Results 981-1,000 of 45,480 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: The Passport Service issued 1,061,629 passport books and cards in 2024. The number of passports issued to applicants residing County Tipperary in 2024 was 20,994. Please see table below for the breakdown of adult and child passports issued during 2024 for applicants resident in County Tipperary. County Adult Child Totals Tipperary ...

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

Simon Harris: As we approach the third anniversary of Russia's illegal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine, we are at a critical moment in terms of the trajectory of the war. Over the past three years, indescribable suffering has been inflicted upon the people of Ukraine following Russia’s illegal and unjustified full-scale invasion. Millions have been forced to flee their homes,...

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. The average turnaround time for online renewal adult passport applications for both January 2024 and January 2025 was 5 working days. This is well below the advertised estimated turnaround times for renewals which is 10 working days. The turnaround times for passport processing are: Application Type ...

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

Simon Harris: On 19 July 2024, the International Court of Justice delivered an Advisory Opinion on the legal consequences arising from the policies and practices of Israel in the occupied Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem. The Court’s principal conclusion was that Israel’s continued presence in the occupied Palestinian territory was unlawful and that it must be brought to an...

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

Simon Harris: Saint Patrick’s Day has for many years served as a unique opportunity to celebrate and promote Irish culture, to recognise our diaspora and to platform and promote Ireland as an excellent location to do business and to invest, in particular in the United States. Ireland had a good working relationship with President Trump and his administration during his previous term in office....

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

Simon Harris: I have been closely following the situation in Serbia over recent weeks. On 5 February, Commissioner for EU Enlargement Marta Kos published a letter setting out the EU position on the subject. I fully align with this. Freedom of assembly is a fundamental right that must be respected. It must be exercised peacefully and in accordance with the law. The healthy, peaceful exchange of ideas...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (11 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. Any move to relocate the population of Gaza against its will would be contrary to United Nations Security Council Resolution 2735 of 10 June 2024, which rejected any attempt at demographic...

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

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has reviewed the application, taken action as appropriate and contacted the applicant directly. We have advised the applicant to reapply online as he is a First Time Applicant. I strongly encourage the Deputy to advise his constituents of the advantages of using the substantially more...

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

Simon Harris: Both I and my officials interact with a wide variety of international partners on the Middle East which remains a major priority for this Government. Ireland’s engagement is guided by our longstanding and principled position, notably respect for international law, respect for the equal right to self-determination, peace, security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike, and...

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

Simon Harris: As stated in PQ 2761/25, 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...

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

Simon Harris: There have been no fines sought by the European Commission on my Department relating to breaches of EU guidance, regulations, directives or laws.

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

Simon Harris: No bills for which the Department of Foreign Affairs had responsibility were initiated or enacted in 2024. In that year, my Department worked to promote our values and to advance Ireland's prosperity and interests abroad in line with its Statement of Strategy 2024-25. The Department's annual report for 2024, to be published later this year, will contain details of the progress achieved...

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

Simon Harris: We have seen throughout this conflict the vital role played by media, both domestic and international, in ensuring public scrutiny of actions taken by combatants. It is vital in my view that journalists are permitted sufficient access to allow for effective reporting and this is an issue that Ireland has repeatedly raised over recent months. I am acutely aware of the dire situation faced...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Public Sector Pay (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Secretary General of the Department of Foreign Affairs is on the Secretary General Level II salary scale. Matters relating to civil service pay and conditions, including salary scales are the responsibility of the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform.

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

Simon Harris: My Department has made the following payments in respect of external ICT service provision in support of its global IT network, including passport services. Service Provider 2023 2024 2025 Service Bearing Point €5,187,611 €5,517,833 €340,407 Managed Service Provider ...

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

Simon Harris: The Passport Online service allows citizens to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Passport Online is an award-winning, user-friendly, efficient service that consistently offers processing times up to four times faster than paper-based passport renewal applications. In 2024 over 93% of passport applications were made through Passport Online, which is available to...

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

Simon Harris: The Irish passport is a crucial document that represents the Irish State and grants visa-free access to over 190 destinations worldwide. With the current design over a decade old, a redesign is essential to maintain the passport’s security, integrity, and global reputation. As part of this redesign, the Passport Service conducted a public consultation inviting citizens to share...

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

Simon Harris: I had a positive call with the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, on 24 January. It 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 forward on legacy issues. We look forward to meeting in-person soon. We discussed the British...

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. Foreign Birth Registration, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving...

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...