Results 1,501-1,520 of 45,281 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Equipment (9 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: 9 mobile phones and one laptop have been either lost or stolen from staff in the past 10 years. 2015 1 x Mobile Phone 2016 1 x Mobile Phone 2017 1 x Mobile Phone 2018 1 x Mobile Phone 2019 2 x Mobile Phones 2020 1 x Mobile Phone 2022 1...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Communications (9 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach does not operate a public helpline.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: These all dominate the Cabinet committee on the economy but, these are all, nonetheless, serious issues and I do not doubt that. I am just still getting used to where the questions start and where the issues go but I will do my best on these issues. First, in reply to Deputy Barry, and my now weekly exchange in what is a genuinely serious issue, I am nearly as invested in the issue as he...

Tackling All Forms of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important matter today and I thank the Dáil for allocating time. Over the past four years since this Dáil was elected, we have worked collectively, and I hope across party lines, to address the epidemic of sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland. That is what it is: an epidemic. Through the leadership of my colleague, the Minister...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 to 20, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on the economy and investment was re-established by the Government on 10 April and most recently met on Monday, 1 July. The next meeting of that Cabinet committee has not yet been scheduled. Membership of the committee comprises me, the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and for Defence,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: About water?

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank my colleagues, who raised a range of issues. On Deputy Haughey's comments on Northern Ireland, the role played by special envoy Joe Kennedy is very helpful. That President Biden appointed him as envoy to Northern Ireland but also as economic envoy to Northern Ireland is significant in and of itself for the reasons the Deputy outlined. We can be proud of the peace process on this...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I am pleased that Deputy Smith, the Cathaoirleach Gníómhach and others met the delegation from the Ukrainian Parliament yesterday. I had the opportunity to meet President Zelenskyy in Brussels last week and, two weeks previously, at the peace summit for Ukraine in Switzerland. I have also had the opportunity to speak to him by telephone twice since becoming Taoiseach. In...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: The Spanish Prime Minister is clearly a socialist.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: Let us not have a debate on the meaning of socialism. We can have that discussion another time. I am pointing out that across the political spectrum represented at the European Council, there was backing for President von der Leyen. There is an important democratic point to consider in regard to the lead candidate system. Ursula von der Leyen was the lead candidate for the European...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I will do my best to be quick. It is fair to say at this stage that the conversations that are happening at a European level on security and defence are in the provisional and preliminary space. By that I mean we are yet to see proposals tabled. There are a lot of views, particularly from countries in eastern Europe, which are much closer to the front line in terms of Russian aggression,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 13, inclusive, together. I had a telephone conversation with President Biden on the evening of Monday, 17 June. He congratulated me on my recent appointment as Taoiseach and I thanked him for his enduring friendship to our country. We spoke of the deep and growing co-operation between our two countries, built on deep historical and ancestral ties,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will personally look into it and come back to him on the matter. As he will know better than most, a lot of work was put in post Brexit to ensure that cross-Border healthcare could continue. We believe in it. We believe in being able to access healthcare right across the island of Ireland. I will make specific inquiries and come back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Harkin for raising this matter. I can hear her palpable frustration on behalf of her constituents. I want to assure her first of our commitment to the development. The note I have in front of me says that a feasibility study is currently under way - as the Deputy knows - in relation to a new four-bay renal dialysis unit. A capital submission will be made in quarter 3 or...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cannon and acknowledge that he has been a very strong advocate for road safety for long years. I thank him for that. I join with him in wishing the Minister of State, Deputy Lawless, very well in his new role. I absolutely will sit down with him. In the 12 weeks I have been Taoiseach, I have chaired two ministerial meetings on the issue of road safety with the Road Safety...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. As colleagues will know, I attended an informal European Council meeting on Monday, 17 June in Brussels that largely took place over a working dinner. At this meeting European leaders took stock of the outcome of the elections for the European Parliament, and we began discussions on the key positions in the European Union...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this serious issue, which is one I discussed with the Minister for Health on Monday, I think, at the Cabinet committee on health. There may well be a particular challenge in Carrigaline and in parts of Cork but the Deputy is right to suggest that it is a more national challenge. I know the Minister for Health and his Department have given consideration to what...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. No one likes the idea, by any manner or means, of any person, but particularly an older person living in isolation, being in any way fearful in their own home. The home should be a safe haven for people. I will certainly pass on the Deputy's specific comments about Roscommon and Galway and the importance of a Garda presence in rural areas to the...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I know the Deputy's particular area of expertise in this area, both as a constituency TD and before his political life in this House. I take seriously what he says. This is a Government that will always support farmers. I am very conscious of how horrific the weather has been for them this year and the huge stress that has created. I have visited a number of farms with the Irish Farmers...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for allowing me to give consideration to this issue. I saw the report from the Department of Finance. I have also had a series of meetings with the banks this week at which I discussed the issue of development financing and how, when anyone reads the Housing Commission report, which is often misrepresented by people in this House for their own political ideology, it is...