Simon Harris
Wicklow · Fine Gael · Ireland
“There are more than 10,000 routes and thousands of buses involved and the number of students using the services is not a million miles away from 200,000. The current terms of the scheme are going to continue to apply for the 2026-27 school year.”
“I thank Deputy McDonald for raising what is genuinely an important issue. I do take the point that when we talk about this in the abstract or from a process point of view in here, that for people watching this is their real lived experience.”
“There number of children who have been supported by means of the school transport scheme, as Deputy Fitzmaurice knows and has alluded to, has grown significantly in recent years. Since 2018, the number increased from 120,000 in 2018 to more than 181,000 now. Included in that figure are 24,000 pupils with special educational needs.”
“I knew the Deputy would have to mention the GAA, especially with Galway and Limerick playing at the weekend. I wish everybody involved the best of luck. We are very committed to the school transport scheme. If the Deputy wants to see our commitment, he should look to our budget.”
“An ageing population, increasing healthcare needs, the transition to net zero and the need for continued investment in housing, energy and infrastructure will place a significant demand on public resources.”
“There is also a legitimacy to the point the Deputy made about how it is a legitimate form of transport for some people. We see this working in other European countries. We see it in our nearest neighbours. I do not want to get the regime wrong, but I think they have registration at the point of purchase that allows people to track this.”
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“The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has also liaised directly with the designated government point of contact for the Global Movement to Gaza flotilla delegation and will continue to do so. I want to thank the person acting as the government point of contact for the flotilla. It is an extraordinarily helpful and important contact point and one that we value. When I spoke to Senator Chris Andrews, Deputy McDonald’s colleague who is a participant on the flotilla, in recent days, although we missed each other last night, I took the opportunity to reiterate to him my firm commitment to support the Irish citizens involved and asked that we keep in touch. I will continue to keep those lines of communication open.”
“Our ambassador in Israel has conveyed our concerns directly to the Israeli authorities and reiterated our call that no unlawful act should be taken against those involved. Our officials, both in Dublin and in the region, remain in ongoing and close contact with EU counterparts on the matter. I want to stress that point. There are more than 300 European citizens on this flotilla so working together at a European level is absolutely vital, with the European Union speaking very strongly on this considering there are citizens from almost every member state present on the flotilla. That is really important and a point I conveyed to High Representative, Ms Kallas.”
“I extend a warm welcome to them all and acknowledge their concerns for their loved ones undertaking this arduous journey, particularly in light of reported attacks on the vessels last week. I look forward to having an opportunity to speak directly to them shortly. I reassure them and those listening, including some on the flotilla, that my Department continues to be available to all Irish citizens on board. We have already taken a number of steps and will continue to take more steps as long as necessary. Our embassy in Tel Aviv has notified Israeli authorities of the presence of Irish citizens on board the flotilla. Embassy officials are also closely co-ordinating with colleagues locally.”
“As Deputies will be aware, provision of consular assistance to Irish citizens is a cornerstone of the work of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and one in which I take great pride. My officials try to provide a range of help and support to citizens abroad in a transparent, confidential and professional manner. In this case, as in all cases, my clear priority and that of my Department is to ensure the welfare of Irish citizens. While my Department's travel advice has always been clear, in this case as in all, my clear priority and that of my Department is to ensure the welfare of our citizens. I am conscious that a number of the families of participants in the flotilla are present today.”
“On 24 September, while in New York, I spoke directly to the EU's High Representative for foreign affairs and Vice President of the Commission, Kaja Kallas, and to EU counterparts about collectively raising our concerns in Tel Aviv and considering what can be done to ensure the safety and well-being of all those on board the flotilla. Today, I made further contact with the EU's High Representative and asked that she formally engage with Israeli authorities on this issue. I also raised the matter publicly in my intervention at the United Nations during a meeting of the global alliance for the implementation of the two-state solution. We will continue to raise our concerns through every available appropriate diplomatic channel and keep in close contact with my European counterparts, many of whose citizens are also on board the flotilla.”
