Results 1,541-1,560 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Consultations (20 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I attended the Munich Security Conference from 14-15 February. The Munich Security Conference continues to be one of the world’s leading platforms for debate and policy exchange on international security and foreign policy. Key issues discussed at this year's conference were Russia’s ongoing illegal war in Ukraine and its impact on European and global security, the situation in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service issued 72,702 passport renewals in January, with 63,250 adult renewals and 9,452 child renewals. 2025 is expected to be another busy year for the Passport Service and my Department is in an excellent position to meet the demand forecasted for this year. To date in 2025, the Passport Service has issued over 138,000 passports. I would ask the Deputy to encourage his...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Data (20 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland and China share an overall constructive relationship, marked by significant growth in economic ties and expanding people-to-people contacts over the last decade. Ireland takes a holistic approach to the relationship: trade with China: the economic relationship is not considered separately from our values and other priorities. We are interested in strengthening engagement with China...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (20 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this application was cancelled at the request of the applicant's guardian on 25 June 2024. Subsequently, the Passport Service refunded the passport fee on 9 August 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is currently compiling the information for the 36 years requested by the Deputy and will respond fully as soon as the information is complete.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In terms of cyber security, the primary role of the Defence Forces (DF) relates to the defence and security of DF networks and systems. I have been informed by the military authorities that recent Information Communications Technology (ICT) transformation and upgrade projects in the DF security architecture allows for certain security focused applications to leverage AI to enhance the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: International comparison of military expenditure is hindered by the lack of publicly available data, along with the breadth of difference between nations in their international security and defence policies. In that regard, I welcome the recent publication of ‘The Military Balance 2025’, as conducted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which comprehensively and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department increasingly uses digital technology to support its work globally, including the delivery of passport services to citizens. The amounts requested, paid in respect of the development and maintenance of digital systems, are as follows: Year 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total €8,287,175 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: There are no State, semi-State, or other public bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department does not have any State agencies under its aegis.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In the past five years there have been no overspends exceeding €500,000 on projects undertaken or commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs or by any State or semi-State body under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Flexible Work Practices (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to ensuring a positive and productive working environment, and to sustaining strong standards of performance and delivery on our high level goals for the people we serve at home and abroad. My Department’s Blended Working at HQ policy was launched in September 2022, and is framed within the context of the broader Civil Service Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Table below outlines the total expenditure by my department in the years 2020-2024 on the procurement of services to develop or maintain digital and IT systems. The IT external service providers work closely with staff in my Department to design, develop, maintain and support secure ICT services for the Department of Defence. There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Table below provides a list of the private service providers who have received contracts from my Department to develop or maintain digital and IT systems in the years 2020-2024. The IT external service providers work closely with staff in my Department to design, develop, maintain and support secure ICT services for the Department of Defence. There are three bodies under the aegis of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Defence website is hosted by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) as part of the gov.ie central website for government services and information. There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Defence website is hosted by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) as part of the gov.ie central website for government services and information. There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Since the inaugural meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) in April 2022, the group has convened regularly to discuss and coordinate support for Ukraine in response to Russia illegal invasion, with the 26th meeting held on the 12th February this year. Ireland has attended meetings of the Group since May 2022 - which have alternated between video conferences and in-person meetings...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Defence ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in purchasing and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant guidelines. The procurement of goods and services by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces is carried out in accordance with public procurement policy and national and European Union law and that expenditure is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flexible Work Practices (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations, my Department launched its Blended Working Policy in late October 2022. Staff availing of blended working are required to attend the office on a minimum of 2 specific days each week as agreed with their manager. There are no immediate planned changes to remote working arrangements applying to staff in my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (18 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland's policy of military neutrality, as practised by successive Governments, means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. The Government has been clear that it has no desire to alter Ireland’s policy of military neutrality. The triple lock refers to a three-stage process to approve the deployment of troops on a...