Results 1-20 of 34,849 for in 'Written Answers' speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Trade Relations (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Negotiations remain the main focus for both the EU and Ireland. A mutually beneficial agreement that works for both sides is the objective. At the same time, we understand the need for the EU to undertake further internal preparations in case negotiations are unsuccessful. This is a sensible and measured approach. On 8 May, the Commission published a new package of rebalancing measures in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Passport Services (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: With regard to the specific application about which the Deputy has enquired, the Passport Service has issued the passport to the applicant.

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Funding (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The funding of the Mitchell Scholarship Programme is a matter for the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and I refer the Deputy to the parliamentary question answered by that Minister on 24 June 2025, the reference number for which is 34280/25. The response can be found on the following webpage: www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2025-06-24/947/

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Ukraine War (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Russian aggression against Ukraine features prominently on the monthly agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council, where EU Foreign Ministers are regularly joined by Foreign Minister Sybiha of Ukraine to hear directly from him about the situation on the ground and Ukraine’s most pressing needs. This is an important forum for discussion with my EU counterparts on what more the EU can do to...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Departmental Expenditure (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware from my previous reply on this matter, my Department has been working with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office (CSSO) on this matter since October 2024. The CSSO is the principal provider of solicitor services to the Attorney General and government, providing advisory, litigation and transactional services to Government Departments and offices. The use of a...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration is the policy lead on the development of the national security authority. Officials from my Department are proactively engaging with officials in that Department in relation the specific needs of the Defence organisation, Defence Industry and operators of critical infrastructure.

Written Answers — Department of Defence: National Security (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government 2025, Securing Ireland's Future, sets out a number of commitments relating to national security and defence, and work to give effect to these is well under way. The establishment of a Ministerial Council on National Security is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and it will function to enhance central co-ordination of the Department of the Taoiseach...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power, which in practice, means providing assistance to An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Defence Forces publish the number of requests for Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP), including the number of Central Bank security guard escorts, on an annual basis. I...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Naval Service (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Joint Task Force on Drug Interdiction was established as a Government measure to improve law enforcement in relation to drugs. It comprises members of Revenue's Customs Service, An Garda Síochána and the Naval Service, assisted by the Air Corps and the Army as required. The Defence Forces act in an Aid to the Civil Power capacity, upon request from Revenue and An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, and An Garda Síochána have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State. Among the roles assigned to the Defence Forces in the White Paper on Defence is the provision of Aid to the Civil Power (ATCP), which, in practice, means to assist An Garda Síochána when requested to do so. The Commission on...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Defence Forces (2 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Commission on the Defence Forces, published on the 9 February 2022, included a recommendation “That an immediate focus be given to standing down a number of current Defence Forces’ ATCP taskings which no longer seem justified in the current security situation”. My Department with the Defence Forces continue to implement the recommendations contained in the Report,...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (1 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister for Foreign Affairs. Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 131 together. All passport applications are subject to the requirements of the Passports Act 2008, as amended. The Act provides, among other things, that a person must be an Irish citizen before a passport can be issued to him/her. To meet this requirement, each person must demonstrate an entitlement to Irish citizenship by providing acceptable...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Foreign Birth Registration (1 Jul 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 or Naturalisation.FBR, by its nature, is a detailed and complex process, often involving official documentation relating to three generations...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (1 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order, 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly, or land in, the State require diplomatic clearance from the Minister of Foreign Affairs.Diplomatic clearance is subject to strict conditions, including that the aircraft is unarmed; that it carries no arms, ammunition or explosives; that it does not engage in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Military Aircraft (1 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including Ireland’s Embassies and Consulates worldwide, provides consular assistance to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad within the remit of its Consular Assistance Charter. Throughout this crisis, my Department and our Embassies in Tehran and in Tel Aviv have remained in regular contact with Irish citizens in the region as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: International Agreements (1 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: The protection and promotion of universal human rights is one of Ireland’s core foreign policy priorities. This includes the right to religious, linguistic and cultural freedom. The Government regularly raises concerns regarding human rights with China, both in bilateral meetings as well as in the appropriate international fora. I raised Ireland’s long-held concerns about...

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

Simon Harris: The protection and promotion of our human rights remains a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy. Ireland regularly discusses human rights concerns, including in respect of Tibet, with the Chinese authorities in bilateral meetings and in the appropriate multilateral fora, including with regard to the treatment of ethnic minorities. Both the Taoiseach and I raised our long-held concerns in...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Visa Agreements (1 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: My Department, including through our Embassies and Consulates worldwide, provides consular assistance to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad within the remit of its Consular Assistance Charter. Since the start of this crisis my Department has worked with the relevant authorities to facilitate the exit from Gaza of those Irish citizens, and accompanying dependants, who have expressed a...

Written Answers — Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade: Departmental Inquiries (1 Jul 2025)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for his question, and I can confirm my Department has been in direct contact with the couple to provide assistance.