Results 1,101-1,120 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (26 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I want to acknowledge at the outset, because it is true, that people in this country are still finding the cost of living a very significant issue. I know that, the Deputy knows that and there is not a TD in Dáil Éireann who is not aware of that in their own community and from their own constituency work. I want to be clear the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (26 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The role of the High Representative of the European Union on Foreign Affairs and Security Policy is set out in Articles 18 and 24 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU). They establish that the High Representative shall conduct the Union’s Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and represent the Union for matters relating to CFSP. The High Representative, who is also Vice President...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (26 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the passport application to which the Deputy is referring, the Passport Service has made contact with the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (26 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department, including our bilateral Embassies in the region, are continuing to monitor closely ongoing developments in relations between India and Pakistan, alongside our EU and like-minded international partners in New Delhi and Islamabad. As I've reiterated previously, the Government is committed to enhanced political engagement with both countries over the coming years...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Ireland remains engaged with EU and International partners on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. I have participated in two meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council in the last week at which Member States and the High Representative discussed these issues. At those meetings, I outlined Ireland’s position on the need for urgent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I am deeply concerned about the hostile relationship between Israel and Iran and I have had an opportunity to discuss this at two meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council in a week, on Tuesday 17 June and Monday 23 June. I welcome President Trump's announcement of a ceasefire and I hope both sides adhere to it. At those meetings, I outlined Ireland’s position on the need for urgent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The functions, privileges and immunities of foreign defence attachés and their legal status in Ireland derives from the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, as given effect in Irish law by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act, 1967. The appointment of a defence attaché on behalf of foreign nominating states is governed by Article 7 of the Vienna Convention on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I condemn any endangerment of the safety of our peacekeepers in the execution of their mandated duties. The incident in Yaroun in May this year was unconscionable. As I have said previously, upon my instruction, on 30 May, immediately after the incident in Yaroun, our Permanent Representation to the United Nations in New York expressed our grave concerns directly to the Permanent Mission...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I am aware that the President of the European Commission spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 15 June by telephone following escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. While the institutional balance enshrined in the EU Treaties envisages that representations by the Commission President regarding the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy are consistent with positions agreed by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The European Union Action Plan on the International Criminal Court, which is a follow-up to Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP, provides that the EU and its Member States should avoid non-essential contact with individuals subject to an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. No definition is provided of what constitutes non-essential contact, which is a judgement to be made on a case-by-case basis in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (25 Jun 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 diplomatic missions have been opened or have been approved and will open shortly. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (25 Jun 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 Defence: Departmental Projects (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 16 and 17 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Curragh, as State land vested in the Minister for Defence, is recognised as a working environment for the state's Defence Forces as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance. At approximately 4,870 acres, the Plains represent one of the most open and accessible areas in the country....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Diplomatic Representation (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 19 and 20 together. Attachés for Ireland's diplomatic missions are appointed through structured interdepartmental processes, varying by role type, based on specific departmental mandates and objectives in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.  The nature of a Defence Attaché role is very different to that of An...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Strategic airlift capability has been prioritised as a capability for investment following Government approval of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) Report as part of the present move to Level Of Ambition (LOA) 2 capability as defined within the CODF Report and subsequent Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) of the CODF Report. A contract was awarded in December 2022 to Airbus at a...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Chairperson and the members of the committee. At the outset, can I return that sentiment? I am eager to work constructively with this committee. The world is a volatile place at the moment. A country like Ireland has a role in standing up for multilateralism, human rights, international law, collaboration and co-operation at an EU level. It is a role that we all want to...

Select Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 27 - International Co-operation (Revised)
Vote 28 - Foreign Affairs (Revised) (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Yes.