Simon Harris

We are taking those decisions. You will not support the decisions we are taking to make a real difference in housing supply.

When we see those extra homes built in the years ahead, young people right across this country will benefit from that. This is budget one of five.

It will make a real and sustainable difference.

We will be delivering on our programme for Government while you will continue to shout, roar and offer nothing constructive to this country-----

-----because that is what bully boys do.

You are a bully.

You are a bully, shout and roar, online trolling.

First, I join the Deputy in agreeing that what we saw happen in Drogheda at the IPAS centre is the most despicable crime. It is attempted murder. It has nothing to do with a migration debate in this country - absolutely nothing. It is a horrific, almost unspeakable act where babies and young children were sleeping upstairs. Everybody in this country, regardless of their political perspective, is u…

Twenty nine per cent of our total immigration figures last year came from international protection, or 18,561. The Deputy has not done so today, but I reject the argument made by some in recent days that international protection is an incidental part of this conversation. I reject that; it is not. When we consider that there were 18,561 applications for international protection in 2004 and that mo…

I am answering the question.

Last year, 18,561 people came here through international protection and a majority of those applications were rejected. They were found not to qualify for international protection. That needs to be addressed.

On the next issue, yes, we continue to need people to come. Nobody is proposing a migration policy that would see us not issuing work visas or work permits, but it has to be looked at in a balanced manner and sector by sector. I am sure that the Deputy will accept the facts from the ESRI that for every 10,000 people who come into our country, 3,000 more homes are needed.

We also need to recognise that every time people come into the country, there is increased pressure on public services. We have to consider this in a balanced fashion. This is not a radical concept. This is something that happens in most mature democracies, in most European countries. We are late to this because migration numbers have only become a larger issue of public debate in recent years aft…

I thank Deputy Ward for raising this matter. Before I address the specific issues he raised, I want to say the Government is acting in good faith on the complex issue of defective concrete blocks. However, this is nothing compared with the stress and trauma being experienced by people in the Deputy's county and others. I have visited them. Over the summer months, I met some of the people and sat w…

The point I am making, and the reason I used the word "technical", is since 6 November we are offering all homeowners who have been given that non-demolition option the choice of continuing as was or having that full technical review. I am making the point that review will be informed by the current research, that is, the latest available scientific information. We are genuinely trying to follow t…

I thank Deputy O'Donoghue for raising this matter. I must say I find myself in agreement with a lot of what he says, if not almost all of it. Let me tease through it. The Minister, Deputy O'Donovan, was away on Government business yesterday-----

-----but he intends to work with everybody on this. What the Deputy said and the tone in which he said it are really important. There are some things that are just more important that party politics and shouting and roaring at each other in here. Healthcare and making sure the people of the mid-west have a proper, fit for purpose health service is our priority, the priority of the Minister for Hea…

We are fully committed to UHL. We are fully committed to the mid-west. Let us hope this term of this Dáil signals a new dawn in terms of moving forward on the HIQA report. The last Dáil was about commissioning HIQA reports but that is all done now. I agree with the Deputy. We do not need a whole load of palaver around next steps. We need the Minister to do her job, which she is doing extremely we…

I join with Deputy McCormack in extending my sympathies to the family of the late Noel Bourke. We think of his family today. I also think of a former colleague of mine, the former councillor Jim Finucane from Kerry, who passed away in recent days. People who serve at local government level are the essence of public service and they do our democracies, parties and traditions proud. We think of thei…

I will certainly speak to the Minister, Deputy Burke, in relation to this. Such is the sensitivity and importance of the issue, I want to make sure all of these matters are considered thoroughly and appropriately. I will ask the Minister to engage directly with Deputy McCormack and other Offaly TDs on this matter. We are keen to provide as much support and assistance as we can in what is a very di…

I assure Deputy O'Rourke the Government takes this matter extraordinarily seriously. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, initially met the group on 29 September to engage with them personally and listen to their concerns. The Taoiseach met the group on 3 October and both the Minister and the Taoiseach met the group again last Wednesday, 29 October. I understand meetings with a mediator or …

It is a very sensitive matter and I will not play politics with it as the Deputy has endeavoured to do by suggesting-----

It is a very important and sensitive matter. The Government wants to see the matter resolved. That is why it wants to see a facilitator in place. That has happened. There is engagement with the group. There is daily medical attention as well, which is important. I hope this matter can be resolved quickly.

This is the largest and most horrific humanitarian crisis in the world right now. It is also the one that is probably spoken about least, so I particularly thank the Deputy for raising it. This country has called for an immediate cessation of the atrocities in Sudan, following the takeover of the city of El Fasher by the Rapid Support Forces. I am horrified by recent reports that the RSF has carri…

I assure the Deputy this is receiving a lot of attention, as it should, from Government and the State. We want to see this resolved. I understand a mediator met with the group this week - I think on Wednesday. There is work following on and flowing from that. I really understand the emotion and sensitivity of this but I would urge - I think it is the responsible thing for me to urge - people to co…