Results 121-140 of 45,373 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I love the way Sinn Féin loves to laugh and joke about the issue of housing. It proposed in the general election that if it was elected to government, and thank God we were spared that, it would establish a new office to bring forward all of the different structures to break down silos. That is what Sinn Féin proposed. The Housing Commission proposed that, and so did the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: That is the only decision that we have made. We have not made any decisions about personnel or pay. Process matters with all of these issues. We will continue to engage as a Government, now that we have made the decision on establishing the new office, on how best to staff that office. The overriding objective will not be personality but will be getting the job done and making sure that...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am very on board with setting up a housing activation office and I thought Deputy Doherty was too. It is in page 98 of Sinn Féin's own plan, about breaking down the silos, bringing in expertise, and-----

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: I am not sure whether its Deputies read the policies but that is what they all ran on in the election. They ran in the election and said that he wanted to establish an office to bring together people to break down silos relating to housing.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Currently, there is no Free Trade Agreement between the European Union and Türkiye. The EU-Türkiye Customs Union, however, has enabled bilateral trade to increase significantly, reaching a record high of almost €206 billion in 2023, making Türkiye the EU’s 5th largest trade partner in that year. Goods may travel between the two entities without any customs...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government remains committed to free, fair and open trade while protecting Ireland’s interests in international trade deals. 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: Passport Services (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific applications about which the Deputy has enquired, these applications are within the current turnaround times and have not yet reached their issue by date.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Policy (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland and Australia enjoy warm and strong bilateral relations founded on historic ties of kinship and a shared commitment to democratic values. Both countries work closely together on issues of mutual interest, including defending multilateralism and the rules-based international order. These were among the issues discussed when bilateral consultations at senior official level took place in...

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

Simon Harris: I have not engaged in direct correspondence or communication with my Russian counterpart nor met the Russian Ambassador to Ireland since February 2022. Since the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine, my engagements on this issue have focused on direct engagement with Ukraine, as the victim of Russian aggression, and with our European Union and like-minded partners. Ireland’s...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: In June 2018, the Government launched Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025. The strategy aims to see Ireland’s global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence. Under the The Global Ireland strategy, 27 missions diplomatic missions have been opened or announced to be opened. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Consular Services (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: In June 2018, the Government launched Global Ireland: Ireland’s Global Footprint to 2025. The strategy aims to see Ireland’s global footprint and influence double in the period to 2025, including through an expanded and strengthened diplomatic presence. Under the The Global Ireland strategy, 27 missions diplomatic missions have been opened or announced to be opened. This...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Directives (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: Over Ireland’s 50 years of EU membership, approximately 4,000 Directives have been transposed into Irish law. The vast majority are transposed on time, usually two years following publication. However, where this does not happen, the European Commission can open infringement proceedings against Ireland. Most infringements are resolved (once transposition is completed) at the initial...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together. The Passport Service issued over one million passports in 2024. To date in 2025, the Passport Service has issued over 370,000 passports. 2025 is expected to be another busy year for the Passport Service and my Department is in an excellent position to meet the demand forecasted for the summer season. I am pleased to say that the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (1 May 2025)

Simon Harris: TABLE Horses to join the Army Equitation School in 2024 4 Horses to join the Army Equitation School to date in 2025 0

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has been an active and committed supporter of UNRWA and its activities for many years. As part of Ireland’s overall support to the people of Palestine, €58 million has been provided to UNRWA between 2023 and 2025. This includes €20 million to UNRWA committed by me in February this year, which supports UNRWA’s programmes in Gaza and the West Bank,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: As with all of my EU counterparts, I regularly meet with Foreign Minister Casper Veldkamp and Foreign Trade and Development Minister Reinette Klever at Foreign Affairs Councils in Brussels. These opportunities to engage on the EU agenda, and to get to know our fellow ministers create the strong understanding that we share as Europeans. In March, I had a constructive phone call with...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: A Vision for Change (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: All passport applications are subject to the provisions of the Passports Act 2008 ("the 2008 Act"), as amended. The 2008 Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to that person. Entitlement to Irish citizenship is determined by the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956 ("the 1956 Act"), as amended, under which Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Embassy of Ireland in Rabat works to promote Ireland’s interests in Morocco, supporting political, economic, cultural and people-to-people ties between our two countries. The Embassy supports the community of Irish people who are resident, or who may be travelling in Morocco, as well as Irish people, businesses, public bodies and educational and cultural institutions engaged in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland's relationship with Indonesia is strong and growing. It reached a significant milestone in 2024 when we celebrated the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations and the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Embassy of Ireland in Jakarta. The opening of a resident Irish Embassy in 2014 has been critical to enhancing Ireland's relationship with Indonesia, and to increasing awareness of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (30 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department, through our Embassy in Islamabad, continues to monitor developments closely in the province of Balochistan, in south-west Pakistan, in light of the ongoing unrest in this region and the recent arrests of prominent human rights activists. Our Embassy has engaged regularly with both the EU Delegation and like-minded partners in Pakistan regarding the most appropriate response...