Results 321-340 of 34,947 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. The IHRA definition of antisemitism and its accompanying illustrative examples aim to provide guidance in cases where antisemitism may arise. It is clear that antisemitism can take many forms, some obvious and some more insidious. The IHRA itself notes that the list is context specific. It is not a legal instrument and does not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the IHRA definition emanates from an international organisation, comprising academics, civil society and Member States. Some of the particularity that the Deputy outlines with respect to the IHRA definition may reflect the particularities and magnitude of the Holocaust, its unique legacy, and the related responsibility of the international community to combat...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. Thank you, Deputy, for raising this case. I can confirm that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Israel, are aware of this case and are providing consular assistance to the citizen concerned. Since first being notified of this case, officials in the Irish Embassy have been actively engaging with the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I am aware that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, the Madleen, was intercepted by Israeli authorities in the early hours of 10 June while trying to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Madleen was an effort to get food and medicine to the starving people of Gaza; an unarmed civilian effort in the midst of devastation and catastrophic humanitarian conditions. But it was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities (including replacement capabilities as they near end of life) for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government. New rotary wing capabilities are currently being advanced in the context of the Equipment Development Planning process, and to this end, the various work...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. The decision to withhold records is provided for under Section 8(4) of the National Archives Act. During 2024 my Department mostly relied upon Section 8(4)(c) as the grounds to support the withholding of records from immediate public inspection. Section 8(4)(c) provides that records may be withheld if the release would or might cause distress...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended "The Chief of Defence to initiate an immediate force design process assisted by external experts with access to international military expertise, and to include a detailed force design process." The reasoning for the requirement for international support is the lack of such experience and expertise in the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The position in relation to eligibility for Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff positions is as follows: - Officers currently serving substantively in the ranks of Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Commodore or Captain (Naval Service), are eligible to apply in promotion competitions for the Chief of Staff position. Currently serving Brigadier-Generals, and Colonels or...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together. I propose to take PQs 29448/25 and 29449/25 together. The Assistant Chief of Staff role is an appointment made at the level of Brigadier-General. The terms and conditions governing the appointment of a Brigadier-General are set out in Defence Forces Regulation (DFR) A15 as follows: Currently serving Army Colonels who have been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that, as Minister for Defence, I am fully committed to the delivery of the national maritime security strategy by the end of this year. Maritime security was identified as a priority in the Defence Policy Review, and my Department is leading on the development of the National Maritime Security Strategy. This is the first time responsibility has been assigned for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department has not lost any properties due to adverse possession during the time period indicated.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces advertising budget is provided for within Subhead A.22.2 (Miscellaneous: Advertising) of the Defence Vote and provides for advertising costs which support various Defence Forces recruitment initiatives. The table below outlines the Subhead A.22.2 allocation over the period specified. Subhead A.22.2 Defence Forces Advertising Allocation €m ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Investment in new equipment for the Defence Forces is provided for under various Subheads of the Defence Vote relating to defensive equipment, mechanical transport, aircraft, ships and naval stores, engineering, communications and information technology equipment etc. I am informed by the Defence Forces that their records indicate the amount spent on purchasing military equipment from...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have advised that the number of personnel currently undertaking Air Traffic Controller (ATC) training, and their expected training completion dates, is as follows: No of Personnel ATC Qualification Estimated date of completion 3 Tower Q4 2026 1 Radar Q4 2026 1 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have advised that the protocol regarding the national flag being placed on the coffin of serving and former members of the Permanent Defence Force is set out under Defence Forces Regulation A10 (New Series) Ceremonial and Funerals and its related Administrative Instruction. In the event of the death of a serving member of the Permanent Defence Force, where the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to reassure the Deputy that my officials have consulted regularly over the last number of years with Defence Forces personnel on the development of the General Scheme of the Defence Amendment Bill 2025. With respect to the provisions proposed around the despatch of Defence Forces personnel overseas, it is absolutely appropriate that relevant military advice was sought to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland, along with our EU partners, adheres to the One China Policy. This means that we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and that we recognize the People's Republic of China as the legal representative of China. This does not preclude the development of economic, cultural, and people-to-people connections with Taiwan; nor the meaningful participation of Taiwan in relevant...