Results 141-160 of 45,231 for speaker:Simon Harris

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Before the Deputies shout at me, maybe they should wait to hear my next sentence, because I was about to say that I think and hope many in the Opposition share this view, that we should work together on the big issues of our time. We should work together on housing and on disability services.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: That is what the public want to see. Shout me down if you wish, but that is what the public want.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: You are.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: It is time to listen to listen to each other. It is time to work in the best interests of the people who send us here and pay your wages and mine.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: To meet the goals that we share, we must have a strong - it is not sounding great for cross-party co-operation, but anyway - and stable economy. We stand here this afternoon on the precipice of a moment of extraordinary economic turbulence globally. We had a report last week from the ESRI, which estimated more than 80,000 jobs in the Irish economy could be at risk. There are people who...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: -----but debating a confidence motion. Do not shout me down, again. Stop now.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: We are debating a confidence motion, one which everybody inside and outside this House knows will only have one outcome.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: We know Sinn Féin has a record of putting party interests before national interest. I am sorry to see other Opposition parties going down that same populist route.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: At a time of crisis, this national parliament has a duty to show leadership to the country. I recall the unity we have found in this House in moments of crisis and economic challenge. We came together and pulled together during Covid-19 and the Brexit times. The context we now face is a potential global trade war, which will not be without consequence for Ireland. I have every confidence...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: -----and we need to push in one direction. I want to work with everybody on all sides of this House. There is no monopoly on good ideas. We need constructive ideas and proposals. I firmly believe that every politician who puts his or her name on a ballot paper and got elected to this House deserves to have his or her voice heard. Deciding to enter public life is not easy; it means...

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Calm down, again.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Ceann Comhairle then oversaw a subsequent debate for 20 hours at a Dáil reform committee. A proposal was put to a vote at the committee. It was approved by a majority, which is how democracy works.

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: This time, the Opposition-----

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: This time, the Opposition did not like the result. What did it do? It comes for the Ceann Comhairle's head. This is straight out of a populist playbook. If you do not like the answer, attack a person's integrity and motive, and inevitably seek his or her head. Fine Gael has had differences with the Ceann Comhairle over the years - they are well documented - and I am sure we will again....

Confidence in the Ceann Comhairle: Motion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: It was on this date in 1919 that the First Dáil met for only the third time. It was an historic day, with the confirmation of a new Ceann Comhairle and the election of a new President of the Dáil, then Éamon de Valera. It also led to the creation of a new Government, and Ireland's second Ministry was formed, with the likes of Michael Collins, Arthur Griffith, W.T. Cosgrave,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Correspondence (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Engagement with third-country counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Such engagement routinely includes exchanges on issues relevant to the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the country concerned. This issue has not been the subject of any recent engagement with my political counterparts in the US. Given...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s policy of military neutrality means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. As I have said in this House on previous occasions, the Government has no plans to alter our long-standing policy of military neutrality, join a military alliance or enter into a mutual defence arrangement. As such, a referendum on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: British-Irish Co-operation (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 139 and 162 together. There has been positive and substantive engagement with the British government in recent months, in particular in the context of the first UK-Ireland Summit in Liverpool on 6 March. I was pleased to attend the Summit alongside the Taoiseach, with Ministers McEntee, O’Brien and O’Callaghan. The Summit was the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 141, 149, 168, 170 and 188 together. Last Tuesday, 25th March, marked Belarus Freedom Day. I would like to take this opportunity to reaffirm Ireland’s commitment to supporting the Belarusian democratic movement in its pursuit of a democratic future for all Belarusians. On 26 January, together with other EU Foreign Affairs, I met with Sviatlana...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I am aware of reports of the discussion by senior US administration officials via a commercial messaging app of sensitive information in respect of US military action in Yemen. The US administration has confirmed that these reports are accurate. I know that this incident is the subject of ongoing engagement by the relevant Congressional committees in the US and those discussions...