“As the motion clearly states, no action should be taken by Israel that endangers the welfare or safety of peaceful Irish citizens and other human rights activists, including more than 300 European citizens, aboard this flotilla. The welfare and safety of people aboard has to be a priority of the international community and the collective priority of those of us in this House. I returned last week from UN General Assembly high-level week in New York, where the Middle East was a central focus of my agenda and the issue of the safety of the flotilla was very much to the fore of my mind.”
“I wholeheartedly condemn any attacks by Israel on civilians and human rights activists, including Irish citizens participating in the flotilla seeking to deliver aid to the starving population of Gaza. I was recently joined by the foreign ministers of 15 other countries, including Spain, in calling on all parties to refrain from any unlawful or violent act against the flotilla and to respect international law and international humanitarian law. Any activity targeting civilians or humanitarian workers is a clear breach of international law. Any attacks against the vessels in international waters or illegal detention will and must lead to accountability.”
“While monitoring its progress over recent weeks, I have been acutely aware that there are 20 Irish participants on board, including colleagues from this and the other House, all of whom are motivated by the entirely understandable desire shared by many people around the world and this country to urgently address the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza as we continue to witness unspeakable scenes on a daily basis. I, like many of my European counterparts, with whom I am in ongoing contact, was deeply disturbed and concerned by reports of attacks on the flotilla. These are clear breaches of international law. I reiterate in the strongest terms that no unlawful or violent act should be taken against those involved.”
“I am pleased to move this all-party motion and thank all parties in the Dáil for the intensive work that has gone into it. It is an important all-party motion clearly condemning the attacks by Israel on civilians and human rights activists, including Irish citizens, participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla seeking to deliver aid to the beleaguered and starving population of Gaza. In the face of unfolding horrors, in the face of genocide in Gaza, this demonstration of unity by Dáil Éireann sends a powerful message. As colleagues will be aware, the Global Sumud Flotilla departed from Barcelona on 1 September with a fleet of almost 50 vessels and participants from approximately 40 countries, all with the aim of delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza and seeking to open a sustained humanitarian corridor.”
“I move: That Dáil Éireann: condemns the attacks by Israel on civilians and human rights activists including Irish citizens participating in the Global Sumud Flotilla, seeking to deliver aid to the beleaguered and starving population of Gaza; demands that: — no action is taken by Israel that endangers the welfare or safety of peaceful Irish citizens and other human rights activists aboard the Global Sumud Flotilla; — lnternational law is respected at all times and underlines that any activity targeting civilians or humanitarian workers is a breach of international law; and — Israel completely and immediately lifts its blockade and allows the full resumption of humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza at scale; further condemns: — the ongoing actions of the current Israeli government which have led to an unconscionable genocide in Gaza where a manmade famine has been declared; and — the escalation of the Israeli military offensive in Gaza which will only lead to further bloodshed and suffering; and further demands: — an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages by Hamas, and immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access at scale into Gaza; and — parties engage in a political pathway to resolve this brutal conflict on the basis of implementation of the two State solution and the New York Declaration.”
“We will have to decide the sequencing in a logical way in terms of capacity, fees and the impact of a reduction on one in terms of capacity and the likes. I expect around budget time that we will have greater clarity on the next steps. I know this is a hugely important issue for so many people.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. He is right that this was a big part of the general election. We all put forward our stalls on it. There was almost political unanimity around the figure of €200 per month per child. We certainly had it in our manifesto and our colleagues in government did too. It is also in the programme for Government. I always say to people at every opportunity that these are commitments in terms of projects we will get delivered over the lifetime of the Government. We all want to see progress made as quickly as possible. The Minister, Deputy Foley, is working her way through 21 commitments on childcare in the programme for Government. That gives the Deputy an indication of the priority - 21 specific commitments. She will produce an action plan that will go to the Government on childcare.”
“I discussed this with the Taoiseach as recently as one week ago. This an area we really want to see a resolution to. I accept it has gone on for far too long. Deputy Barry Ward has regularly raised this issue as well. We decided in September 2024 to appoint Mr. Justice Paul Gilligan to facilitate a thalidomide resolution process. I know the judge is continuing to engage with survivors and their representatives and is expected to revert to Government as soon as that process is completed. I can assure the Deputy this is an area that is receiving priority attention at the highest levels of Government. We all intend to pull together on this and try to get this resolved for once and for all.”
