Results 1,541-1,560 of 46,036 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: European Court of Justice (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland does not at present intend to join the European Commission’s case at the Court of Justice of the European Union against Hungary in respect of the Sovereignty Protection Act (case C-829/24). Ireland has consistently raised our concerns about Hungary’s Sovereignty Protection Act, and its negative impact on civil society space in Hungary, including the risk that the...

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. FBR applications are currently being processed within the normal turnaround time of 9 months...

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

Simon Harris: Ireland’s long-standing position on Western Sahara is one of full support for the UN-led process, including the MINURSO Mission, and the efforts of Personal Envoy of the UN Secretary-General for Western Sahara, Staffan de Mistura, to achieve a political solution to this long-standing dispute. It is our hope that these efforts will help achieve a just, lasting and mutually acceptable...

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

Simon Harris: Engagement with third-country counterparts is a central part of my work and that of my officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs. Such engagement routinely includes exchanges on issues relevant to the bilateral relationship between Ireland and the country concerned. This issue has not been the subject of political engagement on my part or on the part of my predecessor with our...