Results 45,601-45,620 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: We are working at an EU level because that is how sanctions are introduced. I do not disagree with the Deputy's analysis of the situation, but Ireland is taking practical actions and doing everything we possibly can.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: We are doing everything we can do.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McAuliffe. He raises an interesting and fair point, and it is one that comes up quite a lot. I will certainly commit to engaging with the Minister for Justice on this. We are going through a period of reform in the passport service. Many challenges that used to exist, including delays in getting passports, are, thankfully, gone. Many people are pleasantly shocked at how...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Neville for raising this matter. He is right that it is a major priority for us in government. In the programme for Government we have outlined 21 specific commitments on childcare. My constituency in Wicklow it is not too dissimilar to Deputy Neville's constituency in Kildare in terms of a very fast-growing population of people. They are pleased to see the reduction we...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Carthy for raising this matter, and for providing me with the figures, which do seem quite extraordinary in terms of the amount of plastic being collected under the scheme that then has to be shipped out of the country. I do not profess to be an expert on the detail of this but I will ask the Minister for the environment to look at the specific issue raised by Deputy Carthy to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I know but I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to come back to Deputy Carthy on it.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Lawless for raising what is clearly is a very important issue. I am pleased to tell him there is a proposed public health nicotine inhaling products Bill which will contain a range of measures to reduce youth use of nicotine inhaling products such as vapes, a ban on point-of-sale displays and advertising, a ban on devices resembling toys and games, restrictions on flavours for...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McGrath. I did indeed meet Mrs. O'Dwyer and others in Clonmel and I share Deputy McGrath's view of meeting good decent people. I do not have the information available to me here but I will ask either the Minister of State, Deputy Brophy, or the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, to come back to Deputy McGrath directly on this issue in Dundrum.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Freedom of Information (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am fully cognisant of the statutory obligations that apply under the Freedom of Information Act 2014, and I am satisfied that records relating to government or official departmental business are retained in line with the requirements of the Act.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Inquiries (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade may issue a civil letter of freedom (Certificat de Coutume/Nulla Osta) to an Irish citizen for the purpose of a marriage abroad. This is not an Irish requirement, but a requirement of the country where an applicant might want to get married. All applicants should check with the registry office where they are getting married in order to ascertain...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Brexit Issues (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the 2008 Act“). Section 7(1)(a) of the 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to them. To meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department’s Blended Working policy for staff in Ireland is framed within the context of the broader Civil Service Policy on Blended Working. All officers who avail of blended working are required to attend the office at least 50% of the time, over a four week period. The specific arrangements of individual work patterns are agreed locally as part of the Blended Working Agreement....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department currently uses Microsoft Windows, Word and Excel. For reasons of operational security it is not appropriate to disclose the versions used.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department currently uses videoconferencing software provided by Cisco. Department staff can access Teams calls via an Internet browser. For reasons of operational security it is not appropriate to disclose the versions used.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is currently in the process of migrating some of its services to the Microsoft cloud platform. For reasons of operational security it would not be appropriate to disclose details of the services.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department currently uses Lotus Notes to support a small number of business units. For reasons of operational security it would not be appropriate to disclose the version used.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department currently uses Colt and Virgin Media as commercial internet service providers at headquarters. The current annual cost of these contracts are €8,016 and €6,000 respectively excluding VAT.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: In line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations, my Department launched its Blended Working Policy in late October 2022. Staff availing of blended working are required to attend the office on a minimum of 2 specific days each week as agreed with their manager. Employees can apply to avail of blended working through the centralised online application system...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department's core IT infrastructure is provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) under the 'Build to Share Managed Desktop' Shared Service My Department uses Microsoft Teams as part of the Department’s collaboration and communication platform. Microsoft Teams is included in the user productivity suite of services provided to all staff in my...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Equipment (22 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department currently utilises Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS) as our cloud service providers. The Department is currently implementing a five year Technology Strategy and Roadmap. It is aligned with ‘Connecting Government 2030: A Digital and ICT Strategy for Ireland’s Public Service’ which has a core principle of ‘Digital by Default and Cloud...