Results 161-180 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I hear Deputy O'Reilly about that. I acknowledge that people are trying to do something good, in good faith. We all share that view. There are rules in place relating to visas, particularly when it comes to minors, especially when they are not travelling with parents or guardians. An appeals process is in place. I make that point without over-commenting on individual applications. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Consular Services (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I am conscious that I am talking to a family through the prism of the Dáil. I wish to be respectful of that reality. I thank Deputy Gibney for writing to me on this matter. My officials will meet with Heather, the family and Mr. Cornelius's representatives because we want to be helpful. While this might sound like a frustrating thing to say, and I can understand why, this case...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Consular Services (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: We will absolutely do that. I am happy to keep in direct contact with the Deputy on this issue. I cannot imagine how difficult, traumatic and upsetting a time this must be for Heather, her children and the wider Cornelius family. As I said, I do not wish to accidentally endeavour to intervene in a way that is unhelpful. That would be the worst thing to happen. We are very eager to engage...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank my colleague, Deputy O'Shea, for raising this question. I am pleased to say the passport service is delivering passports to our citizens within advertised turnaround times and, in many cases, well before their due date. More than 580,000 passports have been issued this year to date. The public offices in Dublin and Cork operate an urgent appointment service for renewal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Let me take those suggestions on board. The passport reform programme is continuing. While we made significant progress on passport delivery, turnaround times and the integrity of the passport, that process continues. I am happy to continue to engage on that. On Deputy O'Shea's point, what I am saying for the people of Cork is that we are committed to Cork, to our Passport Office and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: We certainly will do that. The beauty of Irish foreign policy is its consistency. We are always in favour of human rights, international law, peace and dialogue, regardless of the parties involved. I often hear Ireland's position being misrepresented, with questions about whether we are pro this country or anti that country. We are pro international law, multilateralism, human rights and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I deplore antisemitism, as does everybody in this House. We should speak with one voice in condemning antisemitism in all its forms. It needs to be called out and we all need to do more, as countries, as the European Union and as a global community, to stamp out antisemitism. That is beyond doubt. Separate and distinct from what I just said, we will continue, as a country, to speak up...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Absolutely, and that is the difference between the Government and the Opposition. The Taoiseach and I were in the United States, where he had a meeting with President Trump, engaging on behalf of this country, speaking up for our values, putting forward our views and valuing our relationship. The leader of the Opposition took the weekend off. That is the difference. It is easy to turn up...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I remember the challenges to do with envoys previously. I agree with the Deputy's broader point on the need to empower as many people as possible to engage. I will reflect on his point. The first way we should do that is by continuing to facilitate and host Congressional delegations, known as CODELs, whereby people from both sides of the aisle, Republicans and Democrats, travel to Ireland...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Consular Services (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this question and giving me an opportunity to provide some further information about the matter, as I am sure she will provide the same to me. I am aware of this case and have been apprised of the details. I spoke with officials in my Department on the matter as recently as yesterday and have asked them to meet with Mr. Cornelius's wife, family members and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I fully agree with the Deputy. We have allocated about €7.7 million so far this year to Sudan. We are committing this morning to allocating at least €14 million during the total year, which would bring us in line with what we did last year, because the humanitarian situation there is horrific. The year 2025 will be the fifth consecutive year in which the Government allocation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Overseas Development Aid (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for highlighting this. We are monitoring very closely the impact on our work as a country and the impact on NGOs like the ones the Deputy mentioned as a result of the ODA cuts from other countries. We are continuing to assess the immediate and long-term effects with our partners. We are in regular contact with governments in developing countries, with the UN and other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question. The International Criminal Court is under attack. We are seeing this very regularly in many parts of the globe. Last week I met the President of the ICC in Dublin and we discussed ways in which Ireland can continue to defend the court from sanctions. The president thanked Ireland for its support to date, but having discussed it with her, frankly I was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: We certainly will. The Deputy is correct. We are seeing people queuing for aid for themselves and their children in a situation of near starvation and being shot at and killed. This is beyond horrific. Ireland will continue to support the ICC. I need to stress to the House how volatile and dangerous the situation is in terms of the sustainability of the ICC. We have to support the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Meetings (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy has randomly picked former EU Commissioner. She must have caught his attention in terms of a potential upcoming electoral contest. I agree with the former Commissioner on many issues and I agree with her that the European Union, through the President of the Commission, has provided a significant level of leadership that other parts of the world have not provided. At a time when...