Results 461-480 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Official Engagements (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Lithuania and Ireland enjoy excellent bilateral relations. We have a shared outlook across so many areas of EU policy: on competitiveness, on trade and on solidarity with Ukraine. As we move closer to our Presidency of the Council of the European Union I look forward to even closer cooperation with Lithuania, including exchanges at all levels of government, as Lithuania forms part of our...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Diplomatic Representation (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The operational budget allocated to the Irish Embassies in Ankara, Pretoria, Wellington and Kuala Lumpur for the years 2023-2025 are detailed below: - Budget 2023 Budget 2024 Budget 2025 Ankara 915,223 968,349 1,156,014 Wellington 1,147,588 1,011,563 1,213,346 ...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Passport Services (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am happy to inform the Deputy that this passport has been approved and dispatched to the applicant in question.

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Passport Services (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 204 together. All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008 (“the Act”), which provides a legal basis for the various policies and practices that are applied by the Passport Service in the issuing of passports. Under Section 14 of the Act, the Passport Service requires the consent of guardians before...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Human Rights (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I recently wrote to my Iraqi counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, in relation to this case. I followed up with a phone call to Minister Hussein on 2 May, to press the case for this person's release. I also spoke directly with his family to update them on the phone call. We are following up on that discussion, but as the Deputy will appreciate, it is not...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Middle East (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 205 to 209, inclusive, together. As UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk recently made clear, any use of starvation of the civilian population as a method of war constitutes a war crime, and so do all forms of collective punishment. Israel’s continuing blockade of humanitarian and commercial supplies for Gaza is rapidly deepening the hunger...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Middle East (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has consistently used its voice at the UN and other international fora, to promote the protection of civilians in conflict, humanitarian access to those in need of assistance, and the fight against impunity. We view the International Criminal Court (ICC) as the key institution for pursuing accountability for the perpetrators for the most serious crimes of international concern. The...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Rockall Island Ownership (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Rockall is a small, uninhabitable rock located approximately 160 nautical miles west of the Scottish islands of St. Kilda, and 230 nautical miles to the north-west of Donegal. The UK claimed sovereignty over Rockall in 1955, and sought to formally annex it as part of Scotland under its 1972 Island of Rockall Act. The consistent position of successive Irish Governments is that Ireland does...

Written Answers — Department of An Taoiseach: Passport Services (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, further supporting documents for this application were received on 16 May 2025. Turnaround time from the receipt of further supporting documents is 15 working days. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have advised that the information sought by the Deputy is not yet available. I have asked the Defence Forces to provide the details without delay and am advised that work has commenced on collating that information. I will revert to the Deputy with a reply as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, working in the Defence Forces is a demanding career which places unique physical and psychological demands on individuals, exposing them to a unique range of challenging environments. In these circumstances, it is vital that the health profile of personnel be such as to ensure that operational capability and effectiveness are not compromised. Candidates...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the military authorities that there is currently no funding allocated towards the procurement of additional horseboxes under the DF Transport Corps Equipment Development Plan for 2025. Details sought by the Deputy in relation to the current equitation school vehicles are set out in tabular form below: Vehicle type Year registered Scania...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the tabular statement below. Spend for DF School of Music on Musical Instruments Instrument Purchase Amount Supplier Name Year 2024 Year 2025 to date Grand Total (Ex Vat) Bagpipes 6 The Sound Shop...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Public Sector Pensions (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The details supplied do not correspond to Department of Defence records. Further information has been requested from the Deputy in order to respond to this question.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The safety of our Defence Forces personnel is a key priority for me as Minister for Defence, as is ensuring that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service, is maintained to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government both at home and overseas. The rolling Equipment Development Plan for the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Process (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I remain extremely concerned by the negative trajectory of the situation on the ground in Israel and in Palestine. My focus and that of the Government is on supporting international efforts to bring about the immediate cessation of hostilities, a return to the ceasefire and hostage release agreement, and its full implementation including the release of hostages and the resumption of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Bodies (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: No agencies or organisations of the type referred to by the Deputy were established by my Department in the past ten years.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has contacted the applicant directly in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Commemorative Plaques (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The bust of General San Martin is currently stored in my Department, having been previously in the National Gallery. My Department is exploring with a public service body a suitable place for the public display of this bust. In this context your suggestion is duly noted.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (15 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this is a paper application which was received on 08 April 2025. The turnaround time for paper applications is 8 weeks. This application is within the turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue-by date. I strongly encourage the Deputy to advise his constituents of the advantages of using the substantially...