Results 101-120 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

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

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided the following strength figures outlined in the table below for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and for the Army, Naval Service (NS) and Air Corps (AC) respectively as at 31 May 2025.

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

Simon Harris: In April 2025, a prior information notice was published on the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) in accordance with EU procurement regulations, announcing the intention to launch a procurement competition for the supply of a new combat uniform system, and tender documentation is being prepared by the Defence Forces in this regard.

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 the information requested is to hand.

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

Simon Harris: The following table sets out those national strategies, action plans or similar documents, under the remit of the Department of Defence, which are the currently being implemented. Document Year of Publication Strategic Emergency Management (SEM) National Structures and Framework document and associated Annexes Main document 2018 Annexes 2020-2023 ...

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

Simon Harris: As Minister, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. Across Europe, all countries are experiencing an increasingly contested, dynamic and volatile international security environment. There is a need for us to be seen to take our own security...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253, 254, 255, 256 and 257 together. 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...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Currie for her work as Fine Gael spokesperson on childcare and as part of the Government's collective effort on childcare. The programme for Government is ambitious in this area. As we have discussed before, there are around 21 commitments in relation to childcare. The next step will be the publication of a new action plan on childcare and how we intend to advance it. I...