Results 45,781-45,800 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: I was shocked and appalled at reports that the IDF fired shots in the vicinity of a visit to Jenin last week by a group of diplomats, including two Irish diplomats based in Ramallah. Fortunately, no one was hurt. This is completely unacceptable and I condemn it in the strongest terms. A senior official from my Department spoke with the Ambassador of Israel on the 21st of May to convey the...

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

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, both passports have been approved and dispatched.

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

Simon Harris: The Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly, in relation to the Deputy's request.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: This is a matter for the Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to whom this question will be resubmitted.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The humanitarian situation in Gaza is worsening daily. The entire population is facing high levels of food insecurity. More than 20% face starvation after 18 months of fighting, and almost 80 days of the Israeli blockade on vital, life-saving, humanitarian aid. The Government has consistently condemned any arrangement for humanitarian assistance that does not ensure access for the entire...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Humanitarian Aid (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s position on the current situation was made very clear in the Tánaiste’s joint statement with the Foreign Ministers of Iceland, Luxembourg, Norway, Slovenia and Spain earlier this month. It called on Israel to to take all necessary and effective measures to ensure, without delay, in full cooperation with the United Nations and humanitarian organizations, the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The age limits for recruitment into both the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) and the Reserve Defence Force (RDF) are governed by Defence Force Regulations. The mandatory retirement and maximum recruitment ages for RDF personnel were amended in March 2024 and this resulted in the upper age limit for recruitment to the RDF being increased to 39 years of age. These increases are aligned with...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The estate in question was originally constructed in the 1970’s to house serving military personnel and is now almost entirely in private ownership. There have been a number of requests to the local authority to take the estate in charge. Such a transfer would allow the residents of Orchard Park to benefit from the provision of services by the local authority, which cannot be provided...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (29 May 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, there are plans to overhaul the condition of the Department's vacant housing stock, in so far as possible, to increase the provision of single living-in accommodation for serving personnel. In this regard, the Defence Forces commissioned Consultants to assess the condition of the Defence Forces vacant housing stock and its suitability for conversion/refurbishment...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 170 and 171 together. Protecting and developing the extensive two-way trade and investment relationship between Ireland and the United States in the current unpredictable international trading environment is a high priority for me as Tánaiste and for the Government as a whole. The Government will continue to prioritise ensuring that we have a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: There has been significant bilateral high-level political engagement in recent years between Ireland and Canada, including in recent months with the new Canadian administration. I have written to Prime Minister Carney to congratulate him on his appointment as Prime Minister, and I look forward to engaging with his government. Over the St Patrick’s Day period in 2025, Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Where a child's guardian is deceased, the Passport Service requests the original death certificate of the deceased guardian, consent of the surviving guardian and a Sole Guardian Affidavit from the surviving guardian confirming that they are the only guardian of the child, in order to satisfy guardian consent requirements. While the Passport Service of course recognises the difficulties...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Intensive and constructive work has been ongoing with the British government since last autumn to determine if we can move forward together on legacy, through fundamental reform of the Legacy Act and the commission it establishes. I am in ongoing discussions with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on these issues, with a focus on finding a way forward on a number of issues where...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 and 177 together. The Government remains committed to free, fair and open trade while protecting Ireland’s interests in international trade deals. Our EU membership makes us part of the growing network of EU Free Trade Agreements, supporting more opportunity for exports and investment, helping support jobs and growth at home, maintaining strict...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Consulate General of Ireland in Miami was established and began operations in 2022. It was formally opened by then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in September 2023. Regular engagement with local authorities is a key part of the consular work of Ireland's diplomatic network on behalf of Irish citizens abroad. Ireland's Consul General in Miami engages with local authorities across its area...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are, which includes where Christians face persecution for exercising the right to practice their faith. Ireland regularly discusses human rights concerns with the Chinese authorities in bilateral meetings and in the appropriate multilateral fora,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to clarify that the proposal in question was discussed at the General Affairs Council meeting on 27 May 2025, rather than the European Council. At this meeting, Spain presented its proposal to grant official EU language status to Basque, Catalan and Galician through an amendment to Council Regulation No 1/1958, which determines the languages to be used by the European institutions....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland strongly condemns all forms of persecution on the basis of religion or belief, irrespective of where they occur or who the victims are. The protection and promotion of universal human rights is one of Ireland’s core foreign policy priorities. The Government regularly raises concerns regarding human rights with China, both in bilateral meetings as well as in the appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183, 190 and 204 together. I propose to take PQs 29713, 29554 and 30482 together. The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) is an intergovernmental organisation with a mandate focused on Holocaust education, remembrance and research. It was established in 1998 at the initiative of then Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, and currently...