Results 1-20 of 9,360 for speaker:Simon Harris in 'Dáil debates'

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for the range of questions. I join Deputy Smith in thanking all our emergency and uniformed services who have kept the country safe on many occasions in different ways. The Border communities the Deputy represents are particularly acutely aware of the huge level of service provided by those people. I echo those words. I know Dún Uí Néill barracks because...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for his comments on the task force and for welcoming it and welcoming the appointment of David McRedmond. I, too, thank Mr. McRedmond for the work he is doing. It is interesting that the Deputy mentioned the impact of Covid. He is correct that in looking to establish this task force, it was looking at examples of capital cities and the impact Covid has had on...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 to 21, inclusive, together. At its meeting on 10 April, the Government established ten Cabinet committees as follows: children and education and disability; economy and investment; environment and climate action; EU and international affairs; Government co-ordination; health; housing; migration, integration and Ukraine; Northern Ireland; and social...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Urban Development (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 to 16, inclusive, together. On 7 May 2024, the Government agreed to appoint a task force to take a holistic view of the measures required to rejuvenate Dublin city centre, north and south. The goal is to make Dublin city centre a more thriving, attractive and safe cityscape, and a desirable location to live, work, do business and visit. The task...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies for raising a range of issues. Obviously, Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, were about when the Cabinet Committee on Health will next meet, so Members will have to excuse me if I must come back to them on some of the specifics because quite a few of the questions strayed very significantly, I would imagine, from the Standing Orders, although they are valid and important...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 10, inclusive, together. The Cabinet committee on health last met on 12 February 2024 and is scheduled to next meet on 1 July. 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...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Cabinet Committees (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I am listening.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising an important issue with passion. It is an important issue, as is planning reform. Everyone on this side of the House, like everyone on that side of the House, wants people to be able to live in this country and wants young people to know that their future is in this country. That is why we are working so hard on housing and why we are seeing 350 new homes go...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue as he has sincerely on a number of occasions. The best way to proceed on this from a policy point of view is via the Oireachtas joint committee that will consider the outcome of the Citizens' Assembly on Drugs Use. That was an honest and genuine effort to get civil society together to debate what is a difficult and important issue. There are real...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Road safety is a priority for me and the Government. Since becoming Taoiseach seven weeks ago, I have chaired two meetings on road safety, we have allocated an additional €3 million to public awareness campaigns and we are working with local authorities to see what more we can do on road safety. We all have to amplify the message around killer behaviours, especially as we approach...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I am pleased the Cavan-Monaghan drugs unit was able to recommence. I share his view and that of everyone in government that we want to see Garda numbers increase. We are seeing progress on that. The college is back open and busy. The fair distribution of new Garda recruits is important. I will share the Deputy's views with the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Truthfully, I am not across the detail of it. It has not been brought to my attention, but I will speak directly to the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, about the issue. Any such matter would have to comply fully with competition law and other laws of the land such as employment law and an impact assessment should be considered. I will ask the Minister to come back to the Deputy directly.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of Newpark School of Music. I am pleased that there will be time in the Dáil for a topical issue debate on it tomorrow. The Deputy has been constructive in flagging it with me today and I will certainly ask, in advance of that debate, relevant line Ministers and agencies to see what role the State may have in this, in order to be able to give...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. I will get him a specific answer from the Minister for Transport on this but the Government is very eager to take steps to increase the number of taxis and hackneys available nationally, particularly in rural areas. For a variety of reasons, these steps have not yielded the numbers so further actions are planned and some are under way. I...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (29 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. This is a great initiative. It is great for the island of Ireland, for the north west in particular, for medical education and for opportunities for young people. The Minister for further and higher education is in Ulster University, on the Magee campus in Derry, today. We are willing to expand this. Obviously, there has to be two partners and a willingness to do it,...