Results 941-960 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Engagement with third-country counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Such engagement routinely includes exchanges on issues relevant to the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the country concerned. The Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Middle East region is experiencing a period of significant instability with multiple crises, many of which are interrelated. The appalling and deteriorating situation in Gaza and the situation in the West Bank remains a central focus of my engagement with my EU and other international counterparts. Ireland has consistently condemned the ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: There are currently no plans to establish an interdepartmental committee along the lines suggested in the question.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland currently has 94 embassies and consulates general in 72 countries, as set out in the table below. There are plans to open embassies in Serbia (Belgrade); Moldova (Chisinau) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo); and consulates general in Spain (Málaga) and Australia (Melbourne). It is planned all of these will be fully operational by 2027. Country Embassy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland regularly coordinates with our EU Partners in relation to the ongoing issues facing Afghanistan and its people. This includes strongly condemning the brutal human rights abuses perpetrated by the Taliban against Afghan citizens, and the ongoing humanitarian crises gripping the country. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, Ireland continues to play an active...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The annual Seconded National Experts (SNE) Return Conference was successfully held at Iveagh House on 3 July 2025. The conference was hosted and opened by the Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne T.D. The conference, themed "Shaping Ireland's EU Leadership: From Brussels Experience to Dublin Priorities," brought together over 50 Irish Seconded National Experts...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The EU-US negotiations are at a critical juncture. Our position has always been clear: tariffs threaten the hugely successful EU-US and Ireland-US relationships and are bad for business, bad for consumers and bad for workers on both side of the Atlantic. Since April, many Irish exports to the US have been subject to an additional 10% tariff. There has been no similar imposition by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Equality Issues (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has consistently advocated for the promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTQI+ people in Hungary. We have regularly raised our concerns about serious Rule of Law backsliding and the targeting of civil society and minority rights, both in EU fora and in direct contact with Hungarian interlocutors. Through the Enlargement and European Fundamental Values fund, the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Our economic relationship with Germany is wide-ranging, resilient and dynamic. Germany, like Ireland, is committed to free trade, with an open, fair, and level playing field approach to economic relations. This commitment, as well as our shared values and interests as members of the EU, has fostered a strong and close economic relationship between our countries. Germany is one of our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council (10 Jul 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. It 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. Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are well underway across both policy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 78 together. Germany is a key partner for Ireland, politically and economically. Our connections are wide-ranging, from people-to-people links, culture, economic, trade, and as steadfast partners in the EU and globally. Germany is one of our largest trading partners, with a combined two-way trade in goods and services of almost €70 billion. We...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Reconciliation Fund, administered by my Department, was established in 1982 to support civil society organisations in creating a better understanding between the people and traditions of the island of Ireland, and also between Ireland and Britain. The Reconciliation Fund has supported almost 3,000 projects with more than €65 million in grant funding since then. The overall budget...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Sanctions are an important tool to promote the objectives of the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy in response to breaches of international law including international humanitarian law and human rights. I welcome that the European Union has adopted successive rounds of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers under its Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, in April and in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland remains extremely concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy in Belarus. We are deeply conscious that the people of Belarus have been continually denied access to free and fair elections and a real voice in the governing of their country. The Lukashenko regime's relentless and unprecedented repression of human rights, restrictions on political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Subsequent to the military action by the United States on Iranian nuclear facilities on 21 June, I met with my EU colleagues at the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 23 June. I spoke by telephone with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran on 22 June and the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates on 25 June. On 2 July, I met in Dublin with the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: On 23 June 2025, I attended a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs ministers, the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC), in Brussels. The FAC began with a discussion on Iran, which followed on from the extraordinary FAC meeting on the conflict between Israel and Iran via VTC on Tuesday 17 June. During these discussions, I joined colleagues in underlining the need for a diplomatic solution. Ministers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Commemorative Events (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The United States of America has begun a one-year countdown to 4 July 2026, which marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. This significant anniversary will present Ireland with an important platform to highlight the distinct contribution made by the Irish, not only to the foundation of the US, but also to its political, economic and social...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The EU-US negotiations are at a critical juncture. Our position has always been clear: tariffs threaten the hugely successful EU-US and Ireland-US relationships and are bad for business, bad for consumers and bad for workers on both side of the Atlantic. Since April, many Irish exports to the US have been subject to an additional 10% tariff. The imposition of these tariffs has had a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 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. I look forward to opening Ireland’s first resident embassy in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (10 Jul 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...