Results 44,541-44,560 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In December 2024, the Department of Defence was informed that an operational decision had been taken by the military authorities to proceed with the closure of the DFTC Fire Station. In advance of the execution and promulgation of this decision it was directed that the military authorities advise in writing: (i) the Chief Executive of Kildare County Council; and (ii) all residents and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The use of the terms IOC and FOC is a nomenclature adopted by the military authorities, who define same as follows : -Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is defined as the state achieved when a military capability is available in its minimum usefully deployable form; with - Final Operating Capability (FOC) is defined as the state achieved when the operating Unit has accepted all of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: It has been a long standing practice that the aforementioned report provides extensive details in relation to Air Corps supports provided to the civil authorities. While my Department will consider the issue of publication of wider statistical details, the Deputy will appreciate that such a consideration will, by necessity, be guided by the principle of not commenting specifically on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Process (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department initiated one bill in 2024, which was enacted as the Defence (Amendment) Act 2024 (Number 25 of 2024) and signed into law by President Higgins on 17 July 2024. A full account of the legislative process for the Act is available at the following link: The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below. Bill/Act Defence (Amendment) Act 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 115, 123 and 124 together. Since the ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, the Department has included provisions in its tender documentation regarding the right to reject offers from third countries on defence and security grounds, in line with the Commission guidance on the procurement of defensive equipment under Directive 2009/18/EU. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided the requested information as set out in the tables, A-D, inclusive, at the link below. The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended a move to Level of Ambition 2, which for the PDF includes an establishment of 11,500 personnel inclusive of a civilian component. The recommended establishment for the RDF is 4,500. Staffing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 114 together. The Naval Service currently has a fleet of eight Commissioned vessels. Five of the vessels are available for operations including the four P60 class vessels which conduct patrols on a rotation basis. In addition to the four P60 class vessels, the L.É. Aoibhinn which has now reached full operational capability is regularly...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The following table, based on data provided by the military authorities, sets out the information sought by Deputy from 2019 up to the end of 2024 (the latest date for which information is available): - Completed Patrol Days Cancelled Patrol Days Total Scheduled Patrol Days 2019 1061 94 1155 2020 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) was established in 2021 with a mission “to ensure Ireland develops appropriate, leading edge and trusted defence and security capabilities in the land, sea, air, space and cyber domains, in order to protect our society, create jobs, drive research and enhance Ireland’s economic growth”. National Defence Industry...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The information sought by the Deputy is included in the information routinely published on my Department's website, where details of Purchase Orders for goods and services valued at more than €20,000 are available: The Deputy should note that a small number of purchase orders are excluded from the published list for security and operational reasons.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Pay (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Secretaries General and equivalents are graded at a number of levels each of which has a separate rate of remuneration. The grading structure for Secretary General posts was reviewed on a number of occasions by the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. The final assessment of the grading of these posts by the Review Body in 2007 confirmed a three-tier grading structure,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The table below outlines the overall expenditure relating to IT external service provision in 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025. 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. - 2023 € (Incl. VAT) 2024 € (Incl. VAT) 2025...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Weather Events (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that the Defence Forces, through the GTF emergency responses mechanisms, received several requests for assistance from ESB in the aftermath of Storm Éowyn. The supports provided ranged from the provision of helicopter flights carrying ESB personnel in order to identify the extent of the affected network, the collection and distribution of generators from Dublin Airport to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Responsibilities (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Mr. Thomas Byrne TD is the Minister of State at the Department of Defence. He is also Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach and the Department of Foreign Affairs with special responsibility for European Affairs. He was appointed by the Taoiseach to these separate roles on 29th January 2025. This Department has no attributable budget for the Minister of State as no formal...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Weather Events (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate the Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies. However, where requested the Defence Forces provides the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or emergency situation in its Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. With regards to Storm Éowyn, the Defence...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Doherty for raising this important question. There is no doubt this storm has caused significant chaos and hardship in many parts of this country, and disproportionately so in the west and north-west of the country; the Deputy is right in that regard. We are all collectively relieved in Ireland, most particularly those communities, that the power is finally back. I know that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Doherty. The long and the short answer is yes, we will be engaging with the ESB. We will also, in line with our programme for Government commitment, be engaging on the issue of energy costs overall. I can point to a number of measures the previous Government took and that this Government will be taking in respect of assisting people with their energy costs. People will...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: A Dáil debate would of course be useful. I agree with Deputy Bacik that if we had committees established - and I hope we will very shortly - I am sure there would be very serious questions asked of the Arts Council. Breaching the public spending code cannot be a consequence-free zone. It simply cannot. These issues are, quite frankly, absolutely alarming. People can make mistakes in...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I have already said I think that would be a good idea. The Minister has been in the post for approximately two weeks. I am not sure he could have acted much more quickly at all. In fact, it would have been impossible to have acted more quickly in terms of bringing this issue to Cabinet. To be very clear, because Deputy Bacik has said it twice, this issue was not brought to the attention...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (13 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Certainly, nobody on this side of the House in any way laughs about such matters. The Deputy is entirely correct. They are extraordinarily serious matters. Men and women get up every morning, go to work, do a hard day's work and pay their taxes, and they want to see those taxes spent well to deliver for them and their families and communities. It is also fair to say, however, that...