Results 1,661-1,680 of 46,232 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The situation in Israel and Palestine is 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 unwavering support for the two-State solution. I set out the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: We are closely monitoring the situation in Syria as it continues to evolve, including developments concerning the Occupied Syrian Golan Heights. Like all of Syria's neighbouring states, Israel needs to act responsibly and refrain from actions and statements that jeopardise a just transition in Syria. Any breaches of the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement are concerning. UN Peacekeepers...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 67, 68 and 76 together. I remain concerned by the volatile security situation in southern Lebanon, particularly in light of the expiration of the initial ceasefire agreement and recent violence along the border. The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) are continuing ground operations in southern Lebanon, including in UNIFIL's Area of Operation (AO). The IDF...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Government does not comment on leaked documents. In the current context, the situation in Israel and Palestine remains a standing agenda point on the Foreign Affairs Council, enabling me to exchange with my EU counterparts on this key priority on a monthly basis. Ireland has consistently called for a ceasefire, the release of hostages and humanitarian access at scale to Gaza. At...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Under the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders 1973 and 1989, it is expressly prohibited for civil aircraft to carry munitions of war in Irish sovereign territory, without being granted an exemption to do so by the Minister for Transport. In considering any application for such an exemption in respect of munitions of war, the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: As of yet, I have not had any direct engagements with the government of Armenia in my role as Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. I was grateful to receive a congratulations letter from the Armenian Foreign Minister on my recent appointment, and I look forward to engaging with him at an early opportunity. The Department of Foreign Affairs has had ongoing engagement...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Since the terror attack by Hamas on Israel on 7 October 2023, the Houthis have launched a campaign of drone and missile attacks against Israel, which were utterly. This campaign has included attacks on international shipping, which have impacted on humanitarian relief efforts in the Horn of Africa and have contributed to disruptions in world trade. As well as attacking civilian vessels, they...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Feb 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. While ICJ Advisory Opinions are not binding in and of themselves, they represent authoritative statements of applicable international law, including customary law...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland's co-operation with the State of Palestine at the UN - which we recognised as a sovereign and independent state in May of 2024, but which holds observer status at the United Nations - is both broad and substantial. This includes the co-sponsorship of multiple resolutions at the 79th General Assembly, on matters ranging from the UN budget and pension system, through to General and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Public Appointments Service, known as Publicjobs, is the body designated under the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004 to provide shared service recruitment to the public and civil service and is responsible for the current Third Secretary competition which was launched in July 2024. As of 07 February 2025, three candidates have been assigned by...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The number of civil servants in each division and standalone unit in my Department as at 04 February 2025, broken down by grade, is provided in tabular form below. In addition, 476 Department staff are posted to Ireland’s missions abroad. Division DeputySecretaryGeneral AssistantSecretary Principal Officer & Equivalent Assistant...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Over the past five years, the Department of Foreign Affairs has grown as Ireland’s diplomatic footprint has expanded and as our Passport Service continues to successfully meet high demand for passports with turnaround times at or well-ahead of target. On 27 January 2025, the Department employed 2,215 civil servants. There are currently a small number of civil service vacancies to...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (12 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 in relation to the application.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Climate Action Plan (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Circular 01/2020 Offsetting Emissions associated with Official Air Travel: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Returns 2020 to 2023 Headquarters Headquarters Missions Missions Year Multiplier per Tonne € Carbon Tonnes Carbon Offset Cost € Carbon Tonnes Carbon...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Official Engagements (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland and the United States have deep and strong bilateral relations, built on a rich foundation of ancestral ties, shared values and close diplomatic and political links, including US support for peace on this island. Ireland had a good working relationship with President Trump and with his administration during his previous term in office from 2016-2020. The Government looks forward...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The attack carried out by the Israeli Defense Forces on 27 December last targeting the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, during the course of which Dr Hussam Abu Safiya was detained, was deeply concerning. As noted by the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in his report of 31 December 2024, the pattern of Israeli attacks on Gaza hospitals throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Climate Action Plan (12 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In line with Circular 01/2020 issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, Government Departments, Offices and agencies are, with effect from 1 January 2020, required to record, monitor, and value the greenhouse gas emissions associated with official air travel usage and, no later than 28 February each year, make a payment to the Fund Manager of the statutory Climate Action Fund...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Moynihan. As he knows, the Taoiseach and I are really committed to the shared island initiative. The good news is we are now seeing what was a concept now delivering very practical results on the ground with so many projects progressing. I could mention the restoration of the Ulster Canal, as one example I visited recently, or the transformative education project at the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In answer to both Deputies' questions, I absolutely will. I congratulate Deputy McGuinness on his election too. He can take it as read that I am very happy to continue that engagement and to work with him on a cross-party basis on this issue. In the brief time available to me, I will return to the issue of the Omagh inquiry because I want to be very clear on this. When I was in Belfast...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Passport Services (11 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The short answer is we will keep this under review. I am pleased to see that so many applications are being made online. Regardless if someone lives in Cork, Dublin or anywhere else in this great country, he or she is able to apply for a passport. More than 93% of applications came that way last year and people can get passports in a time-efficient manner. In terms of the office we...