Results 1,341-1,360 of 45,281 for speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It is an issue that is coming up quite a bit. Councillor Aoibhinn Tormey also raised this matter recently in terms of the unpredictability of the service and the Deputy has listed a number of areas in his constituency that are impacted. I will certainly talk to the Minister, Deputy Ryan, directly about the matter to see if he can engage with the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I definitely do not want give him a lame duck excuse on this so he should let me engage directly with the Minister. I acknowledge this is an issue the Deputy has brought up time and time again. Let me in the first instance engage with the Minister on this matter to see if there is a way of advancing it once and for all. I will revert to the Deputy on that. Obviously,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: Obviously I will respect your ruling, a Cheann Comhairle. On a more general level, I can imagine the anticipation and excitement, of a young couple or anybody getting the keys of their new homes and the disruption that can cause to their life, to put it mildly, if there is a delay with that. Let me inquire through the appropriate channels of the Department of housing if there is any...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I was delighted to be in Clonmel recently with Councillor Michael Murphy for the turning of the sod of the new Garda station.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I was in the library.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: Excuse me, we were there for the enabling works.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I know Councillor Murphy is working very hard on the ground and might have the Deputy rattled. Let me just finish the point. We were there for the enabling works for the Garda station. We will deliver a new library next. I was in the library. I was also in the beautiful museum Clonmel has and I mean that genuinely. I think I met the superintendent that day. I certainly met many senior...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: The Deputy has raised a very reasonable and very fair point about the importance of toilet facilities and wheelchair accessibility on a bus, particularly a bus bringing sick people to their cancer treatment. I engaged on this matter with the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, this morning to discuss funding streams that may be available in that area. I hear from the Deputy’s comments now...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this. I also thank him for his ongoing work over a sustained period of time on this important issue. In the first instance, my Department is liaising with the Departments of Health and Justice to prepare a number of options. The Minister for Health has confirmed today that he is also engaging with the Attorney General on the publication of the report in the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I too welcome the Deputy back. I have welcomed her back in private but I welcome her publicly. I am pleased to see her speedy recovery. I will ask the Minister to directly answer the question as to whether he has received the report regarding the audit. He has taken a hands-on approach to this. We have a new clinical lead in place, Mr. David Moore. That is a really important piece, that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I am not quite sure what the tone or the implication of that is, a Cheann Comhairle; that is for you to consider. Certainly on that matter I would not have that information to hand on Questions on Policy or Legislation. I am sure a written parliamentary question would elicit the answer.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government's general position is to be supportive of those who wish to remain working for longer. This is reflected in the new flexible pension arrangements we have introduced since 1 January this year, which allow for a deferral of the start date of the contributory State pension. The way it would work, though, in respect of a commercial semi-state, each of which is governed by its own...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McDonald. I am delighted to live in the real world and I am sure she lives there as well. The Garda Commissioner has put significant additional resources into high-visibility policing in Dublin's city centre and that will continue. Of course, when the Deputy makes comments such as "the Government has cut", she is suggesting that the Government decides the allocation of...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government's Cabinet committee on housing will meet in early October and the Government will shortly thereafter set the new housing targets for 2025 to 2030. As the Deputy knows, the completion of the new national planning framework is an important part of that. The national planning framework has been out to consultation. I am sure the Deputy and many others have had a chance to...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: Welcome back lads. It is your first day back so we will facilitate it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: Not one of you sought this at the Business Committee. For those watching the theatrics at home, none of the Deputies dissented to the Order of Business and then they come to the House asking why we are not having a debate on housing. The reason is because they did not raise it.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: If they please do that next week we will endeavour to facilitate them.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: We will call a vote and they will be upset about the business but none of them bothered dissenting at the meeting. Let us have a little bit of fairness and give and take here. Deputy McGrath's commitment to investment in water services is something we share. The Government is very keen to do more in relation to water. Irish Water as a vehicle is delivering but investing more in its...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I wish to be associated with the Ceann Comhairle’s comments on former Deputy Joe Carey. I wish him, his wife Grace and his family the very best and I thank him for his service to this House, to my party and to the people of County Clare. My understanding is that there was no dissent at the Business Committee to the Order of Business but new season, same old, so that is okay. ...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I can hear the passion in the Deputy's voice about the situation he is working his way through. I think it highlights a broader issue about how we empower the person with a disability and their family in terms of the budget that the State allocates to them. I know the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, and the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and others have done work in relation to this....