Results 621-640 of 45,480 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Extradition Arrangements (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: In June 2020, Hong Kong introduced a new National Security Law which raised concerns about erosion of rights and freedoms; about the lack of safeguards and clarity in the law; and about its extraterritorial provisions. This law was followed by changes to Hong Kong's electoral system in March 2021; and a subsequent domestic national security law introduced in 2023 under the Basic Law (Hong...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Extradition Arrangements (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Article 29.5.1° of the Constitution provides that all international agreements are to be laid before Dáil Éireann upon their entry into force with respect to the State. The Department of Foreign Affairs arranges for the laying of international agreements following their entry into force with respect to Ireland. While an exception is provided in Article 29.5 for international...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, supporting documents for this application were received on 21 February 2025. This application is within the standard turnaround time and has not yet reached its issue by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the query about which the Deputy has raised, the Passport Service has contacted the citizen directly.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The Australian Government will shortly be appointing a new Ambassador to Dublin, following the departure of former Ambassador Gary Gray last year. Once the new Ambassador has arrived, this will provide an opportunity to consider political level visits from Australia to Ireland. I would warmly welcome a visit to Ireland from the Australian Foreign Minister. Our two countries already enjoy...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Conflicts (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Four years on from the 2021 military coup, the situation in Myanmar remains of grave concern. Since October 2023, the conflict between the Myanmar Armed Forces and various armed groups has escalated. Significant areas of Myanmar are now under the control of non-state armed groups, and there have been increasingly brutal attacks by the military, with civilians bearing the brunt of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland remains extremely concerned at the ongoing erosion of human rights and democracy in Belarus. As was the case with the fraudulent 2020 and 2024 elections, the Belarusian presidential election on 26 January 2025 can be considered neither free nor fair. I am deeply conscious that the people of Belarus have once again been denied a real voice in the governing of their country. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I am aware that members of a European Parliament delegation undertaking an official programme were refused access to Israel. Lynn Boylan MEP, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine, has written to me about the experience of the delegation and is in contact with my officials. My officials have raised the experience of the European Parliament delegation...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I am advised that communications took place between the Irish Air Corps (IAC) and two drone operators regarding drone delivery operations in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome during the period in question. These communications were of an information sharing nature and required no action by the military authorities. In January 2025, in the context of safeguarding operations at Casement...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I am advised that the new C295W to be delivered later this year will be able to carry up to 62 troops for short flights or 48 in airline-style seating for longer journeys with a crew of two pilots. The Casa CN235 aircraft provided a more limited transport function, carrying up to 19 personnel on short-range flights, with a crew of two pilots.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: In December 2022, a contract was awarded to Airbus Defence and Space for an additional C-295 aircraft. This is a dedicated Military Transport (C295M) variant. The principal role of the aircraft is for air transport missions. It will enable the Air Corps to provide a wide range of services including logistics support and transport of troops and equipment, medical evacuation and air...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Mar 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 to the greatest extent possible so as to enable the Defence Forces to carry out their roles as assigned by Government. Capability priorities (including replacement capabilities as they near end of life) for the Army, Air Corps and Naval Service are...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided the requested establishment figures for the years 2000 to 2014 inclusive for the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) which are set out in the table below. As the Deputy is aware, in July 2022 the Government approved a move over a six-year period, to ‘Level of Ambition 2’ (LOA2), as set out in the capability framework devised by the Commission...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: The policy of providing Married Quarters to serving Defence Forces personnel was discontinued back in the 1990's and was phased out over a number of years. Accommodation, know as Single-Living-In accommodation, is provided where same is required for training and operational purposes. Such accommodation is managed directly by the Defence Forces at the Brigade level and the assignment of such...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (4 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 228 together. Given the continued interest in the events of 1961, a review was conducted in 2004 by military officers for the purpose of a broader examination of the Jadotville case. This Board recommended that the events of Jadotville and the contribution of the 35th Battalion be given recognition. In this context, a number of events have taken...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy on the school inclusion model. We have got to be honest when the model is not fit for purpose. I really believe this and I say this when I talk to parents. There are often issues that if there is more money allocated, it can make great progress. Of course, we will allocate more money to children's disability services but reforming the system will be as important....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: No, because we have already done that. A Dáil reform committee has been established. As the Deputy rightly said, we had a Dáil committee that fully engaged. As the Deputy rightly said, it was not possible to reach agreement. I accept the Deputy engaged. Everyone engaged in good faith. I am not having a go here but at some point, we have to say we have talked this as much as we...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. He is entirely correct. I know it from my time as health Minister. We all know it and the Deputy knows it well. It is an issue of great stress and concern to people in Galway and the west and, indeed, to people having to work in the hospital, and do amazing work but in substandard infrastructural conditions. The Government will respond in kind to the good work that...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I am due to meet shortly, along with the Minister for Health, with some people specifically on this issue. It is an area in which we need to do a lot better. I undertake to look specifically at the recommendations and suggestions put forward yesterday by Cared Ireland. Either the Minister for Health or I will come back directly to the Deputy on this.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (27 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. We continue to have a big focus on the whole issue of vacancy and how to bring vacant properties and stock back into use in general. He made the point that even within the local authority stock, more could be done in terms of funding and timelines for the conversion of that stock back into use. I will raise that directly with the Minister, Deputy...