Results 61-80 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. As I said, we have objectively made good progress on pay, with a 49% increase in pay for a recruit entering the Defence Forces for training compared with six years ago, and rightly so. A school leaver can now be in full-time education and earn €45,341, while graduate cadets now commence on €50,000. We have also extended access to healthcare, brought in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 12, 43, 48 and 51 together. I will outline the policy rationale. First, I would mention the electoral commitment. I promised the people of Ireland, when I ran in a general election, that if I were elected to government, I intended to do this and I intend to keep my promises. It was in my party’s manifesto. I think it was in our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I fully agree with the Deputy. My Department and the Defence Forces have been working in close collaboration with An Garda Síochána, the health service and the Air Corps to ensure contingency arrangements are in place while we resolve this pinch point. I had a good meeting with the excellent new Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Rossa Mulcahy. I wish him well in his role....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Connolly for highlighting this important matter, that is, the need to have Ireland’s first ever maritime security strategy. I heard it said that we would have a new maritime security strategy in place by the end of the year. While it is true that it will be in place by the end of the year, it will be Ireland’s first ever maritime security strategy. I thank the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Connolly and the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, who agrees with him. I thank him for highlighting this matter. There are a couple of things in this regard. The Deputy is right that the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended exactly what he said it did. I will bring forward, either over the summer or early in the autumn, the next iteration of the implementation plan for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I hear the compelling case Deputy Connolly is making loud and clear. I will talk to the Naval Service directly and to the Chief of Staff with regard to our plans for the expansion of naval bases in the country. I am proud to acknowledge, as the Deputy has acknowledged, the great tradition Galway has in its contribution to Óglaigh na hÉireann. I had the honour of visiting Renmore...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Although it is a phrase I might not use too often, Deputy Crowe is right. This is a real issue which he has rightly challenged. We have made very good progress on recruitment and retention in the Defence Forces, but we have a lot more to do. The Deputy's question gets to the heart of the fact that the statistics I can quote belie or ignore the fact there are real pinch points in respect...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: In fairness to the Deputy, he put me on notice that he is going to raise this issue on each and every occasion, quite rightly and understandably considering the seriousness of it. As I set out previously, and as I am obliged to set out every time this question is posed to me, and despite the constructive way in which the question has been put forward, any discussions we might seek to have or...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I will very much take away the point made by the Deputy there in respect of a lack of engagement because my note tells me there is an ongoing process of engagement. Clearly, both cannot be factually true. I will, therefore, personally undertake to clarify this point with the State Claims Agency and I am happy to revert to the Deputy. As I said, my officials have begun an exploratory...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: When the time is right and the advice to me is that it is appropriate for me to have meetings, I will be very happy to engage. I obviously have the Deputy in a separate and distinct category as the spokesperson on defence for the largest Opposition party. I am happy to engage with him to see if we can constructively make progress. I will ask, and I have already asked, that we look at the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. He is right that there have been real challenges in terms of pinch points regarding specific positions our Air Corps is fundamentally reliant on and the air traffic controllers is the most obvious and current example. In fairness to my predecessors in this role, I point out that the context has changed significantly even since that 2021 report. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Inconsistency

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies for their concerted engagement. I definitely did not use the word "hypocrisy". I know the depth of feeling that people have in relation to Gaza. I am just making the point that there is an inconsistency - I think that is the word I used - in relation to it. I do not want to use a loaded phrase because I have huge respect for people who are quite rightly highlighting...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The courts.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The courts arbitrate on our law, Irish courts. They are the arbitrator of any law passed here and ensure that the Government of the day, any Government of any hue - the Deputy might be in government one day - keeps within the laws of the land as passed by the Oireachtas. The law is arbitrated on by the Irish courts, not any Government. There is an arbitrator and it is our courts system. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire for raising this important matter. It provides me with an opportunity to set out the position and the immediate steps that I and the Government have taken to ensure that air traffic control services operating at Baldonnel are restored to full service. Initial indications from the military authorities were received by my Department in May on the likelihood...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The service commitment scheme has been referenced for a number of years, from my recollection, and it is no more than my recollection. I believe it might have surfaced around 2021 in a list of recommendations but I am open to correction on that year. Generally, the way of progressing these issues is through local bargaining. In fairness, the Deputy will recognise that normally the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: On the latter point, I do not. I have been assured that contingency arrangements are in place. The Deputy is right about how we need to look more at the pinch points in our Defence Forces in general, and I will come back to this in a moment. I expect significant restoration of services at Baldonnel to happen very rapidly. I expect that to be the case because in my conversations with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions No. 2 and 4 together. I thank Deputy Gibney for the question. As she is aware and has alluded to, I brought forward the general scheme of the defence (amendment) Bill 2025, which amends the legislation underpinning overseas deployments of the Defence Forces. This was agreed by Cabinet on 4 March. The Bill will, among other things, provide for the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Director of Military Prosecutions (DMP) is statutory position, provided for in the Defence Acts, and clearly distinguishable from other posts, at the rank of Colonel. Defence Force Regulation (DFR) 02/2020, provides that the holder of the post of Director of Military Prosecutions (DMP) cannot be a member of a Representative Association. The prohibition on membership was provided for...