Results 221-240 of 45,231 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (27 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: In light of the July 2024 Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice and the subsequent advice of the Attorney General, the Government decided to review the Occupied Territories Bill. The Government’s analysis was that substantive amendments would be required to most, if not all, of the Bill’s provisions in order to bring it in line with the Constitution and to try...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: In 2020, my Department migrated its core IT infrastructure to the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) under the 'Build to Share Managed Desktop' shared service.  My Department working with the OGCIO implements a multi layered defence-in-depth security strategy which is achieved through the effective combination of People, Processes, and Technology to support...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: In 2020, my Department migrated its core IT infrastructure to the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) under the 'Build to Share Managed Desktop' shared service. My Department working with the OGCIO implements a multi layered defence-in-depth security strategy which is achieved through the effective combination of People, Processes, and Technology to support the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Rights of Way (27 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department has engaged extensively and positively with Galway City Council on proposals for a permeability route which seeks access to part of the roadway which travels along the northeast of Dún Uí Mhaoilíosa Barracks before crossing the bridge immediately in front of the barracks entrance. The proposals for the development of this permeability route are being...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (26 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to compliance with Data Protection legislation and all staff are required to undergo periodic training to ensure that they are fully aware of their obligations in this regard. Officials engage with the Data Protection Commission on a regular basis. In addition, yearly review meetings are held at a senior management level. The latest such meeting took place on...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (26 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the application is within the current turnaround time and has not yet reached the issue by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (26 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service has issued over a quarter of a million passports to date this year. The Passport Service is currently experiencing a high level of demand for passports, as citizens prepare for upcoming summer travel. Thanks to my Department’s operational and staffing plans, the Passport Service is successfully responding to the current level of demand. The Irish Passport has a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Weather Events (26 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs is not being provided with additional funding associated with expenditure arising following storm Éowyn.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (26 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is referring to the Community Support process, which is facilitated, subject to capacity, by the Defence Forces. Marquees are not available as part of this service, but some tentage may be available. Should a member of the community wish to submit a request, they may do so by sending an email to communitysupport@defence.ie. Following receipt of this email, my Department will issue...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Data Protection (26 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: My officials met with the Data Protection Commission on two occasions in 2024 with regard to the Department’s obligations under Article 36 - Prior Consultation of the General Data Protection Regulation. My Department takes its data protection responsibilities very seriously and the Data Protection Office engages with staff on a regular basis and with the Data Protection Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Weather Events (26 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces are not a primary response agency for non-security related emergencies. However, where requested the Defence Forces provide the fullest possible assistance to the appropriate Lead Department in the event of a natural disaster or an emergency situation, as part of their Aid to Civil Authority (ATCA) role. In relation to Storm Éowyn, the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Aircraft (26 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the Defence Forces’ operational capability is maintained and developed to enable it to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Defence Forces are considered in the context of the established Capability Development and Equipment Development Planning processes. This is underpinned by significant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (25 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military and state aircraft that wish to overfly or land in the state require diplomatic clearance from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft are unarmed; carry no arms, ammunition or explosives; that they do not engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Data Protection (25 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The EU-US Data Privacy Framework is an important means by which transatlantic data flows are facilitated. I am aware of developments in relation to the membership of the United States Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. My officials, including through engagement by our Embassy in Washington, engagement with other Government Departments and with the European Commission, are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (25 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The extensive economic relationship between Ireland and the United States delivers prosperity and employment on both sides of the Atlantic. Protecting and developing the two-way trade and investment is a priority for me as Tánaiste. Securing insights on how best to position Ireland to navigate the turbulence in the trading environment in the coming period will be critically...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (25 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 to 178, inclusive, together. The Department of Foreign Affairs holds a number of files relating to historic adoptions involving Irish children, which are currently housed at the National Archives of Ireland under a previous agreement to ensure their long-term preservation. These files are restricted from public access and can solely be retrieved by a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Below is a table of expenditure on public procurement for the Department of Foreign Affairs in each of the past five years. 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 €m €m €m €m €m 64.8 72.4 103.9 95.9 111.5 There are no State Bodies...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (25 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: There are no such bodies that fall under the aegis of my Department. While it may not come within the category set out in this question, in the interest of completeness the Deputy may wish to be aware that Section 19 of the Passports Act 2008 provides for a Passport Appeals Officer, to whom a person not satisfied with the decision of the Passport Service in relation to their application may...

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

Simon Harris: The Taoiseach visited the White House, at the invitation of President Trump, as part of his official St. Patrick’s Day programme in the United States. This was part of a wider St. Patrick's Day diplomatic engagement across the US, which encompassed 9 Government Ministers visiting 15 States different states, including my own engagements in Philadelphia and New York. In respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (25 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland remains extremely concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy in Russia which has been exacerbated by Russia’s illegal war of aggression against Ukraine. The presidential elections held by Russia on 15-17 March 2024 took place in an ever-shrinking political space, which has resulted in an alarming increase of violations of civil and political rights,...