Results 46,201-46,220 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. Ireland remains engaged with EU and International partners on the ongoing Israel-Iran conflict. I have participated in two meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council in the last week at which Member States and the High Representative discussed these issues. At those meetings, I outlined Ireland’s position on the need for urgent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I am deeply concerned about the hostile relationship between Israel and Iran and I have had an opportunity to discuss this at two meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council in a week, on Tuesday 17 June and Monday 23 June. I welcome President Trump's announcement of a ceasefire and I hope both sides adhere to it. At those meetings, I outlined Ireland’s position on the need for urgent...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The functions, privileges and immunities of foreign defence attachés and their legal status in Ireland derives from the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961, as given effect in Irish law by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act, 1967. The appointment of a defence attaché on behalf of foreign nominating states is governed by Article 7 of the Vienna Convention on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I condemn any endangerment of the safety of our peacekeepers in the execution of their mandated duties. The incident in Yaroun in May this year was unconscionable. As I have said previously, upon my instruction, on 30 May, immediately after the incident in Yaroun, our Permanent Representation to the United Nations in New York expressed our grave concerns directly to the Permanent Mission...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I am aware that the President of the European Commission spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu on 15 June by telephone following escalating tensions between Israel and Iran. While the institutional balance enshrined in the EU Treaties envisages that representations by the Commission President regarding the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy are consistent with positions agreed by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The European Union Action Plan on the International Criminal Court, which is a follow-up to Council Decision 2011/168/CFSP, provides that the EU and its Member States should avoid non-essential contact with individuals subject to an arrest warrant issued by the ICC. No definition is provided of what constitutes non-essential contact, which is a judgement to be made on a case-by-case basis in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: In June 2018, the Government launched Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025. The strategy aims to see Ireland’s global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence. Under the Global Ireland strategy, 27 diplomatic missions have been opened or have been approved and will open shortly. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department does not have contracts in place for transferring furniture or artwork from embassies and consulates general premises. Any such occasional moves use suppliers appointed following a process involving quotes being sought from the market in line with procurement guidelines.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Projects (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 16 and 17 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Curragh, as State land vested in the Minister for Defence, is recognised as a working environment for the state's Defence Forces as well as being a place of historical and cultural importance. At approximately 4,870 acres, the Plains represent one of the most open and accessible areas in the country....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Diplomatic Representation (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 18, 19 and 20 together. Attachés for Ireland's diplomatic missions are appointed through structured interdepartmental processes, varying by role type, based on specific departmental mandates and objectives in collaboration with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.  The nature of a Defence Attaché role is very different to that of An...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (25 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Strategic airlift capability has been prioritised as a capability for investment following Government approval of the Commission on the Defence Forces (CODF) Report as part of the present move to Level Of Ambition (LOA) 2 capability as defined within the CODF Report and subsequent Detailed Implementation Plan (DIP) of the CODF Report. A contract was awarded in December 2022 to Airbus at a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Anti-Racism Measures (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The decision to endorse the IHRA working definition of antisemitism was a result of careful consideration, taking into account a range of developments and initiatives at EU and at global level, in particular the alarming rise in recent times of both online and offline antisemitism. Most recently the General Affairs Council, in October 2024, adopted a Declaration which invited EU Member...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My most recent call with Secretary Rubio was on 4 March when we discussed bilateral relations, the mutually beneficial economic relationship between Ireland and the US, and a range of pressing issues of shared concern, including Ukraine and the Middle East. Since then I have also had engagements with Commerce Secretary Lutnick and most recently with US Trade Representative, Ambassador...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s consistent position remains that we need a substantive, calm, measured and comprehensive dialogue on trade with the United States. A mutually beneficial agreement that works for both sides is the objective. The Government welcomes the intensification of EU trade negotiations with the US in recent weeks. While most Irish exporters are currently subject to additional 10%...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I refer the Deputy to Ireland's longstanding position on the two-State solution as set out last week in PQ 31646/25.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department’s Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Secretary General has overall responsibility for the Department’s procurement function. The Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Secretary General is supported by the Director of Finance and eight staff assigned to the Department’s central procurement function. There are no agencies or public bodies under the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: In addition to the Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Secretary General and the Director of Finance, there are eight staff assigned to the Department’s central procurement function. The Department actively supports a policy of continuous professional development for all staff working in central public procurement to meet the demand for a capable, technically skilled procurement team...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department’s Contract Register is a platform to assist all business units to record, review, and manage their contracts and framework procurement agreements for goods, services and works. The Register is accessible to all staff through the Department’s intranet. The Register is reviewed on periodic basis to ensure that it is up to date and that all relevant contracts are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Reports (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the gov.ie website is a key source of information on government and public services. It is a trusted platform for Government communications, handling approximately 75 million page views in 2024 and was the key communications tool and information resource for the public during Covid-19 in particular. My Department also manages www.ireland.ie, the Government's...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (24 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government remains committed to reducing barriers for emigrants who wish to return to Ireland, including the commitment under the Programme for Government to establish reciprocal driving licence arrangements with the USA, Australia and Canada. Ireland currently has 21 reciprocal driving licence agreements including with Australia and seven Canadian provinces. In the case of the US,...