Results 61-80 of 47,282 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Maritime Jurisdiction (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: At their outset, it is important to note that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) allows for all vessels, including military vessels, to transit through the territorial waters of coastal states when conducting innocent passage. Furthermore, naval vessels are permitted to conduct exercises outside of territorial waters in a country’s Exclusive Economic Zone so...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the Defence Forces that the following is the information requested in respect of social media campaigns in each of the years 2023 to date in 2025.The objective of these campaigns is to raise awareness and generate interest in Tri-Service (Army, Naval Service and Air Corps) recruitment and to drive qualified and high quality application activity through targeted digital...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Advertising (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have advised that there has been ongoing Tri-Service recruitment advertising activity and this has contributed to increased awareness of the Reserve Defence Force (RDF). The cost of such advertising campaigns in 2025 (as of 8 October) is as follows:Total advertising spend (excl. fees): €1,814,267.65 + VAT, Social media spend: €209,150.38 + VAT.The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: Following on from the meeting referred to by the Deputy, I understand that some of the local schools have expressed an interest in potentially acquiring some of the lands in the barracks for future expansion. My Department is engaging with these schools on this matter. As the Deputy will appreciate I am most anxious to ensure that any local educational needs are meet with first and foremost...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 230 together. The Department of Defence follows the principle of competitive tendering for Government contracts in accordance with national & EU regulations, including specific EU regulations for procurement of defensive equipment, and in line with Office of Government Procurement guidelines where relevant. Departmental procurement...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The tables below detail the number of Naval Service and Air Corps maritime patrols conducted in 2022, 2023, 2024 and to the end of August 2025. Naval Service Patrols 2022 2023 2024 2025 (as of end August) No. of patrols No. of patrols No. of patrols No. of patrols January ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (14 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies sets out the business and financial reporting requirements to be observed by State bodies. The Code aims to ensure commercial and non-commercial State bodies meet the highest standards of corporate governance. The Code does not apply to the financial accounts prepared annually for the Defence Vote Group (comprising of Vote 35 Army...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I am always open to engaging on a cross-party basis on this. I was with the First Minister for Northern Ireland in Hillsborough last night with representatives from western Balkan countries. We had a conversation about our peace process and the learnings from it for other parts of the world. It was a brief opportunity to talk to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in relation to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The first thing I will do is read that EU report. Deputy Kelly was right to bring it to the attention of the House. We want to be leaders in terms of the structures we have here. We certainly do not want to be laggards. This matter sounds concerning from what he tells me, which I am not doubting. We have taken a number of measures in recent years in trying to establish the new structures...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McAuliffe very much for raising this issue. We took an important step forward in this budget in moving towards the abolition of the means test with the increases in the thresholds to €1,000 for a single person and €2,000 for a couple. This is to show intent. We have not reached the destination yet. That destination is to abolish the means test. That is what...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Mythen very much for raising this issue. There is, as there should be, constant engagement with all stakeholders in respect of special education. I am pleased that the budget has provided significant additional funding that will allow for 860 extra teaching posts in the area of special education needs and 1,717 extra SNA posts. Also, we will be providing funding of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I will try not to do what the Deputy asked me not to do. We obviously need to look at the housing situation nationally but we also need to work locally, county by county, in relation to housing. That is what we are trying to do. It is what the Minister of State, Deputy Cummins, and the Minister, Deputy Browne, are trying to do. The Taoiseach and I will be interacting with a number of...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: The Minister of State reminds us of a good point.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy very much for raising this very important issue during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The Minister for Health engaged with the national cancer screening service recently and has engaged with cancer advocacy groups too. I am not satisfied if people are experiencing those waiting times. The Deputy is quite right. As well as the clinical importance of quick diagnosis,...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Dempsey for raising this case. In many ways, it reminds us of why we need to abolish the means test. We are all hearing too many stories of carers not qualifying because of the income of the people they are married to or in a relationship with. As the Deputy said, there are also cases where people finally get the allowance and then find that if their spouse or partner does a...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I sincerely thank Deputy O’Sullivan for having put this issue in the spotlight so many times. It really is important. He is right that I am familiar with it as a result of the advocacy of an incredible person I know, a constituent of mine, in County Wicklow. This advocacy has really helped to move the dial. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, is also very committed to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Feighan for raising this issue. I am very conscious that he represents a part of the country impacted by Storm Amy and that is still very much living with the fallout from Storm Éowyn and, to put it mildly, the absolute chaos it caused. People in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal were particularly affected by Storm Amy, as were those in Mayo, Roscommon and Galway. I extend...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: And I have the right to reply.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I was genuinely rising to my feet to try to give a constructive reply, because I doubt there is a family, and certainly not a political party in this Oireachtas, that has not been impacted by addiction. I can tell the Deputy that there are many people in my party, his and all others, who have lived with addiction, have loved ones with addiction or go home to addiction. Therefore, let us not...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (9 Oct 2025)

Simon Harris: I will deal with that constructively. I will even work with the Deputy on it, but I will not stand for the suggestion that only the people he represents are affected by addiction. It is a scourge in so many parts of society, causing pain for so many who deal with it in family life. Addiction is not a party issue at all. The Deputy did raise a legitimate issue, however, which is what I...