-----to thank the people and Government of Ireland. Funnily enough, I attach a greater value to her view, as the representative of the people of Palestine, than I do to the Deputy's view on behalf of the people of Palestine.
TDs / Simon Harris
0
questions asked
Members of the Government answer questions rather than ask them
566,209
words spoken in the chamber
566,201 as a minister, 8 as a TD
140
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Each Yes, No or Abstained in a recorded vote
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Members of the Government answer parliamentary questions rather than ask them, so this page lists none of theirs.
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Contributions to debates 2,972 in all
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|---|---|
| December 2024 | 4 |
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| May 2025 | 249 |
| June 2025 | 175 |
| July 2025 | 144 |
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| June 2026 | 127 |
| July 2026 | 93 |
| August 2026 | 2 |
| September 2026 | 83 |
| October 2026 | 53 |
Debates they spoke in most
Plus 2,685 contributions in the regular slots, such as Leaders' Questions and Priority Questions. Speech from the chair is not counted.
Party, constituency and offices
- constituency Wicklow 29 November 2024 to now
- office Taoiseach 29 November 2024 to 22 January 2025
- party Fine Gael 29 November 2024 to now
- office Minister for Defence 23 January 2025 to 25 March 2025
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- office Minister for Finance 18 November 2025 to now
She represents them. That is how it works. She is their representative in this country. We made her an ambassador by recognising the State of Palestine.
On the occupied territories Bill, let me be clear. There are legal issues about services. We will tease through them and, if we can make progress on them that is what we intend to do, but we need other countries to move. If this is not about performative politics an…
When I heard the Deputy would be asking a question today I did not have to ask what topic it was likely to be about. I want to acknowledge that, probably more than any other Member, he raises this issue on a very consistent basis. I acknowledge he is a passionate advocate for those with rare diseases. I thank him for the focus he is keeping on that. I know he has had good engagement with the Minister for Health on th…
I thank the Deputy for referencing Les Martin, a person I know well from County Wicklow and somebody who has done incredible advocacy work in relation to this based on the lived experience of his two sons. I thank Les for that work too.
The points Deputy O'Sullivan makes are fair. The Minister has rightly reminded me that she is committed to a root-and-branch reform and examination of all the various processes in pl…
If the Deputy wants to talk about the type of people his party commemorates, here is a photo of his party chair with a member of Hamas. Get over yourself, giving me a history lecture. Here he is - Declan Kearney meeting the leader of Hamas. I think your man from Hamas is dead but Declan Kearney is still here.
The Deputy should not lecture me considering the sort of people his party hangs around with.
We do not need any revisionism from him. It is part of his party's support for terrorist organisations across the world-----
-----that has stalled the developments of peace and the release of hostages, who we need to see released.
On the GPO, I will first say this. The Deputy's party welcomed the publication of the Dublin city centre task force report, which the recommendation he is now criticising was in. Maybe he should read the documents in future. Second, the GPO is always going to be preserved under this plan as the historic cultural institution it is.
The GPO is also a massive complex. Let us read the report.
It is not shameful at all.
In relation to Kathleen Lynn------
It is a Republic that your party worked to undermine. They collected the killers of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe from the gates of a prison. Do not dare present yourself as a defender of the Republic.
There are gardaí dead in this country as a result of the actions of the army wing of your party.
You know nothing about defending the Republic-----
-----and here you all are with your Hamas buddies.
Jean McConville. Jerry McCabe.
You had a party for the people who collected the killers of Jerry McCabe-----
-----and you should apologise.
There are gardaí in their graves-----
-----because of your IRA movement.
Ask Jerry McCabe's family about your defence of the Republic. Give me a break.
I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue about BusConnects. I will ask the Minister for Transport to engage with him directly. Perhaps I could also arrange through my office for the National Transport Authority, NTA, to engage and sit down with the Deputies for the area, including Deputy Smith. I am conscious, particularly in his part of Dublin, of how reliant people are on public transport. There has been…
Yes, we will. I am not aware of the background as to why statements did not take place. They should have taken place and it is important that they do. I genuinely take the Deputy's point about symbolism and flags and accept it. However, this year more than ever, at a time when people across the world are speaking in more hushed tones about inclusion, it is important that this weekend Ireland march proudly in support …
I absolutely will look into it. Will the Deputy send me the specific details today? I am conscious that I have answered a parliamentary question on the case, but if the Deputy could send me the specific details, I will personally look into the matter today.
We are planning changes in one of the forthcoming defence Bills. There are powers available to the Garda Commissioner that I believe the Chief of Staff of the De…
The Deputy will understand that I cannot comment on a decision of An Bord Pleanála because of its quasi-judicial nature and where things may go next. I do not want to comment on the specifics. On the broader point about housing in Ballina, I will certainly ask the Minister for housing to engage with Mayo County Council and the people the Deputy mentioned.
Housing is in an emergency situation. We need to deliver 300,…