Results 541-560 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland Houses involve the co-location of diplomatic missions and State Agencies in one premises, working under one roof, sharing services and facilities, and adopting collaborative work practices. Ireland House in Singapore was established in 2000 when the resident Embassy of Ireland opened, and was co-located with the existing Enterprise Ireland office. IDA Ireland opened its doors...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland and Thailand continue to enjoy good bilateral relations, with Embassy officials conducting regular visits to many regions across Thailand, including for trade and promotional purposes, to engage with the Irish community, and to provide consular assistance.  The information requested on the visits is set out below: June 2024 Official visit featuring...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the UN-led process, including the MINURSO Mission, and the efforts of Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to achieve a political solution to this long-standing dispute. It is our hope that these efforts will help achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Common Travel Area (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Safeguarding and protecting the Good Friday Agreement and the Common Travel Area remain fundamental priorities for the Irish Government. The Common Travel Area (CTA) facilitates Irish and British citizens to move and reside freely across Ireland and the UK while maintaining access for citizens to a range of reciprocal rights and privileges central to everyday life. While it predates the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: For a number of years now Ireland has played an active role at the UN’s Sixth (Legal Affairs) Committee in promoting the need for a new Convention on Crimes against Humanity, based on the International Law Commission’s Draft Articles on the Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity. I’m glad to say that at the 79th session of the Sixth Committee last year,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTI+ persons is a domestic and foreign policy priority for Ireland. Ireland supports all efforts at international human rights forums to highlight and advance LGBTI+ rights, including through the European Union, the UN Human Rights Council, the Third Committee of the UN General Assembly, the Council of Europe, the Organisation for Security...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I strongly condemn all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where it occurs or who the victims are.  This includes where Christians face persecution for exercising the right to practice their faith.  Promotion and protection of freedom of religion or belief is a priority for Ireland, both nationally and across our international engagements....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Agreements (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, on 14 February 2024, the then Taoiseach and Prime Minister Sanchez of Spain wrote to the President of the European Commission requesting an urgent review of whether Israel is complying with its human rights obligations under the EU-Israel Association Agreement. Furthermore, the letter requested that the Commission propose appropriate measures for the consideration...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has, both bilaterally and at multilateral level, repeatedly called on Israel to comply with international law, stressing the universal applicability of international law, including international humanitarian law. Ireland, the EU and international partners have been clear that there can be no forced displacement of the civilian population in Gaza, nor occupation of the Strip by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Capital Expenditure Programme (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 83 and 84 together. There are no State or semi-State bodies under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. My Department has a range of programmes that provide support to non-governmental organisations, including community and sporting organisations, that contribute to the realisation of key foreign policy priorities and the promotion of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: 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. Ireland's Presidency priorities and policy programme are currently under...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Sanctions (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The United States has not imposed sanctions on the European Union. I understand the Deputy is likely referring to the recent trade deal between the United States and the European Union and specifically the Joint Statement on an EU-US Framework Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair and Balanced Trade which was published on 21 August. That deal confirms a single, all-inclusive 15% tariff on EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Intensive and constructive work has been, in particular since the beginning of the year, at both official and political level, between the Irish and British governments to determine if we can find adequate common ground to move forward together on legacy. Seeking a joint approach for reform of the Legacy Act has been the focus of all of my meetings and phone discussions with the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Policies (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Pursuant to Section 12 of the CER Regulations (S.I No 559 of 2024), it is a matter for the relevant competent authorities to identify the Critical Entities within their relevant sectors within 21 months of the coming into operation of the CER Regulations. Pending the identification of same the issue of audits and enforcement actions pursuant to these regulations does not arise. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, the Defence Forces have recently established a Joint Cyber Defence Command (JCDC). This Command will be able to conduct full-spectrum cyberspace operations to robustly defend against cyber threats, support Defence Forces operations at home and overseas, and enhance national cyber defence resilience and contingent capabilities. To support this development, a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided the detail in following table outlining the number of Reserve Defence Force (Army Reserve and Naval Service Reserve) applications received, by year, from 2020 to 2025 (*as at 1 August 2025): 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025* Number of Applications 1,670 76 1,349...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The increased interest in the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) was reflected in the number of Reserve Training and Support Days (RTSDs) undertaken in 2024 which totalled 28,762 days, an excess of 2,762 days over the original allocation of 26,000 days. The original 2024 budget allocation for the RDF was proactively increased in Q4 2024 to meet evolving levels of RDF activity, with a further...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Minister for Social Protection has responsibility for the ruling in relation to PRSI. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment in any detail in relation to this matter. The Reserve Defence Forces members continue to engage in activities in support of Permanent Defence Forces (PDF) on a voluntary basis, when it is in the best interests of the PDF to do so. The ultimate goal of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces facility at Killorglin is currently used by the Defence Forces for military exercises, tactical training and to aid both Civil Power and Civil Authority activities in the area. My officials will liaise directly with the named organisation to ascertain their requirements and to ascertain if this request can be facilitated.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department has been engaged on an ongoing programme of barracks consolidation since 1998 and the entire property portfolio is under continual review. The property outlined below is in County Kerry and is currently vacant and it is my Department’s policy to dispose of properties that are surplus to military requirements. Property Address Approx...