“I thank the Deputy for his kind words and solidarity. I thank him for the work he did as Ceann Comhairle on the issue of public safety. He led on this with the appointment of former Commissioner O'Sullivan. I was grateful to the Ceann Comhairle for her leadership yesterday as this Dáil term resumed. I wrote to her last night about her suggestion of convening party leaders to look at this wider issue. I appreciate Deputy Ó Fearghaíl's comments in relation to myself and my family. As I said in my statement, it will be me today and someone else tomorrow. We need to act together on this in the interests of our democracy and the safety of everybody involved in public life. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue of thalidomide. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, and I have discussed this.”
“I thank Deputy Burke very much. I know he has been in direct contact with the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, on this issue. She has looked into the matter. My understanding is that the treatment has now been confirmed, which I am very pleased is the case, and that she will confirm that directly to the Deputy. I wish his constituent, Aishling, the very best in her treatment. I know that the Deputy, everyone in Cork, and those of us here are thinking of her. The broader policy issue is something the Minister and the HSE will reflect on, based on the best clinical advice. I am pleased that the treatment has now been confirmed in this case.”
“The detail of the Bill will be clear when we publish the legislation. I will meet Senator Black when I return from the UN high-level week, which is the week after next.”
“I thank Deputy Coppinger. First, I was very angered to see how Kitty O'Brien was treated. My Department and our embassy have conveyed that to the German authorities. I say that on the record of this House. I am not fully convinced. Deputy Coppinger may end up being right but I hope she is wrong. I know she will hope she is wrong that we cannot have a majority in Europe voting to implement the sanctions. The coming days will tell us whether that is the case or not. We are advocating very strongly to try and build a coalition. I believe there is a majority of member states. The question now is whether we reach the threshold of there being a qualified majority. It is certainly a possibility. We all need to try very hard on that. Ireland will introduce its own occupied territories Bill.”
“There are clear commitments in the programme for Government on financial support for the tillage sector. Obviously, specific measures are a matter for budget day. The Minister is working very hard on this. I met the IFA on this at the ploughing championships and in my own office a couple of weeks ago. We will endeavour to bring forward proposals as part of the budget.”
“First, I thank Deputy Collins for his kind words and solidarity. I appreciate it. Second, he is right; anybody at the ploughing who did not hear very clearly about the tillage issue probably needs their ears cleaned out because the IFA and farmers have been very clear about it. He is correct that my colleague the Minister for agriculture was at the crisis meeting called by the IFA in Naas last week, which around 1,100 farmers attended, or at least several hundred of them. There was a very clear message. We often have debates in this House about climate versus agriculture. To be honest, I think they are silly debates, as we should not put them against each other. This is an area where they work together. Helping tillage farming also helps our climate objectives and it helps on every level.”
“I thank Deputy Byrne very much for raising this issue. I know this is a priority for both the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Moynihan. They tell me that 178,945 tickets have been issued to children and young people for this school year, including 23,300 children and young people with special educational needs. That is an increase of 3%. However, that is no use to the child Deputy Byrne references if she is still waiting for this service. I will ask the Minister of State, Deputy Moynihan, and the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to directly engage with the Deputy on the matter to see if anything more can be done to assist the family. I will ask them to get back directly to the Deputy.”
“I know this is a particular issue in east Galway because I read some data about a number of townlands and villages there where, as a result of this, no houses can be built in the middle of a housing crisis. Directly in response to the other two points, as a result of the NDP. investment plans will be published by all Ministers in the coming weeks, showing exactly what the additional money for water and sewerage will be able to do. As a condition of giving Irish Water a hell of a lot more public money, we have said it needs to get on and allow developer-led infrastructure schemes as well. It is really important that it now deliver on that commitment.”
