Results 501-520 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service requested further documents for the application on 08 May 2025.The application cannot proceed until the required supporting documents have been received.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (13 May 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: Departmental Staff (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has offices in Ireland and in 102 diplomatic missions across the world. Across this mission network, the duties of personal assistant to the head of mission are undertaken by locally recruited colleagues, often in addition to other administrative and consular functions. In a small number of locations, civil servants are posted abroad to serve as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland's Consulate General in San Francisco covers the region of Northern California, as well as the U.S. states of Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming. The Consulate General in San Francisco routinely engages with key stakeholders across all states within its remit, including the local Irish community and state political representatives, and maintains...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The following international agreements have entered into force for Ireland between 1 January 2020 and 10 May 2025. In respect of the years 2024 and 2025, the process of consulting all Departments in order to compile a definitive list is still ongoing and so the details provided are based on the information currently available to my officials. As Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, I...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: EU enlargement has become an even more strategic issue following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The invasion has highlighted the clear need for continuing, ever-closer cooperation between the EU and our partners in the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood regions. Ireland believes EU membership is an important guarantee for Ukraine. The decision taken by the European...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Union (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) is a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed on 8 March 2018 in Santiago, Chile between Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Singapore, and Vietnam. The UK is in the process of accession to the CPTPP. The Government is committed to supporting free, fair and open...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Defence Forces endeavour to notify local residents and to limit disruption caused by any training exercises undertaken, especially where it is necessary for training to be carried out at night. I am advised by  the military authorities that a training exercise was conducted by 2 Brigade Training Centre in St. Bridget’s Campus, Ballinasloe over the period in question from...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 342, 344, 345 and 346 together. In December 2024 the Department of Defence signed a contract for the delivery of four German-made Airbus H145M helicopters which will provide a modern light-utility helicopter capability for the Air Corps. They will replace the present ageing fleet of two EC-135s, which have reached the end of their useful service life. ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Conciliation and Arbitration (C&A) scheme for members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) provides a formal mechanism for the PDF representative associations, i.e. RACO and PDFORRA, to engage with the Official side. Having regard to commitments under national public service pay agreements, the representative associations can make representations in relation to the pay and conditions...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. The acquisition, modernisation and upgrade of Defence Forces equipment are considered in the context of the established capability development and Equipment...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: In terms of calls for a public plebiscite in relation to the Government's proposed changes to the Triple Lock. It should be understood that this mechanism is not set out in our constitution – it is set down in national legislation, the Defence (Amendment) Act 1960 as amended. As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland’s policy of military neutrality is characterised by...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Bodies (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 349, 350, 355, 356 and 357 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no non-governmental organisations operating within the State under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Funding (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 351, 352, 353 and 354 together. I wish to advise the Deputy that there are no non-governmental organisations operating within the State under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The information sought by the Deputy is as follows: Title Duration No of Pilots USAF Mountain Flying Training Course 05 Jul – 20 Jul 2024 2 USAF Mountain Flying Training Course 03 Apr – 19 Apr 2025 2 Initial Pilot Training (Military Pilot Wings Course) 01 May...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The 2025 Army Cadetship competition was launched in March and closed for applications on the 8th of April. There are no plans to launch a new cadetship recruitment campaign for the Army in quarter three of this year.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My officials understand that Casement Aerodrome does not have sufficient runway or parking facilities for practical use by A380 type aircraft.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Commission on Defence Forces (CoDF) Report recommended that Long Service Increments be introduced to the pay scales of all ranks of enlisted personnel. This recommendation was identified as requiring Further Evaluation by Government in July 2022. The further evaluation of this CoDF recommendation has concluded and discussions are ongoing with all the relevant stakeholders. I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (13 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his question. In the first instance it is important to note that, at present, that the Permanent Defence Forces do not contain the rank of Lance-Corporal. However, the creation of a new enlisted rank of Lance-Corporal, in the Army and Air Corps, with consideration to be given as to whether there is a need for an equivalent rank in the Naval Service, was recommended...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Official Engagements (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I will engage on that.