Results 541-560 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening daily. The entire population is facing high levels of food insecurity. More than 20% face starvation after 18 months of fighting, and almost 80 days of the Israeli blockade on vital, life-saving, humanitarian aid. The Government has consistently condemned any arrangement for humanitarian assistance that does not ensure access for the entire...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s position on the current situation was made very clear in the Tánaiste’s joint statement with the Foreign Ministers of Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain earlier this month. It called on Israel to to take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The age limits for recruitment into both the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) are governed by Defence Force Regulations. The mandatory retirement and maximum recruitment ages for RDF personnel were amended in March 2024 and this resulted in the upper age limit for recruitment to the RDF being increased to 39 years of age. These increases are aligned with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The estate in question was originally constructed in the 1970’s to house serving military personnel and is now almost entirely in private ownership. There have been a number of requests to the local authority to take the estate in charge. Such a transfer would allow the residents of Orchard Park to benefit from the provision of services by the local authority, which cannot be provided...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, there are plans to overhaul the condition of the Department's vacant housing stock, in so far as possible, to increase the provision of single living-in accommodation for serving personnel. In this regard, the Defence Forces commissioned Consultants to assess the condition of the Defence Forces vacant housing stock and its suitability for conversion/refurbishment...

Gaza: Motion (28 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Labour Party and Deputy Smith for bringing forward this motion today. I thank them for the constructive way in which they are approaching the most horrific, appalling situation in Gaza and the Middle East, and I mean that. I approach this debate, and respectfully suggest we should all approach it, by moving beyond the mantra of "Government good, Opposition bad" or "Opposition...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Anti-Racism Measures (28 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I would emphasise that the IHRA Definition is a non-legally binding guidance tool, intended to support the IHRA and its Member States in the important work of addressing contemporary challenges related to the Holocaust, including the growing rise in antisemitism which it is important to condemn and take action on. Neither the definition nor its illustrative examples are intended to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Anti-Racism Measures (28 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The decision to endorse the IHRA non legally binding working definition of antisemitism was taken to meet commitments under the European Commission Strategy for Fostering Jewish Life, as well as related EU Council Conclusions and Council Declarations. As Ireland was among the later EU Member States to endorse the IHRA definition of antisemitism, various international organizations raised...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (28 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has recognised and had diplomatic relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran since its establishment in 1979. Ireland and Iran maintain resident embassies in each other’s capitals. Diplomatic recognition of a state does not imply or connote any judgement or assessment of its system of government, values or the policies of its government. As frequently discussed in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (28 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 6, 7 and 10 together. I am deeply concerned by the continued and widespread use of the death penalty and arbitrary detention in Iran. Iran has significantly increased its executions in recent years, and now reportedly carries out more than half of all the executions in the world outside China. Accordingly, the death penalty and arbitrary detention are a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (28 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 11 together. The issues of Iran’s support for militant groups around the Middle East region, and its support for Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine, are among the most pressing of the many concerns which Ireland and our EU partners have with Iran’s actions and policies. As frequently discussed in the Oireachtas, these concerns...

Apology to Shane O'Farrell and his Family: Statements (27 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I want to begin by welcoming members of the O'Farrell family to the House. I am conscious that for Shane's parents, Lucia and Jim, and his for his four sisters, Hannah, Gemma, Aimee and Pia, this very far from your first time in this House, or in the environs of Government Buildings. I had the honour of meeting you when I served as Minister for Justice. I was in awe of you all. I was in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (27 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, represented Ireland at the Informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers (Gymnich) on 7-8 May in Warsaw. The Gymnich, hosted by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, was a welcome opportunity to discuss the full range of pressing challenges facing the EU at present, including the ongoing appalling...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 May 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: Passport Services (27 May 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. There is a field on the data page of the Irish passport to record the place of birth of the holder, but nationality is not displayed on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is currently in the busiest season of the year for processing passport applications, as citizens prepare for their upcoming summer travel plans. Thanks to operational and staffing plans implemented by my Department, the Passport Service is successfully responding to the current high demand, and has issued over 440,000 passports to date this year. All turnaround times are at...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 155 and 156 together. The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. Officials in my Department are collating this information and I will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Public Procurement Contracts (27 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154, 155 and 156 together. The detailed information sought by the Deputy is not readily available within the time frame sought. Officials in my Department are collating this information and I will arrange to have this information forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (27 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Minister of State for International Development and Diaspora, Neale Richmond TD, represented Ireland at the Informal meeting of EU Foreign Ministers (Gymnich) on 7-8 May in Warsaw. The Gymnich, hosted by the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU, was a welcome opportunity to discuss the full range of pressing challenges facing the EU at present, including the ongoing appalling...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 May 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...