Results 44,801-44,820 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Regulations (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP), agreed by the Council of the European Union in 2023, was designed to meet the urgent short-term need for the EU and its member states to support the ramping-up of manufacturing capacities of the European defence industry and to secure supply chains. Financial support from the ASAP is funded through an allocation of a budget of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 224 and 225 together. The Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of anticipated project delivery to support the achievement of the high-level goals as set out in White Paper 2015. The programme reflects the complex environment in which the Defence Forces operate and the corresponding need for appropriate infrastructure to provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Since the inception of the Infrastructure Development Plan, my Department has made considerable efforts to ensure that as many defence infrastructure projects as reasonably possible are fitted with either solar panels or other energy-efficient technologies. All projects being now undertaken include renewable measures in line with the requirements introduced under the relevant building...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: There are currently three (3) vacant and seventy-nine (79) uninhabitable such housing units that are in the following locations: Cork, eleven (11); Dublin, eight (8), Kildare, sixty-three (63). None of the uninhabitable properties can be brought up to a habitable standard without significant work, and many of these properties were built prior to the introduction of building regulations. As...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: As Minister, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. At the Informal EU leaders' retreat of 3rd February last, EU leaders discussed key aspects relating to European defence, including the development of collective capabilities, how best to use the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Consultations (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Unfortunately the information sought by the Deputy could not be collated in the timeframe provided. My officials will collate same and I will arrange to have this data provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Funding (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department has a corporate membership of the institution referred to by the Deputy. The institution delivers research and policy insights and provides opportunities for the exchange of views and information on matters related to the Defence sector. The annual cost of membership for the past four years is set out in the table below. 2021 2022 2023 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 232 together. I am advised by my officials that the Department of Defence does not hold the requested information in the format sought.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Mental health supports are available to all members of the Defence Forces while serving at home or on overseas deployments. I am advised that the repatriation medical examination following deployment includes mental health screening. Personnel are subsequently referred by Medical Officers for treatment to the Defence Forces Mental Health Team if deemed to be required. This includes access to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Responsibilities (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Ministerial Brief has been published and is available at the following link; . This brief was also provided to the Minister of State. No formal functions of the Minister for Defence have been delegated to the Minister of State and full responsibility for Defence policies, the Department of Defence, and the Defence Forces remains with the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (25 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided in the table attached, the establishment figure for the Permanent Defence Forces (PDF), by branch and in total, from 2006 to date. The years 2009 to 2011 do not include a breakdown by branch as with the moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the Public Service, the establishment dropped from 10,500 to 9,500 but the branch strengths were not broken...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: It has not been possible to collate complete information as requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will, however, make arrangements to reply to the Deputy with the number of passports that have been revoked for each of the past ten years.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Administrative Arrangements (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs is comprised of nine divisions and 45 units that sit within those divisions. There are a further five stand alone units that sit independently of those divisions. We have offices located in Dublin, Limerick, Cork, Armagh and Belfast. The Department also includes Ireland’s diplomatic network, which now comprises 102 diplomatic missions (72...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The occupational pension (superannuation) entitlement of members of the Defence Forces (DF) depends on the date the person joins the DF, and also on their specific circumstances and on many variables including rank, pensionable service and pensionable remuneration. The main dates of joining that dictate a difference in what pension terms apply are:before 1 April 2004, (DF Pre-2004...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided the requested information as set out in the attached tables which will be provided to you. They advise that it has only been possible to provide the establishment figures for the Defence Forces from 2013 to date and the strength figures for the Defence Forces from 2010 onwards. When a member of the Permanent Defence Force signs up for enlistment they...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Implementation of the White Paper programme has progressed in planned phases since 2015. This phased process was kept under review across the years and was subject to change or update as issues arose and other business dictated. Decisions about which projects to progress at any stage took into account the priorities set out in the Programme for Government, available resources, and initiatives...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 and 36 together. I would like to start by acknowledging the important role played by the members of the Reserve Defence Forces and I would like to thank them for their continued commitment. I had the opportunity to meet with their representative body recently, RDFRA, and we had a very constructive discussion of the continued development of the Reserve....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces has informed my Department that the current situation in the Area of Operations (AO) where our Defence Forces operate in Lebanon remains one of significant instability. Though there has been a notable decrease in kinetic activities since the start of the recent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, but significant uncertainty remains regarding future actions of actors in the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: A table containing requested strength figures, as provided by the military authorities for each year from 2020 to 2024, will be provided to the Deputy. We have previously acknowledged the recruitment and retention challenges in the PDF. To address these, a range of measures have been introduced. The maximum age of recruitment has increased to 39 years for those roles that had a recruitment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces Tribunal of Inquiry was established to examine the effectiveness of the complaints processes in the Defence Forces concerning workplace issues relating to discrimination, bullying, harassment, sexual harassment and sexual misconduct. The Tribunal also has the power to investigate the response to complaints made regarding the use of hazardous chemicals within Air...