Results 21-40 of 45,231 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Projects (10 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: In line with the National AI strategy and the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies, my Department continues to keep the use of artificial intelligence for business purposes under review. I can confirm that this Department has no projects with underway with CeADAR. The use of artificial intelligence, as with all...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: In line with the National AI strategy and the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies, my Department continues to keep the use of artificial intelligence for business purposes under review. There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: In line with the National AI strategy and the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies, my Department continues to keep the use of artificial intelligence for business purposes under review. My Department is currently exploring opportunities for the use of AI, but no use cases are currently in development. The use of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Artificial Intelligence (10 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: At the moment, AI training is not widely offered to employees of my Department. However, where requested, AI training has been provided. This details are set out in the table below. Name of Course Date Days Training No. of employees HR tools and AI May 2024 0.5 Day 1 Project Management and AI ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Correspondence (10 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: During 2024, my Department's customer service team did not receive any physical correspondence, while the Minister's Offices received 36 written letters. It is standard practice that all correspondence received in my Department is digitised.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Correspondence (10 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: During 2024, my Department's customer service mailbox received 972 email queries, while the Minister's Offices received 1,121 email representations.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Surveys (10 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to delivering in an effective and efficient manner for the State and its citizens. No surveys have been carried out in relation to the time required by administrative tasks, but as part of minimising such tasks, my Department avails of transactional HR and payroll services provided by the National Shared Services Office. In addition, each Branch is required to have...

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

Simon Harris: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 1 April 2025 and by way of further clarification draw the Deputy’s attention to Article 79 (2) of the EU-Israel Association Agreement.

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 5 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (9 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland regards the area of autonomous weapons systems as one of the most pressing issues facing the modern disarmament agenda. Their development and deployment raise serious ethical and legal questions and concerns including with regard to compliance with International Humanitarian law, human control and accountability. Ireland favours a two-tier approach which would prohibit the...

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

Simon Harris: Our position is clearly outlined in the Programme for Government. The Government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Our EU membership makes us part of the growing network of EU Free Trade Agreements, supporting more opportunity for exports and investment, helping support jobs and growth at home, maintaining strict EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health,...

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...