Results 1,481-1,500 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. The decision to withhold records is provided for under Section 8(4) of the National Archives Act. During 2024 my Department mostly relied upon Section 8(4)(c) as the grounds to support the withholding of records from immediate public inspection. Section 8(4)(c) provides that records may be withheld if the release would or might cause distress...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended "The Chief of Defence to initiate an immediate force design process assisted by external experts with access to international military expertise, and to include a detailed force design process." The reasoning for the requirement for international support is the lack of such experience and expertise in the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The position in relation to eligibility for Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff positions is as follows: - Officers currently serving substantively in the ranks of Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Commodore or Captain (Naval Service), are eligible to apply in promotion competitions for the Chief of Staff position. Currently serving Brigadier-Generals, and Colonels or...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together. I propose to take PQs 29448/25 and 29449/25 together. The Assistant Chief of Staff role is an appointment made at the level of Brigadier-General. The terms and conditions governing the appointment of a Brigadier-General are set out in Defence Forces Regulation (DFR) A15 as follows: Currently serving Army Colonels who have been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that, as Minister for Defence, I am fully committed to the delivery of the national maritime security strategy by the end of this year. Maritime security was identified as a priority in the Defence Policy Review, and my Department is leading on the development of the National Maritime Security Strategy. This is the first time responsibility has been assigned for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department has not lost any properties due to adverse possession during the time period indicated.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces advertising budget is provided for within Subhead A.22.2 (Miscellaneous: Advertising) of the Defence Vote and provides for advertising costs which support various Defence Forces recruitment initiatives. The table below outlines the Subhead A.22.2 allocation over the period specified. Subhead A.22.2 Defence Forces Advertising Allocation €m ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Investment in new equipment for the Defence Forces is provided for under various Subheads of the Defence Vote relating to defensive equipment, mechanical transport, aircraft, ships and naval stores, engineering, communications and information technology equipment etc. I am informed by the Defence Forces that their records indicate the amount spent on purchasing military equipment from...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have advised that the number of personnel currently undertaking Air Traffic Controller (ATC) training, and their expected training completion dates, is as follows: No of Personnel ATC Qualification Estimated date of completion 3 Tower Q4 2026 1 Radar Q4 2026 1 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have advised that the protocol regarding the national flag being placed on the coffin of serving and former members of the Permanent Defence Force is set out under Defence Forces Regulation A10 (New Series) Ceremonial and Funerals and its related Administrative Instruction. In the event of the death of a serving member of the Permanent Defence Force, where the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Foreign Policy (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to reassure the Deputy that my officials have consulted regularly over the last number of years with Defence Forces personnel on the development of the General Scheme of the Defence Amendment Bill 2025. With respect to the provisions proposed around the despatch of Defence Forces personnel overseas, it is absolutely appropriate that relevant military advice was sought to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I do not have specific insights into provisional findings from Operation Denton. I know it is hoped the report will appear in the coming months. We all hope this provides families and survivors with much-needed answers. I will continue to make the point, as will the Minister for Justice, regarding the importance of this information being provided and, more broadly, the issue of legacy....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 243 together. I met with Sean Brown's family just over two weeks ago on what was the 28th anniversary of his murder. I was struck by Bridie Brown and her family and the anguish, pain and hurt they have been put through. The family have shown enormous strength and resilience in pursuing this case. I commended them on their tireless campaign for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I join the Deputies in commending Bellaghy GAA and the GAA more widely. The president of the GAA, Jarlath Burns, attended the meeting with the Brown family when they came to see me. Sean Brown was a good, decent man locking up his GAA club when he was brutally murdered 28 years ago. Not only have no answers been given to his family and no Article 2-compliant investigation established,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trade Agreements (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I will say more on CETA another time when we can have a proper debate. If we cannot ratify a free trade agreement with Canada in the middle of all the turbulence that is going on in the world, I am concerned. I cannot think of a better, less offensive nation to trade with and have a trade agreement with than Canada. Let us have that debate when the time comes. It is for another day. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and for consistently keeping it on the agenda in his time in the House. It is important that is done. Earlier this month, as he noted, we marked the 51st anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 17 May 1974. Those brutal attacks claimed the lives of 34 people, including an unborn baby, injured hundreds more and shocked the country to its...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with everything the Deputy said on this matter. I fully acknowledge that very country has a right, even an obligation, in regard to its national security. However, that cannot become a cover for not providing assistance that could and should be provided. This House and successive Governments have constructively put forward proposals as to how that access to information could be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ukraine War (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: To start with the Deputy's last point, that is a huge concern because, in fairness to President Trump, he has been very clear that he wants the war to end. He wants peace and the President of the European Commission, President von der Leyen, has welcomed some of the interventions President Trump has made in that regard. There has been significant dialogue between a number of senior European...