Results 46,441-46,460 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department, including our Embassies and Consulates worldwide, provides consular assistance to Irish citizens who get into difficulty abroad in accordance with its Consular Assistance Charter. The charter sets out the type of assistance Irish citizens can expect to receive should they get into difficulty abroad, including in cases where a citizen has been arrested or faces deportation. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: This House has unanimously supported four all-party motions calling on the British Government to allow access, by an independent international judicial figure, to all original documents relating to the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The absence of a substantive response from the British Government to date in respect of those requests is a matter of great concern. I raised this issue with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The boarding of the MV Matthew and subsequent seizure of drugs was a complex operation involving the Joint Task Force, which comprises Revenue Customs Service, the Defence Forces and An Garda Síochána. I commend all of those involved for the successful seizure of the ship and building the case that has led to eight people receiving significant sentences in the Courts. The...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Airport Policy (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade recognises the importance of supporting colleagues to advance on their learning goals relevant to their role and to the wider work of the Department. We support colleagues in our Legal Division and across the Department to further their legal knowledge particularly in areas including Irish, EU, international and employment law.  Between June...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Artificial Intelligence (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department’s approach to the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is aligned to the recently published Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service and guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre Although the Department is actively exploring the opportunities and policy considerations presented by AI, it has not purchased,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: In accordance with international law, Ireland distinguishes between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967 and ensures that any bilateral agreements with Israel do not apply to the occupied territories. Regarding Ireland’s economic and trade relationship with Israel, the EU's common commercial policy is a matter of exclusive EU...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Significant progress has been made, in terms of the pay and conditions for Defence Force personnel, particularly over the last five (5) years. In addition, under the current national pay deal, the Public Service Agreement (PSA) 2024-2026, a further 1% increase in basic pay, as well as allowances in the nature of pay with effect from 1 August 2025, will positively affect members of the Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence (Amendment) Act 1990 and Defence Force Regulations S6 provided for the establishment of Representative Associations for members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF). PDFORRA (Permanent Defence Forces Other Ranks Representative Association) represent enlisted personnel. Successive Ministers for Defence engage, on an ongoing basis, with the PDF Representative Associations. Since...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: At the outset, I wish to recognise the outstanding contribution made to the State by our ex-service personnel. In this regard, and in addition to the payment of over €320 million on pensions to over 13,000 ex-service personnel and their dependants, my Department provides support to two recognised Veterans Associations. These Veterans Associations, which represent all former personnel,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Programme for Government (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the military authorities that the Personnel Support Service (PSS) is a team of trained military personnel and occupational social workers located in all Defence Forces installations in the state and providing support to all personnel deployed overseas. The blend of trained and experienced line NCOs and Officers, with the skills and perspectives of civilian social workers,...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that the Defence Forces have established a new Joint Cyber Defence Command. This new Command will be able to conduct full-spectrum operations to robustly defend against cyber threats, support Defence Forces operations at home and overseas, and enhance national cyber defence resilience and contingent capabilities. Following the establishment of this Unit, a Defence...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Civil Defence (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Civil Defence-Towards 2030 Policy document was published in 2020 and set out the 10-year strategy for Civil Defence. The document re-confirmed the central strategic objective for Civil Defence - to support the Principal Response Agencies in a variety of emergency and non-emergency situations. The document also reconfirmed the five core services to be provided by Civil Defence, including...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Military Service Pensions Collection (MSPC) involves cataloguing and partially digitising approximately 275,000 files dealing with the service of qualifying members of the Irish Volunteers, the Irish Citizen Army, the Hibernian Rifles, Cumann na mBan, Na Fianna Éireann, the Irish Republican Army and records of the Department from the period April 1916 to the 30th of September 1923. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided the information requested by the Deputy which is summarised in the table below. Number of Permanent Defence Force Recruits 2020-2025: Year Total Year Total 2024 577 2023 311 2022 350 2021 442 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department allocated €320,000 for training and people development in the years 2023 and 2024, and €400,000 in 2025. The Civil Service wide learning management system called OneLearning offers recordings which can be availed of at any time at no cost. These are;EU Law – Building Blocks;Oireachtas Session 2 – Introduction to the Legislative Process;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (16 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The 2024 and 2025 administration budget allocations for the Embassies are detailed below in tabular form. Embassy 2024 Budget €'million 2025 Budget €'million Abu Dhabi €1.6m €1.5m Bangkok €0.9m €0.9m...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Relations (16 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I confirm that the Ambassador of Israel remains accredited to Ireland but currently on a non-resident basis.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. First, let us very clearly acknowledge that there is a real problem in this country when it comes to energy prices. The facts are clear in relation to that, which is why we called this out very clearly in our programme for Government and acknowledged the pressure increased energy costs place on households and, indeed, businesses. We are seeking...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (17 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Please do not paint a picture that nothing is happening to help people in the here and now.