Results 141-160 of 43,181 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I fully acknowledge the need to get from three to 20 beds. That is a statement of fact. It is Government policy. It is in the model of care and other policy documents published by the Government and has been endorsed by the HSE mental health bed capacity review. I outlined that this year the area of priority for additional investment into this area is around some of the youth mental...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: As a result, zero people were waiting for beds yesterday. I needed to say that. The direct answer to the Deputy's question is that we need to get from three to 20 beds. I intend to make more progress on that in the budget. On recruitment, all of this has to be seen in context. Sometimes, the debate in the House is a little skewed. There is not a ban on recruitment to the health...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I very much welcome the Deputy's commitment to investment in our water services. I thank him for raising this important issue in the Dáil, as he did last week. Uisce Éireann is working to address the issue of water supplies in Cork city, which I accept is a real issue. There are approximately 600 km of water mains in Cork city. About 50% to 60% of them are made from cast iron...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: The phrase "under pressure from below" is not one I am particularly familiar with. I certainly believe the way to get things done is through engagement. That might be a difference in political ideology. It is important to engage on these matters. The Deputy is a directly elected Member of this House. He is doing his job in engaging on behalf of his constituents. He corresponded with me...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I say this respectfully, but it is hard for me to answer the question if, when I use a number or statistic in answering, the Deputy just tells me I am not listening or asks me not to quote statistics at her. When she quotes statistics at me, I reply. When she asks a question, I endeavour to answer. I made the point that context is important. It is important for people in Limerick who are...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Hang on a second. Every day, there are many people in that hospital getting very good treatment and there are many incredible people working in it. The Deputy and I have acknowledged that.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I am sorry; I am trying to be helpful. There have been a number of very difficult issues. One of these is before an inquest which neither I nor the Deputy wish to cut across at this point, although we will both have plenty to say when it ends, as is appropriate. However, I accept that there is a need to do a great deal more in Limerick. I am telling the Deputy that I am specifically...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cairns for raising this issue. I acknowledge that it is an issue she quite rightly raises on a regular basis. I assure her that I wish to show commitment to enhancing specialist services for eating disorders, including improved access and shorter waiting lists. I accept that this is an issue in every community across Ireland. I also agree that there has historically been a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: It is linked.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. I thank her for raising this very important issue. I join the Ceann Comhairle and the Deputy in welcoming Speaker Poots to Dáil Éireann. It is great to have you here and everyone in this House looks forward to working with you and colleagues and counterparts in the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive. I thank...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: No.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (24 Apr 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. During the course of this Dail term the name and remit of the Cabinet Committee was expanded in January 2023 from the Cabinet Committee on Europe to the Cabinet Committee on EU and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government Co-ordination Committee met 16 times in 2020; 33 times in 2021; 33 times in 2022; and 32 times in 2023. To date this year, the Committee has held nine meetings.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: Since the beginning of the current Dáil Term the Cabinet Committee on Housing has met a total of 29 times. Please see below a table with breakdown by year. Year Number of Cabinet Committee on Housing Meetings 2020 3 2021 9 2022 8 2023 7 2024 2 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: The Cabinet Committee on Accommodation and Supports for Ukrainian Refugees was originally established in April 2022, to oversee the whole-of-Government humanitarian response to supporting people from Ukraine who had sought temporary protection here following Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine. The Cabinet Committee met five times in 2022, on 12 May; 13 June; 25 July; 24 October; and...