Results 941-960 of 45,480 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I have been very clear on the EU, and I have said it many times. I said it in my previous role as well that I think the European Union, in many parts of the world, could have done even more to apply more pressure to bring about a ceasefire. However, I am very conscious, in the context in which we are talking tonight, that there is a ceasefire in place but the ceasefire is extraordinarily...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Presidency (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 12 together. I thank Deputy O'Sullivan for his question. I congratulate him on his re-election and wish him well for this term in the Dáil. As the Deputy rightly says, Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from 1 July to 31 December 2026. Our preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are now intensifying...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: EU Presidency (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I take the point the Deputy makes but I assure him it is long-standing practice that we publish our proposal much closer to the Presidency. That is done for a variety of reasons, including the fact that we need to see where the legislative agenda in the European Commission is at at that stage. Let me say this. We will want to do a number of things but crucially, we will want to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Since the discussion at the Foreign Affairs Council, President Trump has announced his decision to implement tariffs at 25% on steel and aluminium imports to the United States, commencing in March. Tomorrow, I will attend a virtual meeting of EU trade ministers, where ministers from all 27 member states, along with the European Commission, will discuss this development and consider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Dempsey for the question, congratulate her on her election to the Dáil and look forward to working constructively with her. The passport service issued more than 1 million passport books and cards in 2024. There were 16,792 adult passports and 12,474 child passports issued to residents of County Meath in 2024, bringing the total number of passports issued to Meath...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I join Deputy Dempsey in thanking the passport service for the huge amount of work it has done and the reforms it has undergone. Let us consider that it has come through the Covid-19 pandemic and Brexit turbulence with the impact that had on passport application numbers and the general significant demand for passports. I often meet constituents who are pleasantly surprised about how quickly...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Murchú and congratulate him on his re-election. I have always enjoyed our sparring with him on a variety of issues and working constructively on other issues. I do not expect any change in that service, so I will look forward to it. I thank the Deputy for raising an important question. In the current context, the situation in Israel and Palestine remains a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Official Engagements (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy McAuliffe and formally congratulate him on his re-election to the House. I was pleased to have an opportunity to speak with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy on 27 January. It is important that this was one of the first calls I had an opportunity to make on taking office because the relationship between Ireland and the UK is of fundamental importance. This is reflected in our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Official Engagements (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Not to digress from the question, I share the Deputy's view. I will always stand up for the right of my colleagues in Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to participate in the Dáil and will respect their mandate to the fullest. I thank the Deputy for the kind words about the appointment of my colleague, the Minister of State. I am pleased to have him as my co-pilot at this busy time. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Official Engagements (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree. The Government should and unapologetically will talk to those who create jobs, investment and growth in our country and economy. The point I have been trying to make and will make to the Trump Administration is that the relationship is now two-way. There is not a state in the United States of America that does not have jobs created by Irish-owned companies. The top ten companies...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Relations (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question and congratulate him on his election to the House. I look forward to working constructively with him. This question is timely because it is important to work together at an EU level on our approach to the transatlantic relationship. The European Union and the US share a strong, mutually beneficial partnership. That was true before the US presidential...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I largely agree with the Deputy's last point in terms of it being important that people know who has been invited to participate in that panel. An indicative list of proposed participants is currently being finalised in consultation with our embassy in Washington, our eight consulates general of Ireland across the United States and our relevant State agencies. Attendees will be drawn from a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: It is important in an environment in which we know there is going to be significant policy change that could have a real impact on trade and investment and on jobs and growth, that we harness every possible avenue that we can in terms of getting the best possible information. That is why I will chair this new consultative forum that will bring all the relevant Departments together and indeed...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. I reiterate my strong concerns as to where we find ourselves in relation to the ceasefire agreement that is fragile. It is so important that all parties to that ceasefire agreement adhere to its terms. It is absolutely vital that Hamas releases the hostages and that Israel continues to observe the ceasefire. A return to violence and to conflict is almost unimaginable...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is right. We will absolutely continue to speak out in relation to this at an EU level and at every possible forum we have because we have seen more instances of settler violence in recent weeks. While I have welcomed the fact that the EU has adopted successive rounds of sanctions against violent Israeli settlers, it is really important that further listings are considered and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Middle East (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: What I have clearly said in relation to the Irish Government's position is that we will bring forward legislation in relation to the occupied territories and that we will fulfil the commitment in the programme for Government which focuses on goods. I said we will also constructively engage on other issues, including the issues the Deputy is raising. However, we are going to have to look at...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with Deputy Ó Laoghaire that great credit is due to the staff. The Deputy will come back in a moment to the issue of the feedback loop, which is an important piece that we should continue to work on. Sometimes, I hear stories about it. Deputy Ó Laoghaire's question is how to get a passport urgently. We should all check our passports, keep them in date and check them...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Passport Services (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Laoghaire. It is a fair point. I know from memory and from previous postings that quite a bit of work has been done to try to improve the feedback loop, as Deputy Ó Laoghaire correctly referred to it, but based on this discussion, I will undertake to speak to the Minister for Justice on this to see whether more can be done or needs to be done. I know Deputy...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Bodies (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Gibney and I congratulate her formally on her election to the House. I look forward to working with her collaboratively also. I thank her for the question. The United States is in a period of change in its economic and trade policy as the new Administration establishes itself. Ireland had a good working relationship with President Trump's Administration during his...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Programme (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I welcome Deputy Kenny. I share Deputy Ó Laoghaire's sentiments on the need to step back from the brink in protecting the fragile ceasefire in place. We will have an opportunity to engage on that shortly. To be clear, the Government and I, as the Tánaiste and leader of my party, still believe in legislating in relation to trade with the occupied territories. We gave that...