Results 1,541-1,560 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Freedom of Information (24 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table beneath. Year Number of FOI Requests Received Number of FOI Request Refused 2022 325 107 2023 342 91 2024 (to date) 188 47 It should be noted that requests were refused for a variety of reasons in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: EU Funding (24 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach is not in receipt of funding under the EU's Recovery and Resilience Programme.

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for raising this first issue. I am conscious as we are sitting in this House and in the time since I have come into this House, there have been significant further developments and escalations in Lebanon with the explosions the Deputies have referred to of walkie-talkies. This follows on yesterday from the explosion of pager devices. This situation should be utterly...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, I will follow up with the Minister for Health with regard to an update and timeline for the Drogheda department of psychiatry and the issue of nursing and other vacancies in the health service in the Louth-Meath area. I thank Deputies Tóibín and Barry for raising the issue of Harvey, which was also raised in the House earlier today. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: That was the report I referenced. I will talk to the Minister for Health and the task force that he set up. I will familiarise myself and come back to the Deputy on whether that can be published. I certainly want to meet the advocacy groups with the head of the HSE and the Minister for Health at the start of next month to see how more progress can be made on this issue, and to discuss any...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not believe it is. There has been a very significant level of investment. I will read the IMO’s comments in that regard, the Minister will engage on that and, of course, we will have a new health budget delivered on budget day just two weeks from today. In response to Deputy Wynne, I am happy for there to be a debate in this House on UHL. I might have said on that occasion...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: The Cabinet committee on EU and international affairs oversees implementation of programme for Government commitments and considers policy matters in relation to the European Union and international issues. The committee generally meets in advance of meetings of the European Council to discuss the agenda for these meetings. In addition, it considers current EU and international matters,...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 to 5, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health last met on 1 July 2024 and is due to meet again soon. In addition to the meetings of the full Cabinet and of Cabinet committees, I meet Ministers on an individual basis to focus on different issues. I meet regularly with the Minister for Health to discuss progress and challenges in the area...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for their questions. In response to Deputy Ó Murchú, I send Dundalk Football Club my best as well. In relation to the Housing Commission, I have obviously been briefed on the report by the Minister for housing. The Housing Agency is now working its way through each of the recommendations. I look forward to the report being debated in the House. We should...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. The Cabinet committee on housing last met on Thursday, 11 July. The next meeting of the Cabinet committee will take place shortly. I believe it will be at the start of October. The committee works to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the implementation of Housing for All and programme for Government commitments regarding housing. The...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (18 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not think so.

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Varadkar for raising the very important issue regarding Sudan. He is right. The world is not giving this issue nearly enough attention. I am deeply concerned about the appalling conflict and the humanitarian and protection crisis in Sudan. The impact and scale of the violence on civilians, with more than 12 million people forced from their homes, has been horrific. It is...

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

Simon Harris: When will the election be held? I thank the Deputy for raising that important issue and reporting significant progress on the housing numbers in his constituency and the benefit of the Part 8 process because we are seeing a significant increase in housing supply and we are using public lands to help deliver housing supply. The LDA is really showing very significant potential when others...

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

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter and acknowledge the significant concern there was in Cork and Kerry this week. I am pleased my colleague, the Minister for Health, intervened to stop that proceeding and is now working to ensure funding is provided to augment front-line services because I acknowledge that, despite the additional budget we have put into the National Ambulance Service,...

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.