Results 901-920 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government is continuing with the planned expansion of Ireland’s diplomatic network, in line with the Global Ireland Strategy: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025. Ireland's Consulate General in Milan opened on 9 September 2024, and will build on the important work of the Embassy of Ireland in Rome. Milan, which already hosts State agencies Enterprise Ireland, Tourism Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The promotion of freedom of religion or belief is a priority in Ireland’s human rights engagement at multilateral and bilateral levels. The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion (more commonly referred to as freedom of religion or belief) is a fundamental freedom, provided for under Article 18 of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (5 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: Legislative Measures (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 31 and 42 together. As set out in the Programme for Government, the situation in the Middle East remains a central foreign policy priority, notably advocating for a sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine through the realisation of the two-State solution. Settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: This case is a particularly difficult and challenging one and I appreciate how distressing it is for the family concerned. I am particularly conscious of how frustrating the continued delays to the conclusion of the trial have been. I want to reiterate my and the Irish Government’s support for the family in their quest for justice. I would like to acknowledge and commend their...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: As was the case with the fraudulent 2020 and 2024 elections, the Belarusian presidential election on 26 January 2025 was neither free nor fair. The people of Belarus have once again been denied a real voice in the governing of their country. The relentless and unprecedented repression of human rights, restrictions on political participation and access to independent media in Belarus deprived...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ministerial Responsibilities (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I will publish versions of the Ministerial briefs prepared by departmental officials for me as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Minister of State with special responsibility for European Affairs and the Minister of State with special responsibility for International Development and Diaspora, with redactions made in line with the provisions of the Freedom of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The high level ambition of the DFA Property Strategy (2022-2025) is ‘a network of high quality, safe, secure, sustainable workplaces to double Ireland’s global impact and influence to 2025 and beyond’. During 2024, the following refurbishment works were carried out in Embassies: Mission Nature of the Works Ankara New...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I attended my first EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 27 January last in Brussels. I was pleased to take the opportunity to have a number of bilateral meetings including with my counterparts from Czechia, Lithuania, Italy, and Spain. I has also had bilateral meeting the European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, Maros Sefcovic. I did not have an opportunity to meet with the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland, the European Union and international partners have been consistently clear that there can be no forced displacement of the civilian population of Gaza, nor occupation of the strip by Israel. This was expressed in clear terms by the United Nations Security Council in its Resolution 2735 of 10 June 2024, in which it rejected any attempt at demographic or territorial change in the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My department has outsourced both cleaning services and some security officer roles to private companies, for service provision in a number of our buildings. We have not outsourced Service Officer roles in any of our buildings. Service Type Contract Length Average Annual Cost* Total cost** Cleaning Services Three years with one...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The number of Cleaners and Services Officers employed by my department as at 27 January 2025 is provided below in tabular form. Grade Number as at 27 January 2025 Contract Status Head Services Officer 1 Permanent Services Officer 29 Permanent Night Watch-person 3 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Data (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: This Department is fully compliant with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform guidelines and circulars on official travel and also operates its own detailed internal travel policy and regulations. The central aim of the Departmental travel policy is to minimise official travel costs and to achieve value for money for expenditure necessarily incurred, consistent with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The following table indicates the number of civil servants employed in my Private Office in the Department of Foreign Affairs. The Private Secretary to the Tánaiste is paid a private secretary allowance, which amounts to €24,952.76 annually. Role Salary Scale Private Secretary to the Tánaiste First Secretary ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Together with our European Union partners, Ireland has consistently opposed the inclusion of Cuba on the United States’ list of state sponsors of terrorism and the associated measures, which the EU has stated are in violation of commonly accepted rules of international trade. Ireland and the EU’s position on the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: On 28 May 2024, the Government decided to formally recognise the State of Palestine as a sovereign, independent State, within the territory defined by the 1967 borders referenced in UN Security Council resolution 242 (1967). Norway and Spain made similar announcements on the same date. Slovenia recognised Palestine shortly afterwards. Ireland’s decision to recognise the State of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland currently has 94 Honorary Consuls operating in 55 countries across the globe, (see below list of countries where our Honorary Consuls are based). Our global network of Honorary Consuls offers vital support to the Government across a range of priorities, including providing a means of meeting the needs of Irish citizens in regions where we do not have a resident diplomatic Mission. ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: A table containing the information requested by the Deputy is set out below. The functions, privileges and immunities of Honorary Consuls and their legal status in Ireland derives from the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, 1963, as given effect in Irish law by the Diplomatic Relations and Immunities Act, 1967. Consular functions as performed by Honorary Consuls on behalf of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (5 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...