Results 45,561-45,580 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Gaza: Statements (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: We gather for these statements today with warnings ringing in our ears that thousands of children are at risk of death in the coming days. According to UNICEF, more than 15,000 children in Gaza have been killed, more than 34,000 injured and nearly 1 million displaced. Gaza has the highest number of child amputees per capita in the world and 17,000 children are unaccompanied or separated...

Gaza: Statements (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: It was a smear against the Taoiseach.

Gaza: Statements (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Yes.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Indeed, recent developments in the global trading environment have highlighted the importance of market diversification via an expanded set of EU free trade agreements (FTAs). EU FTAs support more opportunity for exports and investment, help support jobs and growth at home, maintain strict EU standards on food safety, animal...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I have been following with concern the tensions between India and Pakistan which resulted in military exchanges between the two countries in recent weeks. I welcome the complete and immediate ceasefire that was announced on 10th May and which has now been extended indefinitely. It is positive that communication channels have reopened between both countries and I very much hope that...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I have been consistent in my view that the UK Legacy Act, as it stands, is not fit for purpose. At the same time, in addressing the legacy of the Troubles, I know there is a need to develop fit-for-purpose mechanisms to seek truth and justice for victims and their families. We must strive towards that valuable prize. To that end, intensive and constructive work has been ongoing with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: In discussions with the UK Government on reform of the UK Legacy Act, I have two core guiding principles: compliance with the European Convention on Human Rights and seeking to secure the confidence of victims and survivors. Issues around disclosure form part of these discussions. I raised the issue of disclosure with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland during our recent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland currently has 94 embassies and consulates general in 72 countries, as set out in the table below. There are plans to open embassies in Serbia (Belgrade); Moldova (Chisinau) and Bosnia and Herzegovina (Sarajevo); and consulates general in Spain (Málaga) and Australia (Melbourne). It is planned all of these will be fully operational by 2027. In addition to these bilateral...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Speech (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Germany, are aware of the matter raised by the Deputy. I can further confirm that officials in the Irish Embassy in Berlin have engaged 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...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (21 May 2025)

Simon Harris: In December 2024 the Department of Defence signed a contract for the delivery of four German-made Airbus H145M helicopters which will provide a modern light-utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps. They will replace the present ageing fleet of two EC-135s, which have reached the end of their useful service life. The value of the contract is €91.7 million ex. VAT and it is...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I will begin today by condemning the senseless antisemitic murder of Yaron and Sarah overnight. These were two young diplomats in Washington DC who were killed in the prime of their lives. They were a young couple, soon to be engaged. I think of them and their families, to whom I send our sympathies. I also think of all those present at the Jewish museum in Washington DC last night, who...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The sheer hypocrisy of the Deputy. It was only in March of this year that the First Minister of Northern Ireland, who is the Deputy's party's vice president, said that she was delighted that £671 million would be spent on a state-of-the-art children's hospital at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. Ladies and gentlemen, who was that contract with? Does anyone know? It was BAM: the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Not only that-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I have more to say, please. The contract was announced and it was welcomed.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Not only was the contract signed with BAM, do you know what happened then? It pulled out. As a result, Sinn Féin has further compounded the delays to the delivery of the project. Not only that but the children's hospital that it is delivering in Northern Ireland and that Sinn Féin's First Minister and vice president welcomed is more expensive per square metre than the children's...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: They are not my words; they are the words of the Parliamentary Budget Office in the Oireachtas. That office has looked at the hospital Sinn Féin is presiding over in the North and the hospital we are presiding over here and it found that Sinn Féin's is more expensive than the one we are delivering.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Get over yourselves with the absolute hypocrisy.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I very much appreciate that events have overtaken us. First, I join with the Deputy in acknowledging that it is the tenth anniversary of marriage equality today. I acknowledge the pretty significant role the Deputy's party played in this. I enjoyed being in government with the Labour Party during that period when we put this referendum to the people of Ireland and became the first country...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is right; this is genocidal activity. There are no two ways about it. The Israeli Government is rather upfront and blunt in outlining its military and political objectives for Gaza, which are abhorrent and clear breaches of international law. As I have been saying, and as I want to continue to say, the Irish people have, through their taxes, sent a significant amount of aid to...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ward for raising this matter. I had the pleasure of meeting the Raphoe Community Playgroup during a relatively recent visit to Donegal. It keeps in touch with me directly, as I know it does with Oireachtas Members from Donegal. I see the Minister of State, Deputy McConalogue, in the Chamber as well. I know it also keeps in contact with the Taoiseach, the Minister for...