Results 361-380 of 45,480 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Foreign Policy (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: If the Deputy wants to send me on details, I would be happy to use them as examples, albeit anonymised, with which to engage on this matter. As he rightly said, our two countries, Ireland and the United States, have deep and strong bilateral relations built on a rich foundation of ancestral ties. We have economic, diplomatic and political links, including the long-standing US support for...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I would like to reflect on it and come back to him with an informed view after I meet with Senator Black and my team in the Department to decide the best way to advance the commitment in the programme for Government. I acknowledge the Deputy's deep interest in this matter. I am deeply...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I am happy to take the details of the case Deputy Heneghan mentioned and to engage with him directly on it. I thank Deputy Callaghan for her service in Óglaigh na hÉireann and for her tour of duty. I am glad to have her in my party, on our team and in the Dáil, bringing her experience of having served in Lebanon. Just by visiting, I got a an insight that is not even a...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Trade Relations (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Aird. He is right, and before I get directly to the trade impact on agriculture and the work of the trade forum, it is why it is so important that we are going to do even more to support Irish agriculture because there is not a more indigenous industry than agriculture, agrifood and our farming sector. That is why will have to work together on a number of the issues the...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Trade Relations (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I very much agree with Deputy Aird. First, with regard to dairy, that is why, when we were looking at the list of tariffs that may be reactivated by the European Union, specifically in my submission to the European Commission on behalf of the Government I highlighted the dairy concern we had and also the drinks industry concern. On foot of what the Deputy said, I will make sure that in the...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Trade Relations (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I absolutely will. The principal purpose of the trade forum is to bring representative groups and relevant Ministers, Departments and agencies around the table. I am pleased to say that a full and permanent member of the trade forum is our Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Heydon. Also represented on that are his senior officials, the Secretary General of the Department...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Foreign Policy (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for the question. My Department publishes advice for outward travel in respect of more than 200 countries and territories. The advice provides an objective assessment of the risks individuals could face if travelling overseas. This is done with a view to trying to help them to make informed decisions for themselves. The advice is based on consultation...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The answer is the same: I intend to bring forward legislation as outlined in the programme for Government in relation to the occupied Palestinian territories. The substance of that legislation will be a matter for scrutiny, discussion and decision by this and the other House. My next step is to meet the Senator who is the sponsor of the original occupied territories Bill. We have been in...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I am happy to discuss the content of the legislation when we publish it. I want to engage with the sponsor of the Bill. We have engaged in good faith. I think the Deputy was on the committee at the time when my predecessor, the now Taoiseach, was the Minister for Foreign Affairs. We have engaged in providing information. I want to take stock now of where that is at with the latest legal...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Trade Relations (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 131, 144, 145, 150 and 157 together. I thank Deputy Boland for this question. I reiterate that I deeply regret the US decision to impose tariffs on steel, aluminium and derivative products from the EU and other trade partners, effective from 12 March last. I am also aware of the announcement by the US Administration on 26 March of its plans to introduce...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Trade Relations (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Deputy Boland is right on both fronts. We are very lucky that Maroš Šefčovič is the Commissioner. He is a very experienced Commissioner who knows this country well through his previous roles during the Brexit time. He is an engaging, consummate individual and he is in fairness already engaging with the US Administration. He was in DC last Monday. He spoke to...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Moynihan for raising this question on behalf of Deputy Smith who has, as Deputy Moynihan has said, a long and active interest in these areas. Next month marks the 51st anniversary of the Dublin and Monaghan bombings, devastating acts of violence in which 34 people, including an unborn baby, were killed and hundreds of people were injured. At the memorial event to mark the...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputies Moynihan and Carthy. I will reiterate Deputy Moynihan's call in respect of Belturbet. I will also say very clearly that I expect all authorities to co-operate fully. That is why extraordinary steps were taken in 2022 by the then Minister for Justice to put in place a bespoke mechanism to allow relevant information from An Garda Síochána to be shared with...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Dublin-Monaghan Bombings (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I join with Deputy Carthy in praising and commending Justice for the Forgotten and thanking it for its work. I assure him that, on behalf of the Irish Government and this House and in recognition of the mandate of the four all-party motions, I will continue to raise my voice at every opportunity in every engagement with the British Government, including the Secretary of State for Northern...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: This is obviously a similar question to the one I answered for the Deputy's party colleague, Deputy Ó Laoghaire, but I am happy to answer again. The programme for Government sets out a commitment to progress legislation regarding the occupied Palestinian territories following the July 2024 International Court of Justice advisory opinion. I was the Taoiseach who requested specific...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Foreign Policy (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree fully with Deputy Ó Laoghaire. We had engagement with his party last Tuesday, I think, specifically with Deputy Doherty, on this, and those lines of communication must and will remain open. It is important that every Member of this House, every political party, whether Government or Opposition, and every stakeholder is kept informed on the facts. Then it is for all of us to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Foreign Policy (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is correct that we have made a submission on the original list, if you like, that is, the tariffs that would be due to be reactivated. That is what submissions were invited on. I am not sure whether the letter is published. I am happy to share it with the Deputy. In that we highlighted our particular concerns about dairy and the drinks industry. I think they were the two...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh (Atógáil) - Priority Questions (Resumed): Foreign Policy (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I think that is right. I assure the Deputy that the Government at a whole variety of levels, including at political levels - the Taoiseach, myself, the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, others as well, I am sure - and at agency level like the IDA, together with our embassy network, is in ongoing contact with all the major companies. They are also...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire and he is entirely right. Calls for a ceasefire are being undermined by one party and that party is the aggressor. It is Putin and Russia. There are two presidents involved in this; President Zelenskyy has said he will accept without precondition a 30-day ceasefire to try to get into a process to bring about a lasting and enduring just peace. As recently as...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ukraine War (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire and we need to keep the sanctions regime under review. We remain fully committed in Europe and in Ireland to keeping in place the sanctions that are already in place. We have had an unprecedented number of rounds of sanctions and Ireland wants to continue to work with European counterparts to make sure any loopholes or agility that exists in respect of those...