Results 1,321-1,340 of 47,288 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Security (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with everything the Deputy has said. We face multiple and varied threats. This is not just Ireland but all other European countries as well. I was cheering inside when the Deputy said that neutrality cannot be used as an excuse for complacency. We all value military neutrality but sometimes when defence and security are mentioned in here, questions are raised about military...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Security (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is absolutely right. I can assure him that it will be all of those things and it will be multifaceted. Certain Departments have primacy in terms of their direct responsibility for the security of the State and the country. My Department and the Department of justice are obvious ones in that regard. However, all Departments and all agencies have a role to play. That is why I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 17 and 80 together. The Government remains fully committed to seeking and securing justice for Seán Rooney, his family and for the men and women of Óglaigh na hÉireann who served with him with pride and distinction. During my recent visit to southern Lebanon, I conveyed this in very clear and blunt terms to the new Lebanese Government, its...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Yes and yes. Yes, the plan is to get the service back up and running on a 24-7 basis as quickly as possible. The exact timeline for that, to be blunt, depends on the individual conversations the Air Corps leadership is having with individual people in terms of air traffic control. Those conversations are under way and I am hoping for a readout with an update on that very shortly. There...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with the point Deputy Smith makes about the need for that kind of structural, strategic look at those key pinch points, those personnel, and I take the point he makes about commercial activity. To Deputy Crowe's point, without over-commenting on it for a load of operational and security reasons, there are workarounds in place to ensure support for the Garda in terms of the Garda...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Security (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Ó Cearúil for the question. As he rightly says, our programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, sets out a number of commitments relating to national security. It is probably the most robust programme for Government in terms of national security and the focus, quite rightly, on security and security defence infrastructure. It acknowledges that this is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: The Governor of the Central Bank outlined the legal and practical situation yesterday at the Oireachtas committee. Nobody wants to see anything happening that in any way provides any support, direct or indirect, to the Israeli Government's horrific actions and the genocidal activity. We have to operate within the laws of the land and the laws of Europe, but we continue to work our way...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 20, 23, 29, 34, 42, 62, 66 and 79 together. I thank Deputy Smith for this question. It is a very important one on an important issue; it is a critical matter. I have already set out to the House a number of immediate steps that I have taken to ensure the restricted air traffic control service operating in Baldonnel is restored to full service. In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: People need to have a clear debate and people need to stop the spread of misinformation. I heard the leader of Sinn Féin, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald, speak about sending our sons to war. Let us get real. There is no proposal to send anybody's son to war. There are genuine differences on the policy of a triple lock. That is great and a legitimate thing to have. We also have to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10, 36 and 39 together. I thank Deputy Smith for raising this question. Our peacekeepers in Lebanon are part of an international UN-mandated force under the command of UNIFIL. They are part of Ireland's long and proud history of peacekeeping, and I know from my recent visit to our troops in UNIFIL that they are making a really important contribution in a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Smith. I believe that when the representatives of Palestine met the foreign affairs committee and addressed the matter, they referred to Ireland and possibly Algeria as two of the most supportive countries of their actions. Perhaps that is not articulated enough in the House. This country, the Government and the Oireachtas are doing everything we possibly can, and we will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: Sorry-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: To be clear, the United States of America used the veto. I have no issue about that. I think I referenced the President of the United States on a number of occasions today in regard to my concern about the potential use of the veto. The United States used the veto, and I think it was an appalling use of it. It is a sign of the dysfunctionality of the Security Council. I fully agree with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I agree with the Deputy. What I am saying is I have a very open mind on his question. I believe we will need to do something in this space and I am considering what would be the best structure to put in place to examine this is because we should not just talk about recruitment and retention in general in respect of the Defence Forces. I hope and think we will be able to make more progress....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Defence Forces (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy. As I said, we have objectively made good progress on pay, with a 49% increase in pay for a recruit entering the Defence Forces for training compared with six years ago, and rightly so. A school leaver can now be in full-time education and earn €45,341, while graduate cadets now commence on €50,000. We have also extended access to healthcare, brought in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Military Neutrality (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8, 12, 43, 48 and 51 together. I will outline the policy rationale. First, I would mention the electoral commitment. I promised the people of Ireland, when I ran in a general election, that if I were elected to government, I intended to do this and I intend to keep my promises. It was in my party’s manifesto. I think it was in our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Air Corps (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I fully agree with the Deputy. My Department and the Defence Forces have been working in close collaboration with An Garda Síochána, the health service and the Air Corps to ensure contingency arrangements are in place while we resolve this pinch point. I had a good meeting with the excellent new Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Rossa Mulcahy. I wish him well in his role....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Connolly for highlighting this important matter, that is, the need to have Ireland’s first ever maritime security strategy. I heard it said that we would have a new maritime security strategy in place by the end of the year. While it is true that it will be in place by the end of the year, it will be Ireland’s first ever maritime security strategy. I thank the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Connolly and the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, who agrees with him. I thank him for highlighting this matter. There are a couple of things in this regard. The Deputy is right that the Commission on the Defence Forces recommended exactly what he said it did. I will bring forward, either over the summer or early in the autumn, the next iteration of the implementation plan for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Naval Service (12 Jun 2025)

Simon Harris: I hear the compelling case Deputy Connolly is making loud and clear. I will talk to the Naval Service directly and to the Chief of Staff with regard to our plans for the expansion of naval bases in the country. I am proud to acknowledge, as the Deputy has acknowledged, the great tradition Galway has in its contribution to Óglaigh na hÉireann. I had the honour of visiting Renmore...