Results 601-620 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I will begin where the Deputy began on trade, tariffs and the all-island all-Ireland economy. This morning, I spoke to the Deputy's colleague, my counterpart, the Minister for the Economy in the Northern Ireland Executive, Dr. Caoimhe Archibald. I thank her for ongoing engagement with me and for the way she is going about her business. We have agreed to meet by way of video conference...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: White Papers (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Implementation of the White Paper programme has progressed in planned phases since 2015. This phased process was kept under review across the years and was subject to change or update as issues arose and other business dictated. Decisions about which projects to progress at any stage took into account the priorities set out in the Programme for Government, available resources, and initiatives...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Disaster Response (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I would like to thank the Deputy for allowing me the opportunity to recognise yet again the positive contribution made by the Civil Defence and the Defence Forces in supporting our communities during Storm Éowyn, and the other severe weather events that occurred this winter. As I have said before and will say again we collectively owe them a debt of gratitude. Climate change is a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have advised that the strength of the Naval Service stood at 798 in 2022, 725 in 2023, 719 in 2024 and 745 as of the 9 April 2025, the latest date for which this figure is available for. The ongoing staffing challenges in the Naval Service are well documented and to address these a wide ranging suite of recruitment and retention initiatives have been introduced....

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Neutrality (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 171, 172, 174, 176 and 186 together. As set out in the Programme for Government, this Government intends to reform the Triple Lock legislation whilst also ensuring that amendments to the legislation are in keeping with our values and policy of military neutrality. It cannot be emphasised enough, however that there is no connection between the triple...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: As Minister, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit for purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. Across Europe, all countries are experiencing an increasingly contested, dynamic and volatile international security environment. There is a need for us to be seen to take our own security...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities,, who are responsible for recruitment, have advised that the strength of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF), as at 9 April 2025, the latest date for which this figure is available, stood at 7,545 personnel comprising 6,074 Army, 726 Air Corp and 745 Naval Service personnel respectively. A total of 708 personnel were inducted into the Permanent Defence Force in...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 211 together. The current situation in the Area of Operations (AO) where Irish Defence Forces personnel are deployed with UNIFIL in South Lebanon remains one of considerable instability. While there has been a notable decrease in kinetic activity following the recent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, in January, considerable uncertainty continues...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Disaster Response (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: As Chair of the Government Task Force on Emergency Planning, I have made it very clear that any lessons identified from recent events are to be incorporated into future planning and resilience to minimise the impacts of climate related emergencies on our communities. I understand that the Department of Housing has commenced a lessons learnt process following Storm Éowyn. My Department...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My priority as Minister for Defence is to ensure that the operational capability of the Defence Forces is maintained and developed. This is to enable the Defence Forces to carry out the roles assigned by Government. Equipment priorities for the Defence Forces are considered in the context of the established Capability Development and Equipment Development Planning processes, underpinned...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: EU Meetings (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Unfortunately, due to national commitments, I was unable to attend the Informal Meeting of EU Defence Ministers which took place in early April. Ireland was, on this occasion, represented by the Secretary General of the Department of Defence, Ireland's Ambassador to the Political and Security Committee of the EU and Department officials. I am happy to report on the meeting however, which sent...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate to comment on matters of an operational nature or on unit formations within their respective Barracks for reasons of operational security. However, I can say that the Defence Forces have established a new Joint Cyber Defence Command. This new Command will be able to conduct full-spectrum operations to robustly defend against cyber...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Significant progress that has been made, in terms of pay for Defence Force personnel, over the last five (5) years. For context, in May 2019 a newly qualified three-star private could have expected to earn €27,759 gross per annum (including military service allowance but excluding duty allowances), on completion of his/her initial training. Following the implementation of a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to discuss the investments and infrastructure improvements completed or currently underway at Aikens Barracks Dundalk. The capital expenditure on the maintenance and upgrade of military installations for the years 2020 to 2024 has seen over €600,000 invested in Aikens Barracks to improve the central heating system. This project involved the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: There are two Votes in the Defence Vote Group, Vote 36 (Defence) and Vote 35 (Army Pensions). The provisional outturn for 2024 for Vote 36 (Defence) indicates a net surplus to be surrendered to the Exchequer of €9.0 million. This figure includes surplus Appropriations in Aid of €8.2 million, which, as the Deputy knows, cannot be used to fund additional expenditure and must...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 189 and 190 together. It is acknowledged that there are ongoing geo-political and potential macro-economic challenges facing Ireland, and indeed beyond. However, funding for Defence remains a key priority for this Government. As the Deputy will be aware, funding for Defence is increasing in line with the Government decision to move to Level of Ambition (LOA)...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 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. Equipment priorities for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are considered in the context of the established capability development and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Significant progress has been made since the publication of the Report of the Independent Review Group (IRG) to examine dignity and equality issues in the Defence Forces. The progress to date includes: An External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces was established in April 2023, initially on a non-statutory basis. The Body was established on a statutory basis from 1 December 2024. A...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department currently has one service commitment scheme in place in respect of the Air Corps pilots and these matters are always kept under review. In the last 18 months, my Department has focussed on ensuring that existing recruitment and retention frameworks are fully optimised and responsive to the needs of the Defence Forces while at the same time introducing a number of new...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (8 May 2025)

Simon Harris: As Minister, I am deeply committed to the transformation of the Defence Forces into a modern fit-for-purpose organisation to defend the State and meet the challenges of today and the future. This will ensure that the Defence Forces are enabled to carry out the roles assigned by Government. In response to the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces, the Government approved a move...