Results 301-320 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 102 and 105 together. Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time from 1 July to 31 December 2026, providing an important opportunity for Ireland to lead and shape the European agenda. Preparations are well underway across both policy and operational strands of planning, led by the Department of Foreign...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 106 together. Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for the eighth time from 1 July to 31 December 2026. This will be an important opportunity for Ireland to lead and shape the European agenda, and the Government has made a firm commitment to resource and deliver a successful Presidency in 2026. The Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Data (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 107 together. Since the current Administration entered into office in January this year, the impact of US tariff policy on Ireland’s exports to the US has been a priority for the Government. In this regard, we have had ongoing contacts with the European Commission to discuss Irish concerns, including with regard to impacts on sectors,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I want to thank the Deputy for raising this question. The provision of consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad, including in cases of detention, is a cornerstone of the work of officials in my Department. My officials and I place a strong emphasis on ensuring that Irish citizens receive timely and empathetic consular assistance in accordance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 110 together. Ireland voted in favour of UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971. Along with our EU partners, Ireland, along with our EU partners, adheres to the EU’s One China Policy. This means that we recognise the People's Republic of China as the legal representative of China, and that we do not have diplomatic relations with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Italy is a key partner for Ireland, both within the European Union and more widely, including in the United Nations. It is the third largest economy in the Eurozone and is Ireland’s ninth largest goods export partner. Ireland's relationship with Italy has strengthened in recent years. Additionally, the opening of Ireland’s Consulate General in Milan one year ago has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The prevention and eradication of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment has been a cornerstone of Ireland’s approach to human rights for decades. The absolute prohibition of torture is one of the cornerstones of the international human rights framework. Ireland has consistently condemned the mistreatment and torture of prisoners by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The total expenditure incurred by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on off-site storage in Ireland for the past five years to date is €39,812. The items stored are processed passport application forms.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Defence Forces (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Medical examinations for potential new recruits, which are carried out by Defence Forces Medical Officers or contracted occupational medicine specialists, consist of a full history and examination, including a clinical questionnaire and declaration by the applicant, anthropometry (height, weight, BMI), blood pressure and pulse, visual acuity testing, colour vision screening, audiometry, ECG,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Expenditure (23 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The expenditure for my Department on off-site storage solutions for the past five years to date is contained in the table below. Year Purpose Expenditure (Including VAT) 2020 File Decant Project €50,825.47 2021 File Decant Project €18,810.29 2022 ...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (18 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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...