“I thank Deputy Dolan. He is entirely right on this. I remember vividly the day the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, in his former role brought these proposals to Cabinet. It was seen as a reforming step to identify that there were a number of relatively small villages and townlands that would take forever and a day to get there through the traditional Irish Water way and to put ring-fenced funding in place. It is appalling that this has taken so long. It is an example of where bureaucracy, red tape and sometimes a lack of willingness from various stakeholders have led to this. I will ask the Minister to get back directly to the Deputy about Craughwell and Clarinbridge.”
“Obviously, we know babies benefit most from individual attention from loving and responding caregivers, enabling them to form strong bonds and foster that parent-child relationship. I am pleased that the combination of maternity, paternity and parent’s leave and parent's benefit now equates to 46 weeks’ paid leave for a two-parent family. This is supplemented by an entitlement to 16 weeks of unpaid maternity leave and 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave for a parent, as well as annual leave entitlements. I wish to provide that context of the importance of the child’s first year of life.”
“I thank Deputy Currie very much for raising this issue and for the focus she rightly keeps on early learning and childcare. I thank her for her work in that regard. Certainly, we will discuss this with the Minister, Deputy Foley. The Government will be publishing an action plan on childcare, which endeavours to knit together the 21 programme for Government commitments on childcare. I expect that to happen in the coming weeks, either just before or, perhaps more likely, just after the budget. I wish to make one broad point that is slightly linked. While I fully accept the point about baby rooms and the need for us to do more in that regard, I am also proud of a number of the steps we have taken to help parents have more time with their child in that first year.”
“While I do not know the individual in question, many students who are entitled to student grants often do not realise or think such grants are for them. Many families qualify. Similarly, the Minister and I were just talking about how many people, including students, qualify for the GP access card, which can help with costs too. We are committed to helping students with the cost of living. The budget will show a way forward in that regard on 7 October.”
“I thank Deputy Guirke. I do not doubt those challenges are real for families. We have taken a number of measures to try to help students and their families. We expanded the rent tax credit and ensured that students could qualify for it, as that was not originally the situation. We have reduced college fees for the past three years in a row. There is a clear commitment in the programme for Government on the direction of travel in which the Minister wants to go in the time ahead. While I heard the Deputy and different people mention the €500 figure, there has been no budgetary decision made on any aspect yet. Let us see where the budget gets to on 7 October. We have also increased the students grants.”
“I thank Deputy Tóibín. I acknowledge this is an issue he raises frequently in this House. I also acknowledge that we have taken a number of steps to try to improve child protection in this country, such as the referendum we had and the establishment of a dedicated Department and of the stand-alone State agency Tusla. There is a hell of a lot more that needs to be done, however. After the shocking developments of recent hours in relation to Daniel as well as the other cases the Deputy referenced, the Government will wish to engage constructively with the Opposition on what steps can be taken next. I have already outlined to the Deputy the Government’s intention to bring forward legislation around the Child Care Act, which will be looking at the powers of Tusla and how it operates with other State agencies.”
“I thank Deputy O'Gorman. I appreciate his sincerity and his work on this, including in his previous role. The Taoiseach and I have both said there will be a particular focus on child poverty in this budget. The child poverty unit is doing good work for us on that. We have had a Cabinet committee meeting which had an initial discussion on the matter. We should be endeavouring to tackle child poverty regardless of who the child is, where the child is from or where the child is living, once the child is residing here in our State. I am certainly open to considering that proposal but the specific measures will be a matter for budget day.”
“There is a very significant issue here with the information that people are providing perhaps without full knowledge because of the jargon and the amount of material people have to read. Based on the initial reports that I have read, although I reserve the right to see the full programme and have all the facts established, I am also concerned when I hear of particular references to this place and other institutions in the State and the potential issue that Deputy Bacik raised as well. I look forward to having more detailed briefings from the Minister for justice and the Data Protection Commissioner in due course.”
“We should work collaboratively on this. When is anybody going to bring forward proposals or ideas? As this is a legislative Chamber, I am interested in the Deputy's ideas on this. I am interested in working constructively with people on this as well. This is information that I am trying to respond to in real time. The Data Protection Commission has advised that it is taking the assertions made in the programme very seriously and that it is investigating the operators concerned. Key issues will be whether these operators are complying with data protection law and whether the brokers concerned are based in the State, elsewhere in the EU or in third countries. This raises very significant issues. There is also the point that every time someone goes onto a weather app, they agree to give their location.”
