Results 301-320 of 44,332 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I do not know where to start there other than to say I hear Deputy Healy-Rae's passion for the people of Kerry, one that we share here. There are a number of things we have done in the budget that I know will make a real and meaningful difference to people in County Kerry. I can list a number of projects we have worked on, many of which the Deputy has been at the openings of, whether it is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Do not shout at me; you had a good run.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I am doing my best. On top of that-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I am not sure the Deputy wants to hear my answer.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: We are up to seven or eight issues. In the limited time available to me, I will do my best to help the Deputy. First, the challenges he outlined have nothing whatsoever to do with immigration, including the shortage of GPs and the like. That does not stand up to scrutiny. The same is true of the issues in the hospitality sector and the like. In fact, many parts of the hospitality sector...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Sorry, Deputy, the way this works is you ask seven questions in one and then I try to answer them. In the budget, we did our best to respond to and support those businesses. I know how important tourism and hospitality are to Killarney and County Kerry. Even as recently as today, the Cabinet considered the detail of the €170 million power up scheme. Under this scheme, all retail...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: In respect of Donegal County Council and the specific issue the Deputy raised, which has just come into the public domain, I will ask the Minister to revert to him and to engage with the local authority. I take the point about not wishing to see any further slippage and the importance of adhering to timelines, and I will certainly keep a very close eye on that. I think we have a bit of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Pringle for raising this matter. Yes, I do acknowledge that I hear the frustrations of your constituents as articulated by you. You have made specific reference to claims or information in respect of Donegal County Council which I have yet to see. I will certainly ask the Minister for housing to pursue them with the local authority and to revert to you directly. I would...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Tell me which of the payments you do not want, please, and let me know. Any other Opposition parties can email me at simon.harris@oireachtas.ie and let me know me what payments they do not want. I would really like to hear from them in relation to that. I stand by every single decision we made in the budget last week. This was a budget that did a number of things. It provided a...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: What I say to them is this Government is delivering a record number of new schools and new school extensions. The Department of Education has a record budget for capital. Throughout the country people can see new schools being built. I will ask the Minister for Education to engage directly with Deputy O'Callaghan on the specific Gaelcholáiste he referenced in his constituency. It...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: Excuse me. Deputy O'Callaghan does not need any help. I listened to them talk on the radio about the benefits of the pouches. The school principals have seen a big transformation. The schools in Northern Ireland have benefited from such a scheme as well.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: We often have an argy-bargy in this House, but on this issue, there is a broad consensus that we need to do more to support our carers. I acknowledge that, and it is why I have outlined a number of the steps the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, has taken and that I am proud of those steps because I know they have made a real difference because I have met the people who are benefiting from them....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I would love to know which of the cost-of-living payments that will be paid to people in all of our constituencies between now and Christmas the Deputy would like us to cancel. If he would let me know, I would like to hear those proposals. Does he want me to stop the double child benefit payment in the first week of November? Does he want me to stop the double child benefit payment in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. I begin by recognising, as she did, the very important role carers play in society. We all know it from our families and communities and there are widespread views across the House and society about the need to continue to do all we can to support our carers. I note the likes of Family Carers Ireland, a representative group for family...

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil: Motion (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: I represent the people of this country-----

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil: Motion (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: -----a hell of a lot better than you do.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil: Motion (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: You cannot.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil: Motion (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: You will never be Taoiseach anyway.

Gnó na Dála - Business of Dáil: Motion (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: First, I am concerned to hear Deputy Barry would like to have a vote on my movements and where I can or cannot go. That certainly does not work. Second, I could have easily done what many taoisigh do regularly when attending official business and sent someone in here to deputise on my behalf. What I did was to ask the House to agree to take Leaders' Questions early because I need to...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Departmental Expenditure (8 Oct 2024)

Simon Harris: The Department of the Taoiseach has incurred no expenditure on consultancy services in 2023 or to date in 2024.