Results 801-820 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland enjoys excellent bilateral relations with Moldova. The Moldovan Government opened a resident Embassy in Dublin in February 2020, which has been positive in terms of increased engagement and cooperation between our two countries, as well as servicing the significant Moldovan Community in Ireland. Ireland's first resident embassy in Chișinau will open this year. This will...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Georgia applied for membership of the European Union on 3 March 2022, alongside the Republic of Moldova. Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December 2023, on the understanding that nine criteria specified in the European Commission's November 2023 enlargement package were met. However, its EU progress was de-facto halted by the June 2024 European Council, following the government's...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: In June 2018, the Government launched Global Ireland: Ireland's Global Footprint to 2025. The strategy aims to see Ireland's global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence. Under the Global Ireland strategy, 27 new diplomatic missions have been opened or their future opening has been announced. This has been...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Faroe Islands are part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland's relations with the Faroe Islands are conducted through the Embassy of Ireland to Denmark in Copenhagen. Accordingly, there are no plans to establish an Irish Embassy on the Faroe Islands. The Embassy in Copenhagen maintains close contact with the Faroese Government and the Ambassador visited the islands in May 2024. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: As Greenland is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, Ireland's relations with Greenland are conducted through the Embassy of Ireland to Denmark in Copenhagen. Accordingly, there are no plans to establish an Irish Embassy there. Ireland enjoys good bilateral relations with the Greenlandic Government. The Ambassador in Copenhagen and other embassy officials have visited regularly in recent years...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Advertising (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade uses public awareness campaigns and advertising to promote essential services to citizens at home and abroad, and to promote Irish interests and values internationally. In 2019, public awareness campaigns in relation to Brexit and passports formed a significant part of advertising costs. The Department's expenditure on advertising in 2019 included...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: In 2019, the Department ran a public awareness campaign aimed at rugby fans who were travelling to the World Cup in Japan. The goal of the campaign was to reach audiences with messaging about the Department's travel advice and information on what measures to take in the event of a consular emergency or crisis while in Japan. The total cost of this campaign was €26,445. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Both I and my officials interact with a wide variety of international partners on the Middle East which remains a major priority for this Government. Ireland's engagement is guided by our long-standing and principled position, notably respect for international law, respect for the equal right to self-determination, peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application, the passport has been printed and dispatched to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Strategies (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's work to advance Ireland's values and interests abroad is underpinned by a number of thematic, geographic and operational strategies. The Statement of Strategy sets out the Department's high-level goals and reflects its commitments under the Programme for Government. It is complemented by two core strategies, “Global Ireland –...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (15 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, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Vote Group, comprising of two Votes, Army Pensions (Vote 35) and Defence (Vote 36), was provided with a funding allocation of €1,350 million in Budget 2025. Of this overall allocation, €1,135 million relates to current expenditure, with €215 million relating to capital expenditure. Current expenditure on the Defence Vote Group provides mainly for the pay and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question in relation to this matter. The Department of Defence occupies premises in Newbridge, Dublin, Roscrea and Renmore. For reasons of operational security it is not appropriate to provide further details.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I fully support the practice of cooperation between the Defence Forces and other international armed forces in the training space, where deemed appropriate by senior military leadership and where resources allow. First and foremost, such cooperation enables the Defence Forces to develop our own personnel and maintain the capabilities necessary to enable them to fulfil the roles laid down...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 251 together. The military authorities have advised that most personnel within the Defence Forces School of Music, commissioned and non-commissioned, are recruited through direct entry competitions open to all. Defence Forces School of Music Instrumentalists are selected following a recruitment process that includes an audition and interview...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: It has not been possible to provide a response within the time frame available. I will respond to the Deputy when information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: RDF members 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. There are no plans to amend this practice. Any individual that wishes to join the PDF, and who meets the qualifying criteria can apply for a position in the PDF. All competitions for entry into the PDF are advertised on the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is compiling the data requested by the Deputy and I will arrange to have same forwarded as soon as  it is available. 

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: It has been a long standing policy, in line with other public sector employers, to discontinue the historic provision of tied housing to serving personnel.  Single living-in accommodation is provided for transient operational and training use and by its nature it is not designed for long stay accommodation. The allocation of such accommodation is decided locally by the military...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces has put in place a clear strategy for meeting its decarbonisation targets. The Defence Forces has published its Climate Action Roadmap, and is currently preparing a Climate and Defence Strategy as part of commitments arising from the EU Strategic Compass. Top level management in the DF are actively engaged with achieving CO2 reductions for the organisation. The Defence...