Results 381-400 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: An Teanga Gaeilge (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Ag meán oíche, an 31 Nollaig 2021, bhain an Ghaeilge cothromas iomlán amach le 23 theanga oifigiúil eile an Aontais Eorpaigh. Nóiméad tábhachtach a bhí anseo ní hamháin d’Éirinn. Agus deireadh tagtha leis an maolú a bhí i bhfeidhm ó 2007, ón 1 Eanáir 2022, bhain an Ghaeilge stádas iomlán amach in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Following a public procurement in 2018, the Department has worked with Codec on the development and ongoing support of a Grant Management System, Contacts and Events Management System and the migration of these systems to a cloud computing platform. The Grants Management System has gone live on a phased basis since 2020 with the remaining grant and funding schemes being on-boarded on a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Council (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Russia’s continuing illegal aggression against Ukraine has changed the European security environment dramatically. In addition to the large scale war on the European continent and increasing threat from Russia to Europe's security and defence, the EU is faced with a multitude of other threats and challenges to its security. Like other Member States, Ireland is increasingly susceptible...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: There are no State or semi-State boards under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: There are no State or semi-State boards under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: There are no State or semi-State boards under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: There are no State or semi-State boards under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Economic Sanctions (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I have resolutely condemned the appalling violence in western Syria which included the killing of civilians. The numbers killed are not yet clear, but may exceed one thousand. These shocking events began with attacks on forces of the interim government by military remnants of the former Assad regime. This triggered a number of armed groups, including it seems at least some aligned with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland is strongly committed to the Convention on Cluster Munitions. We should take pride in the fact that the text of the Convention was agreed at a diplomatic conference chaired by Ireland in Dublin in 2008. Ireland will continue to work toward the full universalisation and implementation of the Convention. Ireland's consistent and principled view is that disarmament conventions are...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Artificial Intelligence (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department has not deployed Artificial Intelligence in support of its operations. However significant effort is being invested in testing and trialing AI models with a view to supporting its business needs. The Department has no bodies under its aegis.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: All new entrant civil servants are subject to Garda vetting processes prior to being offered a post in the Department of Defence. Civil servants transferring to my Department from another Government Department will have been subject to the vetting process for all entrants to the civil service. Certain post holders are the subject of further clearance processes.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: A key priority for me 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. At present, the Naval Service operate a selection of non-military specification drones which are utilised for a range of tasks; including search...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Programme (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government recently approved the drafting of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025 along the lines of a General Scheme prepared by my Department. The drafting of the Bill will be progressed in conjunction with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel. It is intended that this Bill will consolidate, with amendments, the existing provisions in the Defence Acts concerning the despatch of members of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the deployment of Defence Forces personnel overseas, Ireland receives requests from time to time in relation to participation in various missions and these are considered on a case-by-case basis. The changing nature of demands and potential future mission profiles need to be considered in the context of assets and capabilities which can be made available by the Defence Forces...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Pay funding for Permanent Defence Force (PDF) personnel is provided from Subhead A.3: Permanent Defence Force: Pay in the Defence Vote. The table below outlines the allocation, expenditure and unspent allocation within this subhead, over the period from 2018 to 2024. A.3 PDF PAY Allocation €m Expenditure €m Allocation Unspent €m ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: United Nations (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has always been a strong supporter of the United Nations and UN Peacekeeping. Our commitment and support for the primary role of the United Nations, in the maintenance of international peace and security, is expressed in Ireland's long-standing tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. This commitment is also expressed in our engagement in the EU's Common Security...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: As of the 31 January 2025, the military authorities advise that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force stood at 7,497 personnel. The table at the link below provides the establishment and current strength, by Branch and rank, in addition to the variances between those figures that detail over establishment (+) and vacancies (-). A total of 708 personnel were inducted into the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Naval Service currently has a fleet of eight Commissioned vessels. Four of the vessels are available for operations including the three P60 class vessels which conduct patrols on a rotation basis. In addition, the L.É. Aoibhinn (P70) is also deployed on Maritime Defence and Security Operations (MDSO). The composition of a ship’s crew is complex and requires suitably qualified...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I would like to express my gratitude to the European Commission and individual Member States who offered assistance in the aftermath of Storm Eowyn, a record-breaking storm that brought unprecedented levels of damage and destruction. The Air Corps' Airbus C295, a maritime surveillance aircraft with limited cargo capacity, was assessed as capable of assisting with the generator transport....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (19 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: All former members of the Defence Forces can gain access to their military records (albeit that third party information will be redacted to protect the personal data of others) by submitting an application to the Freedom of Information Office (FOI) Office or the Data Protection Office (DPO) of the Defence Forces. An application may be made to either office and the personal file will be...