“The problem is not with political parties taking out ads on Facebook; it is with those people who are not political parties often with anonymous accounts threatening to subvert our democracy and spew the place with misinformation. There is a need for a debate on this also.”
“Of course, any individual's location information in that regard can pose a serious risk to the security and well-being of an individual. The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is aware that the Data Protection Commissioner is looking into these matters. I have no doubt we will require further answers on this in the days ahead. It raises a broader issue, which I hope we can have time to discuss in this House, about online regulation. There are new things coming in about political regulation and regulation of online political content, which is grand, fine and no problem, but that is not really what is threatening our democracy, in my view.”
“I thank the Deputy for her kind words. On this matter, very serious issues have been raised here. I am reluctant to overly comment on them because I am trying to establish all the facts of this case. I am concerned over what I have heard and read this morning. My understanding, based on a note provided to me, is that the DPC first became aware of the matter when contacted by "Prime Time" and is extremely concerned by it. That is what I have been told here. Location data can obviously reveal a very significant amount of information about individuals, including information about an individual's habits and personality, information that is inherently sensitive. It can be more sensitive in relation to people carrying out particular jobs or duties in our State.”
“The point the Deputy made about the need for those checks to just become somewhat automatic is not unfair. We live in a world and a country that are much more transient. While I am not talking about this specific case, I am not sure we could just take the word of somebody that someone was just in one school and presume that they moved to another. How we close those loops is a legitimate policy question and we would be happy to work constructively with the Deputy on it.”
“Those are all very fair questions. My understanding is that the independent chair for the lookback on the cases that were closed during the Covid pandemic is due to be appointed very shortly. We will certainly keep everybody across the House updated on that. The Deputy is right that this case raises very significant issues. In the first case we need to try to establish as many facts as we possibly can. We then need to work collaboratively across this House to make sure that our legislative basis is right. There will be a couple of opportunities to do this: the commitment in relation to the Child Care Act to increase the powers of Tusla and provide for interagency co-operation; and also the commitment to put the national review panel on a statutory footing. I do not want to overcommit until the facts are established.”
“It has also had a very significant impact on the stocks in the river and while I hear different figures and number, potentially tens of thousands of fish have died, based on visual observations, data provided by local stakeholders and scientific estimates. I am assured though that there are some healthy stocks present and therefore we expect that while it will take time for stocks to recover, they will and the river remains open for fishing as well. Full details will go into the public domain. We will continue to keep a very close eye on this and I look forward to the Oireachtas environment committee scrutinising it as well.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising the matter because it provides an opportunity to put some of the information on the public record, which is important. His broader point is also important, that is, we need at the right moment when these reports are completed the publication of the information as well as the scrutiny of it at the environment committee. I am sure Cork County Council and councillors in the area will want to do likewise because this has caused significant concern and we do and must take all pollution events seriously. As the Deputy rightly said, this is at the upper end of that.”
“This is a peculiar one in one sense because there has been so much work, so much sampling and no definitive answers, but I hope the assurances people have been able to give about water quality and the like go some way to assist the local community and, more importantly, that the river and the catchment will continue to be very closely monitored as well.”
“All agencies will continue to carry out routine surveys and inspections to identify potential risks both in the Blackwater catchment but also more widely across other watercourses. A comprehensive interagency report on the investigation will now be prepared. This will review the actions taken by all agencies involved and will include full and comprehensive findings from all investigations. I expect it will also make recommendations on further actions that can be taken in relation to prevention, compliance and incident response actions by the agencies as well.”
“Technical teams have concluded that as indicated by the results of the pathology testing carried out by the Marine Institute, the most likely cause of the fish mortality was exposure to some form of environmental insult or waterborne irritant, but no definite compound has yet been identified in any of the test results. Results from the comprehensive sampling, testing and monitoring carried out by the various agencies confirm no water quality issues have been detected, which is important for the local community, and the river remains safe for use, including for angling. Monitoring results from the Mallow treatment plant to date have also shown the water is safe to drink and I want to people with that information and to let them know the river will continue to be monitored closely.”
