Results 201-220 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: Elections to international bodies are typically decided by secret ballot. This was the case in the recent election for the Presidency of the United Nations General Assembly. In a setting such as the UN, an approach of this type facilitates the conduct and management of sensitive international relationships. With regard to the crisis in Gaza, Ireland, in cooperation with other Member...

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

Simon Harris: This conflict remains a central focus of Ireland’s foreign policy and my engagement with my EU and international counterparts. I strongly condemn the continuing Israeli military operations in Gaza, which have brought fresh suffering to the people of Gaza and have breached the ceasefire. Israel's plans to expand its military operations in Gaza and establish its prolonged presence...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Travel (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. Over the St Patrick’s Day period in 2025, Minister Timmy Dooley visited Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto and Minister Alan Dillon visited Vancouver. Prime Minister Mark Carney joined Minister Dooley to...

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

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Indeed, recent developments in the global trading environment have highlighted the importance of market diversification via an expanded set of EU free trade agreements. EU FTAs support more opportunity for exports and investment, help support jobs and growth at home, maintain strict EU standards on food safety, animal and...

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

Simon Harris: The Irish Passport has a strong international reputation and currently ranks third in the Henley Global Passport Index as it provides our citizens with visa-free access to 189 countries. As such, the Passport Service takes seriously its responsibility to protect the integrity of the Irish passport. Since the introduction of Passport Online in 2017, adults renewing their passports through...

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

Simon Harris: The Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism were an initiative of the former US Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combatting Antisemitism, Professor Deborah Lipstadt. They were developed in response to the wave of antisemitism being experienced by Jewish communities in many parts of the world. The European Commission signed on to the non-legally binding guidelines on 17 July 2024, along...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 and 206 together. The IHRA definition of antisemitism and its accompanying illustrative examples aim to provide guidance in cases where antisemitism may arise. It is clear that antisemitism can take many forms, some obvious and some more insidious. The IHRA itself notes that the list is context specific. It is not a legal instrument and does not...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the IHRA definition emanates from an international organisation, comprising academics, civil society and Member States. Some of the particularity that the Deputy outlines with respect to the IHRA definition may reflect the particularities and magnitude of the Holocaust, its unique legacy, and the related responsibility of the international community to combat...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together. Thank you, Deputy, for raising this case. I can confirm that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Israel, are aware of this case and are providing consular assistance to the citizen concerned. Since first being notified of this case, officials in the Irish Embassy have been actively engaging with the relevant...

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

Simon Harris: I am aware that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition ship, the Madleen, was intercepted by Israeli authorities in the early hours of 10 June while trying to deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to Gaza. The Madleen was an effort to get food and medicine to the starving people of Gaza; an unarmed civilian effort in the midst of devastation and catastrophic humanitarian conditions. But it was...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities (including replacement capabilities as they near end of life) for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the capabilities of the Defence Forces are maintained, developed and enhanced in order to ensure that the Defence Forces can carry out all of the roles assigned to it by Government. New rotary wing capabilities are currently being advanced in the context of the Equipment Development Planning process, and to this end, the various work...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Data (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question. The decision to withhold records is provided for under Section 8(4) of the National Archives Act. During 2024 my Department mostly relied upon Section 8(4)(c) as the grounds to support the withholding of records from immediate public inspection. Section 8(4)(c) provides that records may be withheld if the release would or might cause distress...

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

Simon Harris: The Commission on the Defence Forces recommended "The Chief of Defence to initiate an immediate force design process assisted by external experts with access to international military expertise, and to include a detailed force design process." The reasoning for the requirement for international support is the lack of such experience and expertise in the Defence Forces. The Defence Forces...

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

Simon Harris: The position in relation to eligibility for Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff positions is as follows: - Officers currently serving substantively in the ranks of Major General, Brigadier General, Colonel, Commodore or Captain (Naval Service), are eligible to apply in promotion competitions for the Chief of Staff position. Currently serving Brigadier-Generals, and Colonels or...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together. I propose to take PQs 29448/25 and 29449/25 together. The Assistant Chief of Staff role is an appointment made at the level of Brigadier-General. The terms and conditions governing the appointment of a Brigadier-General are set out in Defence Forces Regulation (DFR) A15 as follows: Currently serving Army Colonels who have been...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that, as Minister for Defence, I am fully committed to the delivery of the national maritime security strategy by the end of this year. Maritime security was identified as a priority in the Defence Policy Review, and my Department is leading on the development of the National Maritime Security Strategy. This is the first time responsibility has been assigned for...

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

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment Development...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces, including the Naval Service, is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (10 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department has not lost any properties due to adverse possession during the time period indicated.