Results 1-20 of 11,061 for at speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: ...to take Questions Nos. 15 and 16 together. I met the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels on 11 April. Ireland’s membership of the European Union is of great importance to our national prosperity, well-being, and indeed, to our sense of identity and I undertook an early visit to Brussels as a signal of my commitment to continuing our excellent...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I join with Deputy Ó Murchú in extending my sympathies to the family of Pat from Dundalk and I associate myself with the Deputy's remarks. I also welcome the Deputy's commitment to the Narrow Water Bridge, which President von der Leyen and I did not discuss directly. Having said that, I know the importance of the bridge to this country, to the Deputy's region and the constituency...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for their contributions. I join Deputy Haughey and others in very much welcoming the overwhelming vote at the UN General Assembly on ensuring that Palestine can and should be a member of the United Nations. I also take this opportunity to commend our own diplomats at the United Nations led by our ambassador, Fergal Mythen, on the incredible work they do in speaking up for...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 to 14, inclusive, together. I spoke by phone with Prime Minister Sánchez, most recently on Monday, 6 May, when we again discussed the situation in the Middle East, especially in Gaza, concerns about Rafah, and plans to recognise the state of Palestine. In particular, we shared a deep concern about the potential impacts of an Israeli military...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank colleagues for the range of questions. First, when it comes to Palestine, I very clearly outlined at the European Council this country's intention to recognise the state of Palestine. I believe we should do it this month, and that is what I am working towards with colleagues in Government, the three parties in Government and also with European counterparts, including the Prime...

Ceisteanna - Questions: European Council (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 7, inclusive, together. I attended a special European Council meeting in Brussels on 17 and 18 April. On 17 April, we heard from the President of the European Parliament and from President Zelenskyy of Ukraine, the latter by video link. Over a working dinner, we discussed a range of international issues, including Ukraine, the Middle East and the...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: ...Clarke report to conclude, which is expected to happen this month. Smaller emergency departments in the region, as the Deputy knows, closed 15 years ago. This was based on clear clinical advice at the time but we do know there are significant pressures in the mid-west region. The actions the Minister has taken are correct. I will get a timeline for the Deputy.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I assure the Deputy there is a while to go in this Government yet, so he should not get too excited. I believe the Tánaiste may have been in Waterford at a private function, possibly even a wedding. I was in Dungarvan.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: No, I think he was at a private event. I was canvassing, and people were asking for the Deputy. I was also in Dungarvan. It was a beautiful day. The sun was out and we were talking about the launch of the traditional Irish music festival. The Minister of State, Deputy Butler, knows about it. I was also in Tramore meeting young guys and girls in the surfing school there. I very much...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The timeline for that legislation remains as was, namely, later this month. I thank the Bacik for raising this important matter. I note the judgment delivered by Mr. Justice Humphreys yesterday in the Northern Ireland High Court, which found that certain provisions of the UK's Illegal Migration Act 2023 are incompatible with the Windsor Framework and the ECHR. We are studying the judgment...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I certainly will take a look at the specific scenario the Deputy has outlined to the House. I had a meeting relating to CDNTs yesterday, with the Ministers of State, Deputies Rabbitte and Naughton, and others, at the Cabinet committee on disability. I received some encouraging numbers on recruitment numbers into the teams. Certainly, the word "rationing", if that is what is happening, is...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Let us also have a degree of context and fairness when we have that debate. The Government met today and considered ten actions on how we can look at a variety of ways to make our migration system more sustainable. This is not a question of abject failure. It is a question of looking at how the numbers have gone from about 3,500 people a year to one where we saw 106,000 people fleeing war...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: -----as they are across the country. I will check. I am not taking from the Deputy's point. Across the country, housing commencements are increasing. I assure the Deputy that when State agencies like Uisce Éireann and others make investment decisions, they do so cognisant of the national planning framework and the national development plan. A new national planning framework will...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising the question. I think she will understand and appreciate that I may have to come back to her on some of the specific issues she has highlighted in relation to her constituency, as is right and proper for her to do. On a broad level, when we look at the issue of housing and balanced regional development, I accept the importance of needing to look at in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: That is either an unintentional or deliberate misunderstanding of the Government's increased cost of business scheme, which is targeted. I am sure Opposition Deputies have often got queries into their constituency offices as to why someone over a certain threshold does not qualify. There are very clear thresholds showing that this is being targeted, as Deputy Smith knows. If any Member of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I always find it slightly amusing that when the Government says something, it must be about the local and European elections, but when the Opposition does something, it has nothing at all to do with them. I am sure Deputy Bríd Smith is hoping to get a few votes herself in the election, and I wish her well. The Government had an important discussion today on a series of proposals for...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I would appreciate that because I doubt Deputy Cairns needs the assistance of Deputies. It might be funny to laugh and titter over there about this but there are real people living in these homes. There are real people with roofs over their heads and they are additional housing solutions that this Government has invested taxpayers' money in providing. When it comes to housing, we take a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: And your rhetoric certainly will not solve it either. Proposing to abolish all of the schemes that we put in place that help people to move out of the box room and into their own homes certainly will not make progress either. I have answered the question very clearly in relation to long-term leasing and the Government's plan to end that by 31 December 2025. That is the Government...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cairns for also raising this matter. First, context is important. While I have already outlined the Government's intention to end the use of long-term leasing by the end of 2025, I want anybody watching in at home to be aware that this is a very small part of our overall housing provision and a very small part of our social housing provision. If the Deputy will allow me a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising the question. She likes to talk about our party's time in government. When my party came into government in 2011, fewer than 7,000 homes were built that year. Despite a global pandemic and a construction sector having to be shut down on many occasions, more than 32,000 homes were constructed last year alone. Later this year we will be in a position to revise...