Results 1-20 of 33,686 for speaker:Simon Harris in 'Written Answers'

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Council (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I attended a Special European Council meeting in Brussels on the 17/18 April. Over a working dinner we discussed a range of international issues including Ukraine, the Middle East, and the EU’s relations with Türkiye. President Zelenskyy of Ukraine joined by video link. On 18 April, we had a comprehensive discussion on Europe’s competitiveness and the need to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I discussed the situation in the Middle East by phone with Prime Minister Sánchez on Monday 6 May, including plans to recognise the state of Palestine. This was also the focus of our discussion when the Prime Minister visited Dublin on Friday 12 April. We shared deep concern at the potential impacts of an Israeli military operation in Rafah. The international community has made it...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together. I met with the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, in Brussels on 11 April. Our meeting covered many of the significant issues currently on the EU’s agenda. We discussed the very worrying situation in Ukraine, and the country’s urgent need for continuing financial and military support. We...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Northern Ireland (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government made and announced allocations from the Shared Island Fund most recently on 20 February, with funding commitments to: contribute to the redevelopment of Casement Park in Belfast; introduce an hourly-frequency rail service between Dublin and Belfast; create a renewed visitor experience at the Battle of the Boyne site in Meath; and, move ahead with construction of the landmark...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Staff (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: No employee within the Department of the Taoiseach or the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only body under the aegis of the Department, is currently suspended on full pay pending disciplinary investigations.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Stardust Fire (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: The Stardust fire was a national tragedy that has left a particular legacy of pain for the country and most particularly for the people of North Dublin. It has had a lasting impact on all those who attended that night. Following the State apology, it was communicated to the families that the HSE’s National Counselling Service is available to provide dedicated counselling for those...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Covid-19 Pandemic (8 May 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...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Citizens' Assembly (8 May 2024)

Simon Harris: Three of the four Citizens' Assemblies committed to under the Programme for Government have been completed. The relevant government departments are now drafting detailed responses to the Dublin Citizens' Assembly and the Citizens' Assembly on Biodiversity Loss. An Oireachtas Joint Committee on Drugs Use is expected to shortly commence examining the most recent report, from the Citizens'...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Cabinet Committees (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: The Cabinet Committee on Migration, Integration and Ukraine was established on 9th April to oversee the development and delivery of whole-of-Government responses to the system of international and temporary protection for those arriving in Ireland from abroad, including international and domestic policy options, accommodation and other supports, integration, community engagement and public...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Broadband Infrastructure (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach uses the Government Networks Fibre Connection for phone and data communications and is not paying for any services using copper communication lines.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: European Union (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: The CSO is an independent Office under the aegis of the Department of the Taoiseach. The Statistics Act 1993 specifies a number of non-statistical roles and responsibilities which are assigned to me as Taoiseach. These include the signing of Statutory Instruments in relation to statistical requirements. The following table lists all of the Statistical Statutory Instruments which became law...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Ministerial Responsibilities (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: On 10 April I appointed Hildegarde Naughton T.D. as Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach with special responsibility as Government Chief Whip and at the Department of Education with special responsibility for Special Education and Inclusion. Minister Naughton attends at Cabinet and also attends the Cabinet Committee on Children and Education and Disability which I established.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Local Authorities (30 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach does not provide grant-aid funding to local authorities.

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...

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

Simon Harris: The Cabinet Committee on Northern Ireland was established on 10 April 2024 to oversee implementation of Programme for Government commitments regarding Northern Ireland, and ongoing related developments. A previous Cabinet Committee on Brexit and Northern Ireland met four times since June 2020, on the following dates: •29th October 2020 •4th March 2021 •27th June...

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

Simon Harris: The Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Public Services (previously known as the Cabinet Committee on Social Affairs and Equality) met 6 times in 2023, 3 times in 2022, 1 time in 2021, and 2 times in 2020. To date this year, the Cabinet Committee has not yet held a meeting but it is expected that one will be planned in the coming months.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Advertising (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach incurred expenditure on advertising of €1,784,925.93 in 2022 and €4,808.23 in 2023. The bulk of the expenditure in 2022 relates to the dissemination of information related to COVID-19 public communications. Advertising expenditure was also incurred relating to judicial and Director of Public Prosecutions appointments and Easter Sunday...