Results 1-20 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Process (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I remain extremely concerned by the negative trajectory of the situation on the ground in Israel and in Palestine. My focus and that of the Government is on supporting international efforts to bring about the immediate cessation of hostilities, a return to the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, and its full implementation including the release of hostages and the resumption of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: No agencies or organisations of the type referred to by the Deputy were established by my Department in the past ten years.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Commemorative Plaques (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The bust of General San Martin is currently stored in my Department, having been previously in the National Gallery. My Department is exploring with a public service body a suitable place for the public display of this bust. In this context your suggestion is duly noted.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this is a paper application which was received on 08 April 2025. The turnaround time for paper applications is 8 weeks. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date. I strongly encourage the Deputy to advise his constituents of the advantages of using the substantially...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application were received on 01 May 2025. Turnaround time from the receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Bodies (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, established under the Army Pensions Act 1927, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces, established pursuant to the provisions of the Ombudsman (Defence Forces) Act 2004 and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a Statutory basis on 1 December 2024. Following publication...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (14 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Our EU membership makes us part of the growing network of EU Free Trade Agreements, supporting more opportunity for exports and investment, helping support jobs and growth at home, maintaining strict EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health, and supporting better environmental and human rights standards around...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Deaths of Irish Citizens Abroad (14 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad within the remit of its Consular Assistance Charter. The provision of consular assistance is a cornerstone of the work of my Department and I place a strong emphasis on ensuring that our citizens receive timely and empathetic consular assistance. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Air Navigation Orders (14 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Responsibility for the regulation of foreign aircraft landing or overflying the State is shared between Departments. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade has primary responsibility for the regulation of foreign military and state aircraft, while the Minister for Transport leads on regulation of civil aircraft.  Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft)...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application were received on 02 May 2025 Turnaround time from the receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (14 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Public procurement, including for ICT equipment and services, is governed by EU and national rules and my Department ensures that appropriate procedures are followed for procurement activity. Departments are obliged to ensure that public procurement is discharged in line with the standard accounting and procurement rules and that contract prices represent best value for money.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application were received on 02 May 2025 Turnaround time from the receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (14 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has inquired, supporting documents for this application were received on 02 May 2025. This application is within the standard turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (14 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Department of Defence procurement, including of ICT equipment and services, is conducted under the guidance of the Office of Government Procurement (OGP). Central OGP frameworks are used where possible to procure ICT equipment.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Official Engagements (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I will engage on that.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Official Engagements (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for her own service and the unique insight she brings to debates in this House having served in Lebanon with our Defence Forces. I very much welcome the opportunity to update the House on my recent visit to Lebanon. A central focus of that visit on 26 March was on my meetings with the Lebanese Ministers for foreign affairs and defence. At those meetings, my first with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am smiling because this is one of the questions I get asked most frequently when I go around the country. The Deputy is right that our barracks often have good facilities and communities ask if they can get in too. Obviously, there are requirements from a security point of view, but there is also the issue of wanting our communities to be familiar with them. There have been good...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 164 together. It is a fair point. It is a matter of lies, damned lies and statistics. It depends on when one measures the point. I am going to say progress has been made in the last year and the Deputy is going to say, "Actually, if you look back over a number of years", and both could be true. The reality is that there are some encouraging...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am always conscious when speaking to this that people who are not friends of Ireland look in on these proceedings, so as regards national cybersecurity, let all of those who look in be aware that we have cybersecurity structures in place. We have an excellent National Cyber Security Centre. As Deputy Heneghan reminded us earlier, however, there is so much we need to do in this space. The...