Results 981-1,000 of 46,014 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Membership of the United Nations is at the heart of Ireland's foreign policy. Last month in New York I had the opportunity to meet with Irish representatives at the UN. I thanked them for the important work they are doing, often in an challenging environment. I reiterated our unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russia's ongoing illegal aggression. I also took the opportunity to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Since the beginning of Russia’s illegal and unjustified war of aggression, the response of the European Union has been unprecedented in its unity, firmness and determination. I am committed to working with my EU partners in the period ahead to ensure Ukraine gets the support it needs to defend itself. This remains a key focus of my engagements with my EU counterparts, both bilaterally...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I welcome the commitment of the United States to support the achievement of peace in Ukraine. The support of the US since the start of Russia's illegal, full-scale invasion and war of aggression has been instrumental to Ukraine’s defence. Our response has been characterised by strong transatlantic cooperation, including with regard to holding Russia accountable. I recently spoke with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Agreements (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 243 together. The Government is committed to supporting free, fair and open trade. Our EU membership makes us part of the growing network of EU Free Trade Agreements, supporting more opportunity for exports and investment, helping support jobs and growth at home, maintaining strict EU standards on food safety, animal and plant health, and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland’s Embassy in Rome, as our representative office in Italy, leads on Ireland’s political, trade, economic and people-to-people relations across Italy. Under the guidance of Ambassador Patricia O’Brien, the Embassy works to enhance the political and economic relationship between Ireland and Italy and to pursue opportunities to deliver economic growth and jobs;...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: In the current context, the situation in Israel and Palestine remains a standing agenda point on the Foreign Affairs Council enabling me and my officials to exchange with our EU partners on this key priority on a monthly basis. The immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate end and for all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (1 Apr 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: Diplomatic Representation (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The number of staff serving at the Permanent Representation of Ireland to the European Union as of 1st January for each of the years 2021 to 2025 is set out below in tabular form. The rise in the numbers serving from 2025 reflects preparations for the 2026 Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. Vacancies in the Permanent Representation are kept to a minimum duration....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I am aware of a number of arrests that were made by authorities in the province of Balochistan, in south-west Pakistan, in recent days and of the ongoing unrest in this region which has witnessed violent insurgencies and political and ethnic conflict in recent years. Ireland, through our Embassy in Islamabad, continues to monitor closely developments in the region and has engaged with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I am very concerned by recent events in Türkiye, including the arrest and detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, along with many members of the press and civil society representatives. Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have in recent days raised these concerns directly at senior levels in Türkiye. We have emphasised the need for the Government of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I am deeply concerned by the negative trajectory of the situation on the ground in Palestine, Lebanon and Israel over recent weeks. This remains a central focus of Ireland’s foreign policy and my engagement with my EU and international counterparts. Regarding the situation in Gaza, the immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: At the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024, I attended and opened an event hosted by Save the Children in my capacity as Taoiseach. The event was addressed by a number of children from Gaza, who shared shocking and heart-breaking stories of the situation on the ground. I can assure the Deputy that the plight of children in Gaza and across Palestine remains a key priority...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provides assistance to Irish citizens overseas in line with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter. Through our Embassies in the region, my Department is in contact with many of the humanitarian and medical workers in Gaza. In most cases, their parent organisation provides arrangements for their security and rotation from Gaza....

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The EU-Israel Association Agreement provides that the relations between the parties will be based on respect for human rights and democratic principles, which constitute an 'essential element' of that Agreement. In principle, if the EU and its Member States formed a view that there is a serious and persistent violation of the requirement to respect human rights as an essential element of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 239 and 240 together. The legislative framework for diplomatic relations is governed by the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, an international treaty that provides a framework for diplomatic relations between States. The Vienna Convention was ratified by Ireland in 1967 and incorporated into Irish law by the Diplomatic Relations and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ongoing and strategic political engagement with the United States is a top priority for this Government. This is reflected in my Department’s ‘Strategy for the US and Canada 2019-2025’ which aims to consolidate, deepen and expand the partnership between Ireland and the United States. The Programme for Government published earlier this year also places emphasis on the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, this is a paper application which was received on 27 January 2025. The Passport Service requested further supporting documents from the applicant on 7 March 2025. The final set of further supporting documents were received from the applicant on 13 March 2025. The turnaround time following receipt of additional...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Successive governments have made landing facilities available at a number of Irish airports to the United States and other foreign militaries for well over 50 years. Arrangements for foreign military aircraft to land in Irish airports are governed by strict conditions, including stipulations that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 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: Departmental Policies (27 Mar 2025)

Simon Harris: All passport applications are subject to the terms of the Passports Act, 2008, as amended (“the Act“). The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. To meet this requirement, each passport applicant must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable documentary evidence of...