“This group is being co-ordinated by Inland Fisheries Ireland and includes the Environmental Protection Agency, the Marine Institute, Cork County Council, the local authorities water programme, Uisce Éireann, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Health Service Executive. That gives an indication of the seriousness we are rightly attaching to this. Agencies have used all available resources to examine and monitor the catchment area. Extensive investigations have been carried out and all potential pollution sources in the area have been examined. The investigation included water and fish sampling, laboratory testing, site inspections, electrofishing surveys and habitat inspections. Despite this very comprehensive sampling, testing and lab work carried out by the agencies, a definitive cause still has not been identified.”
“I thank my colleague Deputy McCarthy for raising this very important matter. It is one that is of huge importance to him and his constituents in Cork East. We have heard about it across the country due to its significance and the concern it has caused to people for the reasons he has outlined. I am glad to tell him a thorough investigation has been carried out over the past month into the fish kill incident on the Blackwater by an interagency group. As he said, it was established under the direction of the Minister of State, Deputy Dooley, who I thank for his work on this.”
“I must look at those points the Deputy makes. What I am saying to him, and more importantly to his constituents, as well as people I meet across the country looking for guidelines on this, is the publication of new revised guidelines is a priority for the Government-----”
“Offshore is a very important part and my constituency will see a significant amount of that, but this is about getting the planning guidelines right. There are lots of different views about health and climate as well-----”
“I am quite sure my Fine Gael councillors agree with me on wanting to get this right and this being about a balance in terms of planning. I am sitting beside the Minister for Health and I make the point more broadly that the health impact of climate change and the climate emergency is very real. We all know in our communities, and I think we agree on this across the House, that the health implications of people breathing in dirty air have been very real in the form of cancers and respiratory disease, so the move to renewables is a really good thing. The commitment we have is to get to 80% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2030.”
“A strategic environmental assessment has been carried out and a public consultation on the draft updated guidelines will take place. This will provide the Deputy, his constituents and his party with an opportunity to submit observations on that draft. I will keep the Deputy informed.”
“In addition to the noise aspect of the guidelines that added to the length, the evolving policy and technical context, including our new Planning and Development Act, which we passed last year, and the first revision of the national planning framework, which was approved by the Oireachtas at the end of April 2025, reinforced the need to get the finalised guidelines right and make sure they are fit for purpose and fit for that context as well. We are trying to strike a balance between the planning views of local communities and the impact on their areas and the need for renewable and sustainable forms of energy. There is a specific commitment in the programme for Government to prioritise the publication of these guidelines. I know the Minister of State is prioritising this work.”
“The review is looking at all aspects such as setback distance, noise, shadow flicker, community obligation and community dividend, which is always important, and grid connection. The noise aspect of this review has been highly technical and took considerably longer than was perhaps originally expected but I understand that this is now substantially complete so there is a real effort by the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and his officials to get this right and I thank him for his work on this.”
“The point the Deputy makes frequently and well is about the need for planning guidelines for communities, local authorities and planning authorities to help them understand the rules under which planning can be granted. I met some of the Deputy's constituents on this matter during the term of the previous Government. The review of the guidelines has been ongoing for a very long time. I fully accept that point. The review has ongoing for several years. I spoke with the Minister of State with responsibility for planning, Deputy Cummins, today and the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage previously and was informed that significant progress has been made towards concluding the review.”
“I thank the Deputy for raising this issue on behalf of his constituents. It is an issue he raises regularly. I think the Deputy and I agree on this but it is certainly my position and that of the Government that wind energy is a good thing. Renewable energy is a good thing. The health consequences of not having good clean renewable energy far outweigh other issues in terms of health implications. Let us think of all the health implications of the climate emergency and the burning of fuels that pollute our atmosphere, including the lung and respiratory conditions and the impact of them in all our communities over many years and the good work of predecessors such as Mary Harney on smokeless fuel.”