Results 1,821-1,840 of 46,232 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Artificial Intelligence (6 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department is actively exploring the opportunities presented by artificial intelligence and the various policy considerations that arise. None of the Department’s current programmes or services are driven by Generative AI models. A limited amount of research has been done within the Department’s ICT Unit on Large Language Models (LLM) that has incurred approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Diplomatic Representation (6 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Strengthening our relationship with the United States is a key priority for me and for this Government. Strategic political engagement is an important part of that effort at both Federal and State level. Ireland’s Consul General in Austin did not meet with the Mayor of Dallas in 2024. However, the Consulate of Ireland in Austin General engages regularly with elected officials and...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Contracts (6 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for two Votes - Vote 27 (International Cooperation) and Vote 28 (Foreign Affairs). Overall expenditure under both Votes for consultancy services engaged by my Department in 2023 and 2024 to date are set out in the schedule at the link below. As a number of contracts are multi-annual, their expenditure in each year of 2023 and 2024 are listed...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Legislative Measures (6 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: As set out in the Programme for Government, the situation in the Middle East remains a central foreign policy priority, notably advocating for a sustainable peace between Israel and Palestine through the realisation of the two-State solution. Settlements are illegal under international law and undermine the realisation of the two-State solution. As the House is aware, in light of the...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Student Visas (6 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Ireland and the US enjoy deep and strong bilateral relations. As is outlined in the new Programme for Government, it is a priority for Ireland to strengthen our political, cultural, economic and trade relationship with the US at all levels, recognising the unique significance of the mutually beneficial relationship between us. An element of these important reciprocal relationships are the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Artificial Intelligence (6 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: In line with the National AI strategy and the National Cyber Security Centre’s (NCSC) Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies, my Department continues to keep the use of artificial intelligence for business purposes under review. My Department's core IT infrastructure is provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) under the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Contracts (6 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Unfortunately, the information sought by the Deputy could not be collated in the timeframe provided. My officials will collate same and I will arrange to have this data provided to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Meetings (6 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: The Irish Defence and Security Association (IDSA) was established in 2021 with a mission “to ensure Ireland develops appropriate, leading edge and trusted defence and security capabilities in the land, sea, air, space and cyber domains, in order to protect our society, create jobs, drive research and enhance Ireland’s economic growth”. National Defence Industry...

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: We do not need tut-tutting. We can be a little more mature in this debate.

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: You can do what you want, but you can be a little more mature in relation to this.

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: This Government has taken a number of actions on behalf of the Irish people. I am proud of the approach Ireland has taken. I believe Irish people are proud of the approach we have taken. We are on the right side of history in this country. The Palestinian people and the President of the Palestinian National Authority know that too. One day, the Deputy might also acknowledge the positive...

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I genuinely did.

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: May I take it when I have finished?

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: Will the clock be paused?

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I welcome that, but the motion published and publicised by Sinn Féin yesterday wrongly attributed comments to officials in my Department.

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I accept that, but it is important that Department of Foreign Affairs officials are not misrepresented in their comments. I stand by their integrity in what they say. I am submitting an amendment on behalf of the Government that sets out the full range of meaningful actions taken by the Government as well as our broad approach to important recent developments and current considerations....

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: They are major legal issues.

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: They have all been detailed and legal advices, including those of the legal adviser from the Department of Foreign Affairs, have been shared at the committee. We are happy to provide further detail. It is about getting legislation that is lawful, Deputy McDonald, not about pretending to do something for the sake of it. We must get this right. We must continue to work in that regard. The...

Situation in Palestine: Motion [Private Members] (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 1: To delete all the words after "Dáil Éireann" and substitute the following: "welcomes the ceasefire deal in Gaza and the release of hostages that has taken place to date; urges all parties to ensure full implementation of all phases of this agreement and commends the effort of stakeholders for their ongoing efforts as facilitators; deplores the loss of...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Staff (5 Feb 2025)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 55 together. Secondments within the civil service are subject to the principles outlined in the Civil Service Secondments Policy and ‘Circular 27/2021: Secondment Policy for the Civil Service’. Moreover, in 2022, the Department of Foreign Affairs adopted a ‘Secondments Policy’ which maintains the Department’s...