Results 45,381-45,400 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland engages regularly with the Palestinian Authority on a range of issues, including at political level. I met with President Abbas in September of last year in New York in my capacity as Taoiseach during the United Nations High Level week. I also spoke with President Abbas by telephone in December 2024, and in May 2024 following Ireland’s recognition of the state of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Germany, are aware of these reports. I can further confirm that officials in the Irish Embassy in Berlin are engaging with the relevant German authorities on the matter. I wish to assure the Deputies that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Germany, stand ready to provide consular assistance, should...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland strongly advocates for the promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTQI+ people throughout the world. We have consistently raised our concerns in relation to the targeting of civil society and minority rights in Hungary, including in direct contacts with Hungarian interlocutors. We also regularly support and engage with Hungarian civil society organisations that work to protect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued passports to the applicants.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Embassy of Ireland in Vietnam is based in Hanoi and is also accredited to Cambodia and Laos. The Embassy’s work is guided by its 2023 – 2027 Mission Strategy which is available online: assets.ireland.ie/documents/Ireland_Mission_e_publication_20 25_Vietnam.pdf. The Embassy’s Strategy has three broad, interconnected outcomes: Strengthened bilateral relations,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Rockall Island Ownership (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Reaching an agreement on issues relating to Rockall remains an important issue of the agenda for the government and we are in ongoing contact with the relevant Scottish and UK authorities in this regard. I and officials in my Department continue to work with the Minister and officials in the Department for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine on this matter. The matter has...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department operates a number of grant programmes and services that support our priorities at home and abroad. Funding under these programmes is generally available to organisations rather than individuals or households. The Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) provides financial support to frontline organisations, who deliver essential welfare and other services to Irish communities, as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar appointed a Special Envoy to the United States Congress on the Undocumented Irish in June 2017. The Special Envoy served until the end of the 32nd Dail period (February 2020). The Special Envoy reported directly to the Department of An Taoiseach, with logistical support provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Special Envoy focused on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 204 and 231 together. Since October 2023, Ireland has provided over €75 million in support to the Palestinian people, together with 116 tonnes of relief supplies for people in Gaza. On 2 March, the Israeli authorities announced that they would block humanitarian aid entering Gaza. No assistance has been allowed in the eight weeks since then,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: This Department does not hold any contract(s) with the company referred to by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to confirm that at the 58th Session of the Human Rights Council, in March 2025, Ireland co-sponsored the Resolution on Older Persons. This Resolution decides to establish an open-ended intergovernmental working group of the Human Rights Council with the mandate of elaborating and submitting a draft international legally binding instrument on the human rights of older persons with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Since taking up the role of Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I have had regular meetings with heads of mission, both virtually and in person, including in group format. In my first week in office, I met virtually with all US-based heads of mission. This was followed by a virtual meeting with all ambassadors in Europe. On 25 February, I participated in a town...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Secretary General of my Department holds a monthly town hall meeting with all staff, including all ambassadors. The most recent town hall took place on 26 March 2025. A meeting of all heads of mission will also take place in Dublin from 6-8 May 2025, where I and the Management Board of the Department will have the opportunity to meet with all of our ambassadors. In addition, the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service issued over one million passports in 2024. To date in 2025, the Passport Service has issued over 365,000 passports. 2025 is expected to be another busy year for the Passport Service and my Department is in an excellent position to meet the demand forecasted for the busy summer season. I am pleased to say that the Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for employees with disabilities, and to ensuring equality of opportunity in all its employment practices in line with the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 and its obligations under part 5 of the Disability Act 2005. The Department’s Human Resources Strategy 2023-2027, and Gender, Equality,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The urgent need to address the conflict in the Middle East remains a priority for Ireland. Ireland’s engagement on the situation in Israel and Palestine is guided by the need for respect for international law, respect for the equal right to self-determination, peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and unwavering support for the two-State solution. Across...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 215, 216, 217 and 218 together. I propose to take question 215, 216, 217 and 218 together. Ireland has been a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) since 2011. Since the adoption of the non-legally binding working definition of antisemitism by the IHRA plenary in 2016, my Department has had frequent contact with other...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The extensive economic relationship between Ireland and the United States delivers prosperity and employment on both sides of the Atlantic. Protecting and developing the two-way trade and investment is a priority for me at a time of significant turbulence in the global trading environment. Securing insights on how best to position Ireland to navigate the international trading environment...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Information and Communications Technology (29 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: All information systems in use in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can utilise the síneadh fada.