Results 581-600 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 63 together. On 24 June, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill 2025. The scheme delivers on the commitment in the Programme for Government to progress legislation prohibiting the import of goods from settlements in the Occupied...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Registration Certificate (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the designated authority to issue a Certificate of Freedom to Marry to Irish citizens who are getting married abroad. This is not an Irish requirement but is a requirement of the country where the applicant is getting married. To apply for a Certificate of Freedom to Marry, an online questionnaire about the applicant and the upcoming marriage...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The UN Global Oceans Treaty is formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction, or more commonly referred to as the BBNJ Agreement. The BBNJ Agreement, in broad terms, aims to close significant gaps in global ocean governance by providing a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s position on the situation in the occupied Palestinian Territory is abundantly clear. Ireland, the EU and international partners have repeatedly stated that there can be no permanent forced displacement of the civilian population from Gaza, nor a permanent occupation of the territory by Israel. Forced displacement is prohibited under international humanitarian law and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Legal Services (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 42 and 54 to 60, inclusive, together. My Department generally seeks advice on domestic legal matters from the Office of the Attorney General and/or the Chief State Solicitor’s Office. Depending on the subject matter, litigation is dealt with on my Department’s behalf by the Attorney General’s Office, the Chief State...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The figures referred to in Parliamentary Question No. 199 of 8 July 2025 were from a United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) update published on 2 July 2025. The figures were provided to OCHA by the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Of the 57,012 fatalities, 24,818 were men, 9,126 were women, 17,121 were children, and 4,137 were elderly. The figures are not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: In international law, a territory is considered occupied when it is placed under the authority of a hostile army. The occupation extends only to territory where this authority has been established and can actually be exercised, thereby coming under the effective control of the occupying power. International law applicable to military occupation does not characterise an occupation as either...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including through our Embassies and Consulates worldwide, provides consular assistance to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad within the remit of its Consular Assistance Charter. Throughout the recent crisis, my Department, including through our Embassies in Tehran and Tel Aviv, remained in regular contact with Irish citizens seeking support to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Official hospitality events form part of the overall strategy by which the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade seeks to engage with Ireland’s international partners and thereby advance Ireland’s economic, political, foreign policy and other key national interests, promote Irish culture and increase Ireland’s international influence generally. Such official...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Grant Payments (29 Jul 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 agencies under the aegis of the Department. Grant payments are administered from programme budgets, with a significant level of grant aid being issued via the Irish Aid programme. The Department also supports Irish communities...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service is successfully meeting demand for passports this year and virtually all passports being issued on or, in many cases, well before their expected issue by date. The Passport Service receives requests for applications to be expedited through a number of channels including through the Customer Service Hub, PQs, reps, and the Oireachtas line. The specific data requested...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service is successfully meeting demand for passports this year and virtually all passports being issued on or before their expected issue by date. The Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This award-winning service has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing and has resulted in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Brazil, Mauro Vieira, visited Ireland from Saturday 12 July to Wednesday 16 July. Over the course of his visit, Minister Vieira held engagements with a series of interlocutors, including President Higgins, and the Ireland-Brazil Parliamentary Friendship Group. I met with Minister Vieira on Monday 14 July in Iveagh House. The meeting was an opportunity...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Applications (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has consistently condemned the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza and continues to urge all parties to do everything possible to support efforts underway to reach agreement on a new ceasefire and hostage release deal. My Department, including Irish Embassies and Consulates worldwide, provides consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this is a paper application which was received on 16 June 25. The turnaround time for paper applications is 8 weeks. The Passport Service contacted the applicant directly to offer assistance. The Passport Service requested further documents for the application on 22 July 25. The application cannot proceed until the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (29 Jul 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 or Naturalisation. FBR, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Office of Government Procurement (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department does not have contracts in place for transferring furniture or artwork from embassies and consulates general premises. Any such occasional moves use suppliers appointed following a process involving quotes being sought from the market in line with procurement guidelines.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”). The Act provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices that are applied by the Passport Service in the issuing of passports. To protect the integrity of the Irish passport, when processing a first time application the Passport Service must validate the identity of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Responsibilities (29 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 67 together. I am satisfied that usage of phone and email services assigned to me is fully in line with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's requirements.