Results 281-300 of 45,480 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland strongly advocates for the promotion and protection of the rights of LGBTQI+ people throughout the world, including in our relations with Hungary. Ireland has consistently raised our concerns in relation to the targeting of civil society and minority rights in Hungary, both in EU fora and in direct contacts with our Hungarian interlocutors. We also regularly support and engage with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Tourism Policy (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: My colleague the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment has primary responsibility for the tourism sector in Ireland. However my Department is also engaged in a broad range of activities to support Tourism Ireland and the overseas promotion of Ireland, recognising the strategic importance of the tourism sector in Ireland. Under the Trade and Investment Strategy, our Ambassadors...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: There is a strong consensus at EU and international level that Israel must release revenues withheld from the Palestinian Authority. In June 2024, the European Council stressed that actions weakening the Palestinian Authority must stop and called on Israel to release withheld clearance revenues and to take the necessary measures to ensure that correspondent banking services between...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Meetings (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Upon assuming the Office of Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I met with the full Management Board of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on 30 January 2025 to discuss a range of matters. The attendees at that meeting are recorded below. I am in regular contact with individual members of the Management Board and will meet periodically with the full Board...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: There is no Special Envoy to the United States in place, and I have no plans to appoint one. The appointment of any Special Envoys in my Department would be subject to the process for the approval of Special Envoys approved by Government in November 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Tourism Policy (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Officials in my Department are open to engaging with stakeholders to discuss ideas that deepen our ties with the United States. As you know, Ireland's story, north and south, is inextricably linked with the story of emigration, and in particular to the United States where more than 30 million Americans across all 50 States now claim Irish ancestry. It is remarkable that 23 of the 45...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Irish Sign Language (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department recognises fully the right of Irish Sign Language users to use Irish Sign Language as their native language in accordance with the Irish Sign Language Act 2017 and strives to meet its statutory duties to the fullest extent. A priority action within the Department’s current Statement of Strategy is to embed a culture of dignity and respect in the workplace, emphasising...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The capital allocation for building works in military installations and barracks across the country for the last five years was some €170m. This year the capital allocation stands at €50m for capital investment. My Department also allocates funding each year to the Defence Forces for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of its building stock. This year the devolved budget of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: In accordance with the provisions of the Public Service Management Act, 1997, the Secretary General is required to submit a new Strategy Statement, for Ministerial approval, within six months of the appointment of a new Minister. The current Strategy Statement was formally approved in October 2023 and covers the period 2023 to 2026 and a new Strategy Statement is currently being prepared by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government sets out the Government's commitment to making significant investment in the defence sector over the coming years, and this builds on the already considerable investment made in recent years. In terms of infrastructure, the Defence Forces Infrastructure Development Plan (IDP) sets out a programme of project delivery for the years 2023 to 2027. The capital...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: As Minister for Defence, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. The Commission on the Defence Forces was established on foot of a commitment in the Programme for Government, and its report was published on the 9th of February 2022. The Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (8 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 228, 229 and 232 together. I can confirm that officials in my Department and the Embassy of Ireland, Germany, are aware of these reports. I can further confirm that my officials, both in Dublin and in Berlin, are engaging with the relevant German authorities on the matter. I wish to assure the Deputies that officials in my Department and the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Missions (8 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department and its network of missions across the United States play an important role in promoting the dynamic and mutually beneficial economic relationship between Ireland and the United States. This is a time of significant turbulence for the global trading environment. My views on tariffs are clear and on the record. I continue to attach the highest priority to our work to protect...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Projects (8 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade invests its capital budget each year in a wide range of areas to ensure improved operations, to deliver the future infrastructural needs of the Department and provide enhanced services to citizens. Below is a listing that details the major capital projects undertaken, in excess of €500,000, in the period January 2020-March 2025: ...

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

Simon Harris: The Passport Service has issued over 290,000 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. With regard to the Deputy's request for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (8 Apr 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 at a time of significant turbulence in the global trading environment. Securing insights on how best to position Ireland to navigate the international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (8 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland supports the essential role that UN Special Procedures mandate holders play in the international human rights system. Their work contributes to the development of international human rights standards and helps to raise public awareness on human rights issues. Both I and my officials will continue to defend the important role undertaken by all such mandate holders. The Special...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (8 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The following table shows the special advisers employed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The appointment of special advisers are made in line with the Public Service Management Act, 1997 and are subject to Government approval. Role Minister Salary Scale Special Adviser Tánaiste Principal Officer ...

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

Simon Harris: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. To meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of...