Results 1,581-1,600 of 46,232 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In terms of cyber security, the primary role of the Defence Forces (DF) relates to the defence and security of DF networks and systems. I have been informed by the military authorities that recent Information Communications Technology (ICT) transformation and upgrade projects in the DF security architecture allows for certain security focused applications to leverage AI to enhance the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (20 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: International comparison of military expenditure is hindered by the lack of publicly available data, along with the breadth of difference between nations in their international security and defence policies. In that regard, I welcome the recent publication of ‘The Military Balance 2025’, as conducted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, which comprehensively and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department increasingly uses digital technology to support its work globally, including the delivery of passport services to citizens. The amounts requested, paid in respect of the development and maintenance of digital systems, are as follows: Year 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Total €8,287,175 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: There are no State, semi-State, or other public bodies operating under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department does not have any State agencies under its aegis.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Expenditure (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In the past five years there have been no overspends exceeding €500,000 on projects undertaken or commissioned by the Department of Foreign Affairs or by any State or semi-State body under the aegis of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Flexible Work Practices (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs is committed to ensuring a positive and productive working environment, and to sustaining strong standards of performance and delivery on our high level goals for the people we serve at home and abroad. My Department’s Blended Working at HQ policy was launched in September 2022, and is framed within the context of the broader Civil Service Policy...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Table below outlines the total expenditure by my department in the years 2020-2024 on the procurement of services to develop or maintain digital and IT systems. The IT external service providers work closely with staff in my Department to design, develop, maintain and support secure ICT services for the Department of Defence. There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Table below provides a list of the private service providers who have received contracts from my Department to develop or maintain digital and IT systems in the years 2020-2024. The IT external service providers work closely with staff in my Department to design, develop, maintain and support secure ICT services for the Department of Defence. There are three bodies under the aegis of...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Defence website is hosted by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) as part of the gov.ie central website for government services and information. There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: State Bodies (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Defence website is hosted by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) as part of the gov.ie central website for government services and information. There are three bodies under the aegis of my Department; the Army Pensions Board, the Ombudsman for the Defence Forces and the External Oversight Body of the Defence Forces (EOB), which was placed on a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Ukraine War (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Since the inaugural meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) in April 2022, the group has convened regularly to discuss and coordinate support for Ukraine in response to Russia illegal invasion, with the 26th meeting held on the 12th February this year. Ireland has attended meetings of the Group since May 2022 - which have alternated between video conferences and in-person meetings...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Defence ensures that there is an appropriate focus on good practice in purchasing and that procedures are in place to ensure compliance with all relevant guidelines. The procurement of goods and services by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces is carried out in accordance with public procurement policy and national and European Union law and that expenditure is...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Flexible Work Practices (19 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In line with the Blended Working Policy Framework for Civil Service Organisations, my Department launched its Blended Working Policy in late October 2022. Staff availing of blended working are required to attend the office on a minimum of 2 specific days each week as agreed with their manager. There are no immediate planned changes to remote working arrangements applying to staff in my...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Neutrality (18 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland's policy of military neutrality, as practised by successive Governments, means that Ireland does not participate in military alliances or common or mutual defence arrangements. The Government has been clear that it has no desire to alter Ireland’s policy of military neutrality. The triple lock refers to a three-stage process to approve the deployment of troops on a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (18 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service is successfully meeting high demand for passports and has issued over 126,000 passports to date in 2025. Turnaround times are currently at, or ahead of, target. The figures requested by the Deputy are outlined in the table below: APPLICATIONS RECEIVED Jan-23 Jan-24 Jan-25 RENEWAL 110,760 98,941 ...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (18 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland and Mexico enjoy long-standing and excellent bilateral relations and Mexico is Ireland’s largest trading partner in Latin America. The Global Ireland Strategy for Latin America and the Caribbean to 2025 provides the framework for strengthening this relationship. During the past twelve months there has been intensive engagement with Mexico. This was reflected in both the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (18 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Securing future immigration flows between the U.S. and Ireland remains a priority for the Irish Government. The Government will continue to support all possible immigration pathways for Irish citizens looking to live and work in the U.S., while simultaneously respecting the fact that U.S. Immigration policy is a matter for the relevant U.S. authorities. The bipartisan reintroduction of the E3...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies (18 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court (ICC) as a cornerstone of the international system of criminal justice. For this reason the Executive Order signed by President Trump on 6 February is a cause of concern. The Order authorises the imposition of sanctions on officials of the ICC and imposes sanctions on the Court's Prosecutor. It is important that the Court is...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (18 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs is fully committed to promoting and maintaining an inclusive and diverse workplace for all employees and is taking a proactive and strategic approach to advancing gender equality and wider diversity and inclusion issues as articulated in its Gender, Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (GEDI) Action Plan which was launched in July 2022. In that Plan, the...