Results 81-100 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Malaysia is an important partner for Ireland, with which we have regular engagement at political and official level, in line with the Government’s Strategy for the Asia Pacific. Our positive diplomatic relations have been supported by the work of the resident Embassies in each other’s countries. The Embassy of Ireland in Kuala Lumpur opened in 1995 and was Ireland’s...

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

Simon Harris: To date in 2025, the Passport Service issued more than 585,000 passport books and cards. The Passport Service is responding well to demand during our busy summer period, with virtually all complete passport applications being processed within or before advertised turnaround times. Over half of adult renewal applications are processed within 2 working days. The number of applications being...

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

Simon Harris: Civil servants posted to our missions abroad are paid the standard salary for their grade as determined by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and are paid in accordance with the normal Irish taxation and social security obligations that apply to civil servants. In common with other diplomatic services, this Department further supports officers who are assigned abroad to serve...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Anti-Racism Measures (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The purpose of the non-legally binding IHRA Working Definition of antisemitism is to support the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance and its Member States with addressing contemporary challenges related to the Holocaust, including the global rise in antisemitism. Ireland already has in place robust mechanisms and protections across a wide spectrum of freedoms.

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

Simon Harris: Since April, many Irish exports to the US have been subject to an additional 10% tariff. The imposition of these tariffs has had a negative impact on all types of businesses, from multinational companies to small, medium and micro enterprises. The Government takes note of the letter sent by the US to the EU last Saturday, 12 July. The EU continues to negotiate with the US in good faith....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government carried out an extensive analysis and review of the Occupied Territories Bill late last year. The Government’s analysis was that substantive amendments would be required to most, if not all, of the provisions of that Bill in order to bring it in line with the Constitution and to try to reduce the risk of EU infringement procedures. On 24 June, the Government...

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

Simon Harris: Reply not received from Department.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Cybersecurity Policy (15 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I am aware that the International Criminal Court (ICC) reported on 30 June that it has been subjected to a targeted, sophisticated cyber attack. This is the second such incident since September 2023. I condemn these attacks as attempts to undermine the integrity of the Court and the international rule of law. Ireland is a strong supporter of the ICC, and believes that the safety and...

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

Simon Harris: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act 2008, as amended (“the 2008 Act“). Section 7(1)(a) of that Act provides that a person must be an Irish citizen in order for the Minister for Foreign Affairs (“the Minister”) to issue a passport to that person. Accordingly, every applicant for a passport must submit evidence to the satisfaction...

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

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

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

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputies have enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

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

Simon Harris: World Expos are large-scale international events held every five years. The 2025 World Expo opened in Osaka City, in the Kansai region of Japan, on 13 April. It will run for six months until 13 October and is expected to attract over 28 million visitors. Approximately 160 countries and international organisations are participating. Participation in Expo provides a unique platform to...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 to 194, inclusive, together. In March 2024, the Government announced plans to establish new, resident Embassies of Ireland in both Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina, in line with the Global Ireland 2025 strategy, which aims to double Ireland's global footprint and influence in the period from 2018 to 2025. Diplomatic teams have now been assigned to these...

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...