Results 801-820 of 45,281 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Responsibilities (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: There are two Ministers of State at my department, Mr Thomas Byrne TD and Mr Neale Richmond TD. On 29 January 2025, Minister Byrne was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, and Minister Richmond was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for International Development and Diaspora. The Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) (No.2) Act, 1977 provides...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Court of Justice (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland does not at present intend to join the European Commission’s case at the Court of Justice of the European Union against Hungary in respect of the Sovereignty Protection Act (case C-829/24). Ireland has consistently raised our concerns about Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Act, and its negative impact on civil society space in Hungary, including the risk that the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is responsible for processing Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications for people who are born abroad and claim Irish citizenship through a grandparent born in Ireland or through a parent who has claimed citizenship also through FBR, Naturalisation or Post Nuptial Citizenship. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the UN-led process, including the MINURSO Mission, and the efforts of Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to achieve a political solution to this long-standing dispute. It is our hope that these efforts will help achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Engagement with third-country counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Such engagement routinely includes exchanges on issues relevant to the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the country concerned. This issue has not been the subject of political engagement on my part or on the part of my predecessor with our...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Artificial Intelligence (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department has a policy on the use of Generative AI, written in line with advice and guidance issued by Government and the National Cyber Security Centre. Officials of my Department have also consulted with Gartner on developments in AI technology. The Department has not deployed Generative AI solutions but is actively researching Large Language Models (LLM) and their possible uses....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland and the United States have deep and strong bilateral relations, built on a rich foundation of ancestral ties, shared values and close diplomatic and political links, including US support for peace on this island. Ireland had a good working relationship with President Trump and with his administration during his previous term in office from 2016-2020. The Government looks forward...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service issued over one million passports in 2024. To date in 2025, the Passport Service has issued over 100,000 passports. 2025 is expected to be another busy year for the Passport Service and my Department is in an excellent position to meet the demand forecasted for this year. The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports. All passport...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Global Ireland 2025 strategy was launched by Government in 2018 with the aim of doubling Ireland’s footprint and impact by 2025. Ireland’s diplomatic footprint has expanded significantly with the opening of twenty-two new missions under the Strategy. A further five new diplomatic missions were announced in March 2024 with new Embassies in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Since taking up my role as Tánaiste, I have had early calls with both the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, and with Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. My call with the Secretary of State was an opportunity to reiterate our commitment to work together to fulfil our shared responsibilities as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement, including in finding a way...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ministerial Responsibilities (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Ministerial Brief has been published and is available at the following link on gov.ie:

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Properties (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In December 2024, the Department of Defence was informed that an operational decision had been taken by the military authorities to proceed with the closure of the DFTC Fire Station. In advance of the execution and promulgation of this decision it was directed that the military authorities advise in writing: (i) the Chief Executive of Kildare County Council; and (ii) all residents and...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The use of the terms IOC and FOC is a nomenclature adopted by the military authorities, who define same as follows : -Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is defined as the state achieved when a military capability is available in its minimum usefully deployable form; with - Final Operating Capability (FOC) is defined as the state achieved when the operating Unit has accepted all of the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Air Corps (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: It has been a long standing practice that the aforementioned report provides extensive details in relation to Air Corps supports provided to the civil authorities. While my Department will consider the issue of publication of wider statistical details, the Deputy will appreciate that such a consideration will, by necessity, be guided by the principle of not commenting specifically on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Legislative Process (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department initiated one bill in 2024, which was enacted as the Defence (Amendment) Act 2024 (Number 25 of 2024) and signed into law by President Higgins on 17 July 2024. A full account of the legislative process for the Act is available at the following link: The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below. Bill/Act Defence (Amendment) Act 2024...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 110, 115, 123 and 124 together. Since the ICJ advisory opinion of 19 July 2024, the Department has included provisions in its tender documentation regarding the right to reject offers from third countries on defence and security grounds, in line with the Commission guidance on the procurement of defensive equipment under Directive 2009/18/EU. The...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The military authorities have provided the requested information as set out in the tables, A-D, inclusive, at the link below. The report of the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended a move to Level of Ambition 2, which for the PDF includes an establishment of 11,500 personnel inclusive of a civilian component. The recommended establishment for the RDF is 4,500. Staffing...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 114 together. The Naval Service currently has a fleet of eight Commissioned vessels. Five of the vessels are available for operations including the four P60 class vessels which conduct patrols on a rotation basis. In addition to the four P60 class vessels, the L.É. Aoibhinn which has now reached full operational capability is regularly...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The following table, based on data provided by the military authorities, sets out the information sought by Deputy from 2019 up to the end of 2024 (the latest date for which information is available): - Completed Patrol Days Cancelled Patrol Days Total Scheduled Patrol Days 2019 1061 94 1155 2020 ...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) was established in 2021 with a mission “to ensure Ireland develops appropriate, leading edge and trusted defence and security capabilities in the land, sea, air, space and cyber domains, in order to protect our society, create jobs, drive research and enhance Ireland’s economic growth”. National Defence Industry...