Results 1,641-1,660 of 46,197 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The attack carried out by the Israeli Defense Forces on 27 December last targeting the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, during the course of which Dr Hussam Abu Safiya was detained, was deeply concerning. As noted by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in his report of 31 December 2024, the pattern of Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Climate Action Plan (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In line with Circular 01/2020 issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Government Departments, Offices and agencies are, with effect from 1 January 2020, required to record, monitor, and value the greenhouse gas emissions associated with official air travel usage and, no later than 28 February each year, make a payment to the Fund Manager of the statutory Climate Action Fund...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Moynihan. As he knows, the Taoiseach and I are really committed to the shared island initiative. The good news is we are now seeing what was a concept now delivering very practical results on the ground with so many projects progressing. I could mention the restoration of the Ulster Canal, as one example I visited recently, or the transformative education project at the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In answer to both Deputies' questions, I absolutely will. I congratulate Deputy McGuinness on his election too. He can take it as read that I am very happy to continue that engagement and to work with him on a cross-party basis on this issue. In the brief time available to me, I will return to the issue of the Omagh inquiry because I want to be very clear on this. When I was in Belfast...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The short answer is we will keep this under review. I am pleased to see that so many applications are being made online. Regardless if someone lives in Cork, Dublin or anywhere else in this great country, he or she is able to apply for a passport. More than 93% of applications came that way last year and people can get passports in a time-efficient manner. In terms of the office we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 20 and 37 together. I thank Deputy Connolly. It is an honest question and let me give an honest answer, which is, I do not know yet. I want to engage in the first instance. I take the point that Senator Black is looking to sit down with me. I will make sure that happens in the coming days. I have been meeting my officials on this issue, too. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: We have to be accurate. I do not believe it was legally possible in 2018 to pass this Bill. The Deputy says we have had ample time since 2018, but the moment that created a potential legal path forward - it was no more than a potential legal path forward - was the ICJ advisory opinion. I find it odd in this Dáil that it is suggested that Ireland and the Irish Government are not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: We have joined that case.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I believe our words do mean something. They means that, at a time when many countries were turning its back on UNRWA, the humanitarian agency that gets assistance to the very people the Deputy wants to help, we pledged €20 million more.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Yes, and I deplore the decision of the Knesset on that, but instead of backing away, we supported UNRWA with €20 million more. The Deputy referenced the ICJ case. We have sought to join it and have made a submission, something that many in the House said we would not do. We have seen how other countries have responded negatively to our decision, but I believe we are on the right...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: -----and work with the Deputy, and that legislation will need to be enacted. However, I need to make sure that anything we do is lawful. I am happy to work constructively with the Deputy on that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 29 together. Chomhghairdeas and congratulations to Deputy Moynihan on his election to the Dáil. I look forward to working with him constructively. I will undertake to pursue the issue of Foras na Gaeilge and revert to him directly on it, as I share his views on the importance of it having funding certainty. I was delighted to make an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Presidency (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is right. The pharmaceutical sector is obviously of huge economic importance to our country. I hope and expect it will continue to be. So too is the benefit to patients, not just in Ireland but across the world. I agree with the Deputy that we should make it our business to be better in terms of innovative ways of accessing new medicines and willing to work more at an EU level...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 13 together. I thank Deputy Daly. I will endeavour to give an equally comprehensive answer to him. I want to thank him for highlighting this issue because, truthfully, we cannot talk about this enough. As I said, I passionately believe that the relationship between the United States and Ireland is mutually beneficial. It is a deep relationship...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 23 together. I congratulate Deputy McCarthy on his election to Dáil Éireann. I very much look forward to working with him constructively. I am pleased to tell the Deputy that the passport service is an excellent position to deliver the demand forecast for the rest of the year. Ensuring that we have enough staff to respond to demand is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. The short answer is that we do. We are trying to get to a sustainable position where we do not see peaks and troughs, but rather a consistent, good and high-quality service with turnaround times that are at least in line with the office's expectation. I am pleased to say that at the moment, the times are ahead of expectations. Of course, and I say this respectfully to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: There is a lot of engagement at European level in this regard. It is obviously important that this continues and I welcome the fact that this month, there will be that meeting I referenced to the Deputy's colleague, Deputy Ó Laoghaire, of the EU-Israel association agreement. Ireland has been arguing that for a long time. It should have happened a long time ago and will happen this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I have been very clear on the EU, and I have said it many times. I said it in my previous role as well that I think the European Union, in many parts of the world, could have done even more to apply more pressure to bring about a ceasefire. However, I am very conscious, in the context in which we are talking tonight, that there is a ceasefire in place but the ceasefire is extraordinarily...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Presidency (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 12 together. I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for his question. I congratulate him on his re-election and wish him well for this term in the Dáil. As the Deputy rightly says, Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026. Our preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are now intensifying...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Presidency (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I take the point the Deputy makes but I assure him it is long-standing practice that we publish our proposal much closer to the Presidency. That is done for a variety of reasons, including the fact that we need to see where the legislative agenda in the European Commission is at at that stage. Let me say this. We will want to do a number of things but crucially, we will want to be...