well-being and a livelihood. They have a family. They have a mortgage to pay, like everybody else in this country. People in this House speak about farmers in a way they would not speak about any other sector of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this case. I would be happy to take the details from the Deputy and to talk further to the Minister for Education. I know the Minister, Deputy Foley, is conscious of these issues and gets the importance of them. We do need a system that is grounded in common-sense flexibility. I know the Minister shares that view. I am happy to take the details from the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Of course, my travel arrangements are the same travel arrangements that have been in place for taoisigh for many years.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: It would be the same if you were there.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: First, I send my best wishes to Deputy Kelly's dad. I appreciate the importance of the point the Deputy is making. I will ask the Minister for Health to provide him with the timelines for those three projects. I want to make sure he gets the accurate information regarding the 96-bed unit, the CNU and the MAUs. We have invested a lot in University Hospital Limerick. We are also doing a...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: No one said it was not.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I am a little bit confused by Deputy McGrath. On the one hand, every day he wants me to call an election - "Get them out and have an election". The next day he is very upset we might have an election and it will be rushed.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Thank you very much. We will reflect on your views and come back to you on it. There will be a general election shortly.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputies are here long enough to know that is not how it works at all. We have made it clear we will pass the Finance Bill and there will be an election.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: It will take place this year and will be on a Friday. It does not take a genius to work that out.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: On Deputy Mac Lochlainn's point regarding the unification of our island and a poll, which I have yet to see but will read, my priority and that of the Government has been to get the institutions back up and running, working with the Deputy's colleague, the First Minister, and with the deputy First Minister in Northern Ireland, having a reset of Anglo-Irish relations and investing significant...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy said the HSE has said there is no resolution. I do not doubt what he has heard. What they are telling me is they are trying to do two things: they are trying to secure a property in the county and they - when I say "they", I mean the Brothers of Charity - in parallel are running a recruitment campaign to staff that service. That is what they are telling me is happening. The...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Here are other facts as well. When I visit the Deputy's county, which I do regularly, and intend to visit very regularly shortly-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: There will be. I wish the Deputy well in it. There will be many people in his county who will recognise progress has been made on infrastructure. In fact, there is probably not a part of Ireland that has greater levels of third-level infrastructure per head of population than Limerick city and country - we now have three universities in Limerick - providing young people with an incredible...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: They are in the Deputy's county of Limerick.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I presume Limerick city is part of your county so that is fine. On Askeaton, the wastewater treatment plant is being advanced by Uisce Éireann through funding provided by this Government. This is funding that the Deputy probably votes against in the Dáil, when we try to pass budgets.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy has a job to do, and I wish him well in it, which is to stand up to say everything is terrible in rural Ireland. I do not believe it-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: -----and I do not believe the people believe in it. I look forward to taking our case to the people.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí (Atógáil) - Leaders' Questions (Resumed) (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: No, it is not. It absolutely is not. There is nothing I can say or will attempt to say to suggest that it is. Deputy Fitzmaurice raised the case of Seán in the House five weeks ago and told the Dáil in very vivid and graphic terms, and I say that respectfully, of the huge challenges that Seán's father was, and clearly is, experiencing and his concerns for the welfare of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: No, the Greens have never said that. I do not need to speak for the Green Party but it does not say that either because it follows the evidence. We saw figures published today that show more progress on emissions reduction, farmers yet again stepping up and, quite frankly, farming and agriculture making more progress than some other parts of our economy, which should be acknowledged as...