Results 44,841-44,860 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Citizenship Applications (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Foreign Birth Registration application has been approved. The certificate will issue shortly to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service initially requested further supporting documents from the applicant on 18 February 25. The final set of further supporting documents were received from the applicant on 20 February 25. The turnaround time following receipt of additional documents is 15 working days. This application is within the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Addressing the situation of undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States, and working to secure legal pathways for Irish people seeking to live and work in the US will continue to be a priority for the Government as set out in the new Programme for Government. Efforts to advance have been made with successive US administrations, and this work will continue with the incoming US...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Undocumented Irish in the USA (26 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Addressing the situation of undocumented Irish emigrants in the United States, and working to secure legal pathways for Irish people seeking to live and work in the US will continue to be a priority for the Government. Efforts to advance have been made with successive US administrations, and this work will continue with the incoming US administration, including at high level political...

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

Simon Harris: The Department of Justice contacted my Department with regard to their future of the Curragh Prison in May 2024. Department of Defence officials and members of the Defence Forces met with various officials from the Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service (IPS) and surveyors working on behalf of IPS, on site at the Curragh Prison on at least five occasions between May and...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (5 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Is é 1,976 líon iomlán na státseirbhíseach buan atá ag obair sa Roinn Gnóthaí Eachtracha. Astu sin, thug tuairim is 65 oifigeach le fios go bhfuil a ndóthain oilteachta acu chun ceisteanna ón bpobal i nGaeilge a láimhseáil go héifeachtach. Tuigeann an Roinn na dualgais atá uirthi faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Legislative Programme (5 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department has no pending EU legislation requiring to be transposed into Irish law.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 11 together. The previous Government approved the move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission on the Defence Forces in July, 2022. This provided for a rise in the Defence budget to €1.5 billion, in 2022 prices, by 2028, as part of the annual Estimates process, and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Measures (5 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to inform the Deputy that the Heads of Bill were presented to and approved by Cabinet on 4th March. The purpose of this Bill, which reflects the Government decision of 30 April 2024, is to consolidate, with amendments, the existing provisions in the Defence Acts concerning overseas despatch of members of the Defence Forces for service outside the State as a new Part of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (5 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 to 18, inclusive, together. Under the UN Charter, the UN Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. In fulfilling its mandate, the Security Council may adopt a range of measures, including the establishment of a UN peace mission or the authorisation of action by a group of States or a regional...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge sa Státseirbhís (5 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Tá 460 ball foirne san iomlán i mo Roinn faoi láthair, 9 (naonú) acu a bhfuil Gaeilge acu. Tá 13 bhall foirne eile ag glacadh páirte in oiliúint ag leibhéil éagsúla ó leibhéal na dtosaitheoirí go dtí an Teastas sa Ghaeilge Ghairmiúil. Reáchtáiltear cúrsaí Gaeilge trí Fhoghlaim Amháin go...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Statutory Instruments (6 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I will shortly sign the following Statutory Instrument (SI): Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2025. It will update the Diplomatic and Consular Fees Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 46 of 2013) (amended by the Diplomatic and Consular Fees (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (S.I. No. 259 of 2019)). The amendment will substitute the definition of Emergency Travel Certificates...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (6 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 179 and 180 together. I welcome the publication of the report of the Independent Reporting Commission (IRC) and thank the commissioners for it.While the IRC identify some positive developments, overall, the picture remains mixed. This report makes clear the unacceptable reality that paramilitary-linked intimidation, coercive control, and threats continue...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Statutory Instruments (6 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The majority of the statutory instruments brought forward by my Department comprise regulations made pursuant to Ministerial powers set out in various sections of the Defence Act, 1954. These regulations are made on a regular basis to update existing regulations in order to give effect to policy changes. In relation to the transposition and or further implementation of EU Directives, it...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (6 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Defence Forces are considered in the context of the established Capability Development and Equipment Development Planning processes, underpinned...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Doherty for raising the question on children's disability services. I want to begin where he began by welcoming the special rapporteur from the United Nations for the occupied territories to Ireland and thank her for her work. With a representative of the United Nations in our country, I want to join with all Members of this House and with the Secretary General of the United...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I am not rowing with Deputy Doherty today. He seems nearly disappointed that I am saying I am going to resolve the matter. He is right to highlight this issue. He is right to call on us to resolve the issue, and we are going to do that. I am not going to stand up and defend something that cannot be defended. A scheme was announced in good faith, people applied, and the funding now needs...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Bacik for the common-sense suggestion she made regarding a briefing for the Opposition. I apologise but with various international travel and the like over the last while there has been a bit of a lacuna. I suggest that on Monday we have that briefing for Opposition parties either with me or, if my diary does not allow, with senior officials because we need to get that flow...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I, too, welcome that. On the occupied territories Bill, my office was in touch with Senator Black yesterday to arrange for me to meet with her. I will come back to the Deputy once that has happened. In the vein of controlling what is within our control, and we can talk about this more when we have our briefing and engagement, it is imperative that we look at what is within our control and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (20 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O'Callaghan for raising what is one of the most serious issues we face in the public service and in the lives of children with disabilities, namely, access to therapy provision and the process they go through to gain that access. To be clear, the waiting lists for assessment of need are far too long. This is having a significant negative impact on the lives of children and...