Results 361-380 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (11 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The table below provides details of retired civil servants that were re-engaged by my Department for consultancy in the past four years and to date in 2025. My Department has full regard to all relevant legislation to ensure there is no conflict of interest. Year Number of Consultants Reason Cost 2024 1 Review the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. Protecting and developing the extensive two-way trade and investment relationship between Ireland and the United States in the current unpredictable international trading environment is a high priority for me as Tánaiste and for the Government as a whole. The Government will continue to prioritise ensuring that we have a...

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

Simon Harris: There has been significant bilateral high-level political engagement in recent years between Ireland and Canada, including in recent months with the new Canadian administration. I have written to Prime Minister Carney to congratulate him on his appointment as Prime Minister, and I look forward to engaging with his government. Over the St Patrick’s Day period in 2025, Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Where a child's guardian is deceased, the Passport Service requests the original death certificate of the deceased guardian, consent of the surviving guardian and a Sole Guardian Affidavit from the surviving guardian confirming that they are the only guardian of the child, in order to satisfy guardian consent requirements. While the Passport Service of course recognises the difficulties...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Intensive and constructive work has been ongoing with the British government since last autumn to determine if we can move forward together on legacy, through fundamental reform of the Legacy Act and the commission it establishes. I am in ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on these issues, with a focus on finding a way forward on a number of issues where...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 177 together. The Government remains committed to free, fair and open trade while protecting Ireland’s interests in international trade deals. Our EU membership makes us part of the growing network of EU Free Trade Agreements, supporting more opportunity for exports and investment, helping support jobs and growth at home, maintaining strict...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Consulate General of Ireland in Miami was established and began operations in 2022. It was formally opened by then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in September 2023. Regular engagement with local authorities is a key part of the consular work of Ireland's diplomatic network on behalf of Irish citizens abroad. Ireland's Consul General in Miami engages with local authorities across its area...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are, which includes where Christians face persecution for exercising the right to practice their faith. Ireland regularly discusses human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities in bilateral meetings and in the appropriate multilateral fora,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to clarify that the proposal in question was discussed at the General Affairs Council meeting on 27 May 2025, rather than the European Council. At this meeting, Spain presented its proposal to grant official EU language status to Basque, Catalan and Galician through an amendment to Council Regulation No 1/1958, which determines the languages to be used by the European institutions....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. The protection and promotion of universal human rights is one of Ireland’s core foreign policy priorities. The Government regularly raises concerns regarding human rights with China, both in bilateral meetings as well as in the appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183, 190 and 204 together. I propose to take PQs 29713, 29554 and 30482 together. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) is an intergovernmental organisation with a mandate focused on Holocaust education, remembrance and research. It was established in 1998 at the initiative of then Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, and currently...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The standard Irish passport issued to adults is valid for 10 years. Passport fees were last updated in June 2019 and are set out in Statutory Instrument No. 259/2019 - Diplomatic and Consular Fees. At that time the fee for adult passports applied for through the Passport Online service was reduced from €80 to €75. The fee for passports applied for through postal service...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Directives (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: EU infringement proceedings arise when Member States fail to properly transpose EU Directives into national law within the prescribed timeframes, or when the transposition is incomplete or incorrect. These cases are initiated by the European Commission as part of its role as guardian of the Treaties to ensure uniform application of EU law across all Member States. The Commission follows a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Election Monitoring Missions (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: An important component of Irish foreign policy is the sharing of lessons from the Northern Ireland peace process, a conflict once considered intractable. While each context is different, characterised by specific challenges and complexities, Ireland and other parties to the peace process have drawn several relevant lessons from it. I can assure the Deputy that a willingness to share such...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. 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...

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

Simon Harris: A number of States, including Ireland, pursue a policy of military neutrality. In practical terms, Ireland’s policy of military neutrality, as pursued by successive Governments, is characterised by non-membership of military alliances and non-participation in common or mutual defence arrangements. There are no plans to alter this policy at this time. Ireland’s policy of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended. Section 7 of the 2008 Act provides that before issuing a passport to a person the Passport Service shall be satisfied as to the identity of the person. The Passport Service requires the submission of a long-form birth certificate as a key supporting document in all first-time passport applications. ...

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

Simon Harris: Ireland’s consistent position remains that we need a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue on trade with the United States. The suspension of some US tariffs, along with the EU also pausing its own re-balancing measures, has created the conditions for meaningful negotiation. Ireland, as part of the EU, wants to play a constructive role and will continue to be a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The conflict in the Middle East remains a central focus of Ireland’s foreign policy and my engagement with my EU and international counterparts. The immediate focus of the international community must be on efforts to ensure an immediate ceasefire, the release of all remaining hostages, and a surge in vital humanitarian aid into and throughout Gaza. In parallel to these efforts,...