Results 1,981-2,000 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: In June 2018, the Government launched Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025. The strategy aims to see Ireland’s global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence. Under the The Global Ireland strategy, 27 missions diplomatic missions have been opened or announced to be opened. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Directives (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Over Ireland’s 50 years of EU membership, approximately 4,000 Directives have been transposed into Irish law. The vast majority are transposed on time, usually two years following publication. However, where this does not happen, the European Commission can open infringement proceedings against Ireland. Most infringements are resolved (once transposition is completed) at the initial...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together. The Passport Service issued over one million passports in 2024. To date in 2025, the Passport Service has issued over 370,000 passports. 2025 is expected to be another busy year for the Passport Service and my Department is in an excellent position to meet the demand forecasted for the summer season. I am pleased to say that the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: TABLE Horses to join the Army Equitation School in 2024 4 Horses to join the Army Equitation School to date in 2025 0

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has been an active and committed supporter of UNRWA and its activities for many years. As part of Ireland’s overall support to the people of Palestine, €58 million has been provided to UNRWA between 2023 and 2025. This includes €20 million to UNRWA committed by me in February this year, which supports UNRWA’s programmes in Gaza and the West Bank,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: As with all of my EU counterparts, I regularly meet with Foreign Minister Casper Veldkamp and Foreign Trade and Development Minister Reinette Klever at Foreign Affairs Councils in Brussels. These opportunities to engage on the EU agenda, and to get to know our fellow ministers create the strong understanding that we share as Europeans. In March, I had a constructive phone call with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: A Vision for Change (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 ("the 2008 Act"), as amended. The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 ("the 1956 Act"), as amended, under which Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Embassy of Ireland in Rabat works to promote Ireland’s interests in Morocco, supporting political, economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between our two countries. The Embassy supports the community of Irish people who are resident, or who may be travelling in Morocco, as well as Irish people, businesses, public bodies and educational and cultural institutions engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland's relationship with Indonesia is strong and growing. It reached a significant milestone in 2024 when we celebrated the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Jakarta. The opening of a resident Irish Embassy in 2014 has been critical to enhancing Ireland's relationship with Indonesia, and to increasing awareness of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department, through our Embassy in Islamabad, continues to monitor developments closely in the province of Balochistan, in south-west Pakistan, in light of the ongoing unrest in this region and the recent arrests of prominent human rights activists. Our Embassy has engaged regularly with both the EU Delegation and like-minded partners in Pakistan regarding the most appropriate response...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided the requested details, in the table below, in relation to the number of personnel currently in the Defence Forces School of Music. Figures are as at 24 April 2025: Rank Lt Col Comdt Captain CS CQ Sgt Cpl Pte Strength 1 1 5 4 0 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The number of officers who were promoted from the rank of Lieutenant to Captain in the Army in 2024 and to-date in 2025, as requested by the Deputy, are set out in tabular form below: 2024 January 34 February 15 March 2 July 1 2025 February 28 March ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Germany, are aware of these reports. I can further confirm that officials in the Irish Embassy in Berlin are engaging with the relevant German authorities on the matter. I wish to assure the Deputies that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Germany, stand ready to provide consular assistance, should...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and procedures that are applied by the Passport Service in the issuing of passports. The Passport Service takes its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport very seriously. Due to the strength of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Art Collection (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The bust of General San Martin is currently stored in my Department, having been previously in the National Gallery. My Department is exploring with other state bodies a suitable place for the public display of this bust.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: My engagements outside of the State from 25 February to 7 April 2025 are outlined in the table below: Date Destination Engagement March 6 Liverpool Ireland-UK Summit March 14-18 Philadelphia and New York USA St Patrick’s Day engagements March 25-27 Lebanon Visit to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Hamas is listed by the European Union as a terrorist organisation, unanimously agreed by all Member States. Ireland has repeatedly condemned Hamas and its terrorist attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, and has consistently called for the unconditional release of all hostages held in Gaza. I attended the first EU-Palestine High Level Dialogue in Luxembourg on 14 April. The Dialogue provided...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The passport card was launched in October 2015 and offers Irish citizens the convenience of travel, with a credit card sized travel document, to all EU Member States, the members of the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway), Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Between 2015 and 2024, over 875,000 passport cards were issued. The Passport Card is fully compliant with International Civil...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department follow developments in the Taiwan Strait closely. Together with our EU partners, Ireland adheres to a One China Policy. This means we recognise the People’s Republic of China as the legal representative of China, and we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan. However, this does not preclude the development of economic, cultural and people-to-people...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland engages regularly with the Palestinian Authority on a range of issues, including at political level. I met with President Abbas in September of last year in New York in my capacity as Taoiseach during the United Nations High Level week. I also spoke with President Abbas by telephone in December 2024, and in May 2024 following Ireland’s recognition of the state of...