Results 1,601-1,620 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Staff (9 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: Special advisers in the Department of the Taoiseach are employed in support of the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Office of the Green Party Leader and the Government Chief Whip. Details of the expenses paid to special advisers in this Department in each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024 are set out in the table below. Year Total 2020 €1,678.53 2021 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: National Security (9 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6 to 8, inclusive, together. The primary purpose of the National Security Analysis Centre is to provide strategic analysis for the Government on threats to national security and to support co-ordination between the various State bodies with national security and related functions. The Centre provides a secretariat and support for the National Security...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (9 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: I met with President Macron in the Élysée Palace on Tuesday 27 August in Paris. We discussed bilateral relations and current EU and international issues. I took the opportunity to congratulate President Macron and through him the people of France on hosting a very successful Olympic Games, as well as offering my best wishes for the Paralympic Games. As our closest EU neighbour,...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Capital Expenditure Programme (9 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government continues to prioritise and progress the Shared Island initiative, working with all communities and political traditions to build a shared future on this island, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. Shared Island investment commitments and allocations are taken forward by Ministers and their Departments, working with Northern Ireland Executive and British Government...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Sep 2024)

Simon Harris: A comprehensive evaluation of how the country managed COVID-19 will provide an opportunity to learn lessons from our experiences in dealing with a pandemic. It will include a review of the whole-of-government response to the pandemic and how we might do better and be in a stronger position if another pandemic or other similar type event were to occur. It will include a consideration of the...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services oversees the implementation of Programme for Government commitments in the areas of social policy and public services. The Cabinet Committee last met on 8 July 2024 and is next expected to meet later in the year, following the summer recess.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government, "Our Shared Future", committed to establishing four Citizens' Assemblies, namely: - Biodiversity Loss; - The type of directly elected mayor and local government structures best suited for Dublin; - Drugs Use; and - The Future of Education. The first three Citizens’ Assemblies listed above have been completed. The relevant government departments are now...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Workplace Relations Commission (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: A process is ongoing with Section 39 organisations to ensure all employees can access their entitlements under the WRC agreement. As this process continues it has come to light that there are other community groups, who are funded through different pathways and although operating similarly, are not technically Section 39 organisations, such as local drug and alcohol taskforce groups, who have...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Legal Cases (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach and the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), the only body under the aegis of the Department, have not taken any legal cases against another Department, Government agencies or State bodies in the period specified.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Urban Development (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: On 7 May 2024, the Government agreed to appoint a Taskforce to adopt a holistic outlook of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin City Centre. The goal of the Taskforce is to make Dublin City Centre a more thriving, attractive, and safe cityscape; and a desirable location to live, work and do business and visit for all communities. The Taskforce is taking an evidence-informed approach in...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I met with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at Chequers on 17 July. We discussed relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom and agreed that the time was right for a reset of the partnership. We discussed the unique partnership between our two countries, and agreed to put in place arrangements to strengthen it further. This included a commitment to annual summits at Taoiseach /Prime...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cross-Border Co-operation (23 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government has prioritised and progressed the Shared Island initiative since it was launched in 2020, working with all communities and political traditions for a shared future, underpinned by the Good Friday Agreement. On 20 February last, the Government announced the largest ever package of funding for cross-border investments. This included a commitment of €600 million to the A5...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. I appreciate Deputy Boyd Barrett's point that we need to do more and do better when it comes to children’s disability services. The Minister of State, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, wrote to me specifically about a number of cases in Dún Laoghaire. There seem to be particular concerns with the scale of the teams, and the Deputy has...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: -----is a significant cause for concern. There is some encouragement. We ran a recruitment campaign that concluded a little while ago. At the end of May, 160 offers were made to successful candidates. I am going from memory here, rather than my note, but I think approximately 53 job offers from the figure of 160 have now been made and processed. There is another recruitment campaign...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: There is an interesting discussion to be had about that, particularly regarding master's level degrees. I am a big fan of reducing fees; I did it twice. At master's level in particular, there is a conversation to be had, especially if the person is willing to work in the Irish health service, about whether that is an intervention that could be made. That is under active consideration. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: -----who is due to retire on Monday but has no wish to retire on Monday and neither do the people of Dundalk wish to see him retire. I will ask my colleague, Deputy Dillon, who is the Minister of State with responsibility in that Department, if anything can be done. There is obviously a role for the local authority there but I do not wish to speak for it. The Deputy’s office might...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: It is an important point. What we have to look at as well as the funding of our children’s disability services is how we can use technologies and reform the delivery of services. I hear that from parents and that is one issue that is being supported.

Post-European Council Meeting: Statements (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I attended a meeting of the European Council on 27 June in Brussels which dealt with an extensive agenda. Leaders agreed a package on appointments to key EU institutions following the European Parliament elections and adopted the EU’s strategic agenda for the next five-year institutional cycle. We also took stock of EU enlargement, and agreed a roadmap for internal reforms to ready...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for raising a variety of issues. First, Deputy Boyd Barrett and I do not agree on a lot on foreign affairs, but I have said in this House recently and in the European Council, as well saying it publicly at the peace summit on Ukraine, that I do believe there is an inconsistency in the approach being taken by many countries in relation to conflict, and not this one. I said...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (10 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together. The Cabinet committee on children and education and disability oversees programme for Government commitments relating to children, education and disability and receives detailed reports on identified policy areas such as child poverty and well-being, local area disadvantage and the reform of our disability services. In addition to the...