Results 161-180 of 45,231 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has a longstanding and excellent relationship with Colombia. Support for the implementation of the 2016 Peace Agreement is central to Ireland’s engagement, alongside our role as guarantor in the talks with FARC dissidents Estado Mayor (EM) under the Colombian Government’s Total Peace policy. Ireland has provided over €25 million to support peacebuilding and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 197 together. Ireland remains convinced that the implementation of the two-State solution is the only way to establish lasting peace and security for both Israel and Palestine, and the wider region. We are especially conscious of the need to build support from the ground up in both Israel and Palestine, in addition to advancing a political...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Promotion (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 169 and 182 together. As a small, highly globalised economy, it is of the utmost importance that we maintain a strategic focus on the international trading environment. In February, the Government agreed to my proposal to establish the Trade Forum, with the aim of providing a vehicle to directly engage with key stakeholders across Government and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Artificial Intelligence (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland will hold the Presidency of the Council of the European Union from July to December 2026. Preparations for Ireland’s Presidency are progressing across both policy and operational strands of planning, led by my Department in close cooperation with the Department of the Taoiseach, and with input from all Departments across Government. My Department is currently taking forward...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Bodies (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The EU-Israel Association Council took place in the margins of the Foreign Affairs Council on 24 February. The Association Council provided an opportunity for full and frank engagement with Israel on issues of concern, on the wider EU-Israel relationship and for the delivery of key messages at a critical moment for Israel, Palestine and the region. The meeting was attended by the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Sanctions (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has consistently supported strong sanctions against Russia in response to its unprovoked and illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The scale and speed of the sanctions adopted by the EU in response to Russia’s brutal aggression has been unprecedented, with over 2,400 individuals and entities now subject to travel bans and asset freeze measures. A broad range of sectoral...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I am aware that members of a European Parliament delegation undertaking an official programme were refused access to Israel. Lynn Boylan MEP, Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with Palestine, has written to me about the experience of the delegation and is in contact with my officials. My officials have raised the experience of the European Parliament delegation...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Northern Ireland (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 158, 179 and 180 together. I have been clear that the UK Legacy Act, as it stands, is not fit for purpose. At the same time, in addressing the legacy of the Troubles, I know there is a need to develop fit-for-purpose mechanisms to seek truth and justice for victims and their families. We have committed to work towards this in the Programme for Government. ...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159, 171 and 229 together. I had a productive first call with United States Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick on Monday 24 March. This was an important opportunity to engage with Secretary Lutnick, a key figure in the administration with wide responsibility for matters of trade and commerce. This conversation was focused on the approach of the new US...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 160 and 201 together. Both I and my officials interact with a wide variety of international partners on the Middle East which remains a 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...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Human Rights (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland has consistently condemned the gross, widespread and systematic human rights abuses by the Taliban across Afghanistan, particularly against women, girls and individuals from marginalised communities. My commitment and that of the Government to this issue, and particularly the systematic gender persecution now being perpetrated by the Taliban against women and girls in Afghanistan, is...

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

Simon Harris: The Passport Online service offers citizens the ability to apply online for their passport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This award-winning service has allowed for the centralisation of passport processing and has resulted in greater efficiencies for our citizens and for the Passport Service. Passport Online is a user-friendly, efficient service that is currently issuing the vast majority of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: United Nations (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, Ireland has long history of participating in UN peacekeeping operations. With an unbroken record of service in UN peacekeeping since 1958, Ireland has contributed to a range of UN missions across the world. Just recently I had the honour to visit our troops stationed in Lebanon and saw first-hand the vital role they are playing with UNIFIL, where many thousands...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Israeli-Palestine conflict, including developments in Gaza and the West Bank, continues to be a central focus of my international engagement. The immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate end and for all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal, including the release...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Passport Service is successfully responding to the current level of demand for passports and Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) applications. Over a quarter of a million passports and almost 10,000 FBR certs have been issued to date this year. While demand for passports and Foreign Birth Registration (FBR) has increased significantly over the past decade, my Department has made it a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 178 together. The urgent need to address the conflict in the Middle East remains a priority for Ireland. The immediate focus of the international community must be on bringing hostilities to an immediate end and for all parties to return to talks aimed at implementing the second phase of the ceasefire and hostage release deal. Our focus must also...

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

Simon Harris: Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence, Thomas Byrne, attended the General Affairs Council on Tuesday 18 March, where Ministers had an exchange of views on EU-UK relations ahead of the first EU-UK summit, which is scheduled to take place on 19 May. Ministers received a briefing on the state of play in EU-UK relations from Commissioner Šefčovič. Discussion...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: All States have a legal obligation to prevent genocide. The International Court of Justice has clarified that this is an obligation of conduct, not result, and that a State’s obligation in any given case will depend on its capacity to influence effectively those whose actions may lead to the commission of genocide. The Court recognised that this capacity to influence itself depends...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Middle East (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland supports the important role that UN Special Procedures mandate holders play in the international human rights system. Their work contributes to the development of international human rights standards and helps to raise public awareness on human rights issues. My officials and I will continue to defend the important role undertaken by all such mandate holders. Ireland regularly...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: EU Meetings (1 Apr 2025)

Simon Harris: The Minister of State for European Affairs and Defence Thomas Byrne attended the General Affairs Council on 18 March 2025. Ministers firstly prepared the agenda of the European Council taking place on 20 March which included Ukraine, European defence, the Middle East, competitiveness, the Multiannual Financial Framework, migration, oceans policy, and multilateralism. Minister Byrne...