Results 46,581-46,600 of 46,723 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 27, 31 and 47 together. I was delighted to announce the arrival in Ireland of 52 Palestinians following an operation to support their departure from Gaza on 27 August. I am pleased to confirm that the individual referred to by the Deputies was among those supported to come to Ireland. My officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I remain gravely concerned about the catastrophic humanitarian situation in Gaza and ever-rising number of civilian casualties. My Department provides consular assistance in accordance with its Consular Assistance Charter and while it is limited in the assistance it can provide to non-Irish citizens, we have worked to find practical ways to help people in Gaza. It should be noted...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Policies (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has issued guidance as to the principles that will be applied by Irish authorities when considering (i) whether a child is an Irish citizen, and (ii) who the child's legal parents and guardians are, for the purposes of dealing with applications for travel documents on behalf of children born outside the State as a result of surrogacy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service does not have any plans to expand the back page of the passport book, which provides space for an emergency contact to be inserted. It is open to passport holders, or the parents/guardians of a passport holder, who wish to add a second  emergency contact entered on the back page of their passport to enter in the additional details beside the existing details. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Middle East region is experiencing a period of significant instability with multiple crises, many of which are interrelated. The catastrophic and further deteriorating situation in Gaza and the deeply concerning situation in the West Bank remains a central focus of my engagement with my EU and other international counterparts. I am also acutely aware of the extremely high level of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service is successfully responding to demand, and has issued over 700,000 passports to date this year. Passport applications are being issued at, or well ahead of, their target turnaround time and there are no backlogs. With regard to the Deputy's question, the table below provides the advertised turnaround times as well as the average turnaround times for online applications...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Windsor Framework plays a crucial role in protecting the all-island economy and has provided certainty and clarity for businesses and people living in Northern Ireland, as well as ensuring the integrity of the EU Single Market. The latest trade statistics show clear momentum in the all-island economy with evidence that supply chains across the island are increasingly integrated....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: On 24 June, the Government approved the General Scheme of the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill. The Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade held a number of hearings, and received submissions representing a range of views and perspectives. This Pre-Legislative Scrutiny is an important part of the legislative process....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Properties (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade does not own or lease any properties within this jurisdiction. The Office of Public Works is responsible for all accommodation utilised by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade within the state.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The protection and promotion of universal human rights is one of Ireland’s core foreign policy priorities. This includes the right to religious, linguistic and cultural freedom. The Government regularly raises concerns regarding human rights with China, both in bilateral meetings as well as in the appropriate international fora. I raised Ireland’s long-held concerns...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice delivered an Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. The Court’s principal conclusion was that Israel’s continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory was unlawful and that it must be brought to an...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I was delighted to announce the arrival in Ireland of 52 Palestinians following an operation to support their departure from Gaza on 27 August. I am pleased to confirm that the individual referred to by the Deputy was among those supported to come to Ireland. My officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including diplomats in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Turkey, have...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: On 28 May 2024, the Government decided to formally recognise the State of Palestine as a sovereign, independent State, within the territory defined by the 1967 borders referenced in UN Security Council resolution 242 (1967). Our recognition of Palestine was a concrete step, taken along with trusted international partners. Since then we have been working closely with Arab and Gulf...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The integrity of the Irish passport is the foremost priority of the Passport Service. The Irish passport has a strong international reputation due to the strength of the security features within the passport book and the robust processes involved in its issuance. The Irish passport is currently ranked third in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Presidency (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is working with all Government Departments to finalise the proposed list of Presidency meetings and events for inclusion in the official calendar of the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026. A high-level Presidency calendar, setting out the dates for meetings of the European Political Community,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: I am committed to working with my European and Ukrainian counterparts to maintain our solidarity with Ukraine and to ensure Ukraine gets the support it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression. This remains a key focus of my engagements, both bilaterally and at the EU. Ukraine features prominently on the monthly agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council. We are regularly joined by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland enjoys strong political, cultural and economic ties with Canada. Last year, Ireland celebrated 85 years of diplomatic relations with Canada, which has provided a strong foundation for trade between our two countries. The economic relationship is thriving on both sides of the Atlantic. Canada is a key export market for Ireland, particularly for our indigenous exporters, with more...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s economic relationship with Japan is strong and growing, and trade and investment between our countries has more than doubled in the past decade, especially since the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) entered into force in 2019.   Japan is Ireland’s second-largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region with annual two-way trade in goods and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland enjoys strong trade relations with Poland. Bilateral trade has grown strongly, particularly since Poland’s accession to the EU, and in 2023, two-way trade was over €8.5 billion. Since 1996, foreign direct investment in Poland by Irish companies is estimated at approximately €3.2 billion. Over 100 Irish companies have a full-time presence in Poland, including...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (8 Sep 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland, along with our EU partners, adheres to a One China Policy. This means that we do not have diplomatic relations with Taiwan and that we recognize the People's Republic of China as the legal representative of China. However, this does not preclude the development of economic, cultural, and people-to-people connections with Taiwan; nor the meaningful participation of Taiwan in relevant...