Results 41-60 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: €100 million in aid.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I support them every day.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: You did say it.

Confidence in the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade: Motion (15 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The House gathers today less than a year since the last general election, as the Taoiseach reminds us, and just over 250 days since the Government was formed. The Thirty-fourth Dáil sits at a time of global uncertainty and geopolitical turbulence. It was in this context that the people made their choice at the last election and the resultant Dáil has very serious business to do on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: With regards to the Deputy's query, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly and provided assistance.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 158 and 159 together. The Joint Framework I announced on 19 September alongside Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn, sets out a comprehensive package aimed at providing truth and accountability for victims and families who lost loved ones during the Troubles. The Joint Framework offers the best opportunity for addressing one of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: Since the start of the crisis, my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and their immediate dependents, who have expressed a wish to leave. My Department has also supported the evacuation of other Palestinians seeking support from Ireland, including students, medical evacuation patients, and individuals with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The policy of the Department is to operate competitive tendering as standard procedure in order to achieve best value for money. Procurement takes place in the context of Directive 2014/24/EU and supported by Procurement Guidelines 2023 published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). The Department participates fully in on-going initiatives of the OGP focusing especially on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Circulars (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is responsible for two Votes - Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs and Trade). There are no contracting authorities under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reports (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department commissions external expertise where highly specialised skills are not available internally and in particular where ongoing independent evaluation of programmes and projects is required. During the course of their engagement, these consultants and experts may prepare reports and other documentation for the Department. In-depth analysis of issues by external experts has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has an excellent bilateral relationship with Estonia. Irish-Estonian relations within the EU are positive and we are likeminded on many areas of EU policy, particularly on approaches to the Single Market, banking and capital markets unions, and the digital single market. I regularly engage with my Estonian counterpart, Minister Margus Tsahkna, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. In...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: Latvia and Ireland enjoy excellent bilateral relations. We have a shared outlook across many areas of EU policy, including tax, single digital market, CAP and climate change. I regularly engage with my Latvian counterpart, Minister Baiba Braže, at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Ireland has ongoing, high-level engagement with Latvia; Minister Braže visited Dublin last September...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: Lithuania and Ireland enjoy excellent bilateral relations. We have a shared outlook across so many areas of EU policy: on competitiveness, on trade and on solidarity with Ukraine. As we move closer to our Presidency of the Council of the European Union, I look forward to even closer cooperation with Lithuania, including exchanges at all levels of government, as Lithuania forms part of our EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland is a strong supporter of merit-based EU enlargement policy and believes that candidate countries should be permitted to join the EU once they meet all the necessary criteria. Ireland recognises Montenegro’s significant progress towards EU membership and notes its aim to join the EU in 2028. This would require it to close all remaining negotiating chapters during...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies to commercial and non-commercial State bodies. It does not apply directly to Government Departments. This Department does not have any state bodies operating under its aegis.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that the Irish citizens detained in Israel following their participation on the Global Sumud Flotilla were released and have all returned home. Following the detention of the citizens, officials from across my Department, including the Embassy in Tel Aviv, undertook intensive diplomatic efforts to secure this outcome, working in conjunction with international partners. An...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The Irish citizens detained on the Global Sumud Flotilla have now departed Israel and have returned home. This welcome outcome was secured after intensive efforts by officials in my Department, including the Embassy team in Tel Aviv, working in conjunction with international partners. Throughout this period, our primary concern was to ensure the safety and wellbeing of all those...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The funding committed by Government to facilitate the delivery of a successful presidency for Ireland and the way in which this funding will be allocated to different departments, does not fall under the responsibility of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and this question is therefore not a matter for my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (14 Oct 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. The Government discussed Ireland’s approach to the preparation of the 2026 EU...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Protection (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I remain deeply concerned about the situation in Myanmar, especially in relation to the treatment of the Rohingya Muslims and other minorities. The Rohingya have been subject to continuous attacks, forced displacement, and abhorrent treatment over a period of years. More than 1 million Rohingya have been displaced to camps in Bangladesh since 2017, joining earlier waves of refugees. Ireland...