Latest news with #SIMONHARRIS
The Journal
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Simon Harris wants to see emergency planning measures for Ipas centres phased out
TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has said he wants to see emergency planning measures that were introduced for international protection accommodation 'phased out', if Ireland builds capacity for future emergencies. Harris said the multi-billion euro investment contained within today's revised National Development Plan will help provide the infrastructure to help ensure that Ireland is less reliant on an 'emergency response to migration' as seen over the past three years in Ireland. Central to those measures over that period has been the use of International Protection Accommodation Services (Ipas) centres, which have become the target of protest and violence by anti-migrant groups and other demonstrations. Speaking to reporters today, Harris said the government wants to 'get us to a point where we don't have an emergency response to migration, and therefore you wouldn't need an emergency planning response' as well. 'So I would like to see a position where the exemption to planning processes could be phased out,' the Fine Gael leader added. He added that he does not believe that migration accommodation 'should be treated any differently to accommodation more broadly', when it comes to planning exemptions. Advertisement Harris did not give a timeline for when he would like to see the end of such measures. He was responding to media questions about a motion brought in Kilkenny County Council looking for these planning exemptions to end. The State has faced significant legal challenges to certain developments, with one High Court action taken against a largescale facility in Athlone encountering problems after it emerged that the expedited development was unlawful. The number of applications by people seeking asylum in Ireland has almost halved compared to last year . The State has conceded to the court that the statutory instrument used to expedite the construction of the facility was 'invalid' and is working on repairing legislation. The government has come in for criticism from Sinn Féin over its use of properties for Ukrainian refugees, with Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Matt Carthy saying yesterday that payments made to house Ukrainian people has had a 'distorting' effect on the rental market. Touching on this, Harris said today that the government is looking to make decisions around how it utilises State land, 'so we don't have a reliance and over reliance on the private market'. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The 42
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The 42
Simon Harris says 'careful consideration' was given to Palestinian GAA team's visa applications
TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has said 'careful consideration' was given to a number of Palestinian visa applications who wished to travel to Ireland for a GAA tour this month. As reported by The Journal yesterday, the group has been informed by the Irish Immigration Service that their visa applications have been refused due to 'insufficient documentation'. The GAA Palestine group, which helped to lodge the visa applications for 47 Palestinians who belong to sports clubs in the West Bank, has said they are shocked by the decision, and have refuted that any of the requested documentation was not provided. GAA Palestine had plans in place for 47 Palestinians to travel here, including 33 children aged between 9 and 16 years of age. A total of 152 families in Ireland had signed up to host the group as they were to travel around Ireland. The tour was due to kick off on 18 July, and it had garnered major support from Irish host families who were to welcome the Palestinians into their homes, and from clubs that have been fundraising to help finance the trip. Asked about the matter in the Dáil this morning, Harris said the government does not doubt the 'good faith' of those organising these events, but added that there are many factors which must be considered before a visa can be granted. 'Unfortunately, not all people will be able to demonstrate that they satisfy the conditions to be granted a visa to come to Ireland. The granting of a visa is a very important legal document in our migration system. Advertisement 'There was a request for 47 people to travel to Ireland from Palestine. 33 of these were children who were not traveling the company of their parents. 'And these applications were given very careful consideration, and like I say, a visa officer has to be satisfied that children are traveling under the company of their parents or an appropriate guardian. Additional documents, such as birth certs, consent letters are regularly requested to establish the relationship,' said the Tánaiste. He added that an appeals process is now underway. 'Devastated' Organisers behind the tour have said that they are 'devastated' and they have disputed that the department did not have all the documentation required to approve the visa applications, which they claim were submitted in mid-May. GAA Palestine said in a statement this morning that it is 'deeply disappointed and shocked' by the recent decision to refuse the visas, stating that comprehensive documentation and detailed plans about the various visits to GAA clubs across Ireland were submitted. 'Contrary to the information communicated in recent correspondence, Irish immigration officials have claimed that the visa applications were refused due to 'insufficient documentation'. 'We understand from letters sent by the Irish Embassy in Israel that the reason cited was a lack of detailed itineraries and financial arrangements — information that had been provided with the application. In fact, GAA Palestine was under the impression that all necessary documentation and information had been provided and met the requirements for visa approval as stated by the Irish Embassy in Israel,' said the group. Steven Redmond, chairperson of GAA Palestine, expressed his profound dismay stating that just seven days before these young boys and girls were meant to leave the West Bank, they are now being told that additional documentation is now required. 'We went as far as sending a volunteer to the West Bank to assist with additional documentation that was requested as part of our application,' he said. He said GAA Palestine remains committed to collaborating closely with the Department of Justice to resolve this matter swiftly. 'We have a dedicated team of volunteers ready to respond and take immediate action,' he added. GAA Palestine has now called on the Irish authorities to reconsider the decision stating that the unfortunate setback 'will not deter us'. Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy is one of a number of opposition TDs who has hit out at the decision. He has called on the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan to intervene to review the 'inexplicable decision'. 'We are talking about 33 children aged 9 to 16 years of age and their adult chaperones who intended to play GAA and visit a beach and Croke Park. 'It is incomprehensible that a resolution could not be found to address any issues with visa applications. I had written to both the Justice Minister, Jim O'Callaghan, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Harris, three weeks ago urging them to ensure that the visa process was concluded swiftly. Neither Minister replied to me,' he added. The department must work with GAA Palestine to make a success of this incredible opportunity for cultural exchange, he said. With original reporting by Eimer McAuley. Written by Christina Finn and posted on
The Journal
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Simon Harris says 'careful consideration' was given to Palestinian GAA team's visa applications
TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has said 'careful consideration' was given to a number of Palestinian visa applications who wished to travel to Ireland for a GAA tour this month. As reported by The Journal yesterday , the group has been informed by the Irish Immigration Service that their visa applications have been refused due to 'insufficient documentation'. The GAA Palestine group, which helped to lodge the visa applications for 47 Palestinians who belong to sports clubs in the West Bank, has said they are shocked by the decision, and have refuted that any of the requested documentation was not provided. GAA Palestine had plans in place for 47 Palestinians to travel here, including 33 children aged between 9 and 16 years of age. A total of 152 families in Ireland had signed up to host the group as they were to travel around Ireland. The tour was due to kick off on 18 July, and it had garnered major support from Irish host families who were to welcome the Palestinians into their homes, and from clubs that have been fundraising to help finance the trip. Asked about the matter in the Dáil this morning, Harris said the government does not doubt the 'good faith' of those organising these events, but added that there are many factors which must be considered before a visa can be granted. The Journal / YouTube 'Unfortunately, not all people will be able to demonstrate that they satisfy the conditions to be granted a visa to come to Ireland. The granting of a visa is a very important legal document in our migration system. 'There was a request for 47 people to travel to Ireland from Palestine. 33 of these were children who were not traveling the company of their parents. 'And these applications were given very careful consideration, and like I say, a visa officer has to be satisfied that children are traveling under the company of their parents or an appropriate guardian. Additional documents, such as birth certs, consent letters are regularly requested to establish the relationship,' said the Tánaiste. He added that an appeals process is now underway. 'Devastated' Organisers behind the tour have said that they are 'devastated' and they have disputed that the department did not have all the documentation required to approve the visa applications, which they claim were submitted in mid-May. Advertisement GAA Palestine said in a statement this morning that it is 'deeply disappointed and shocked' by the recent decision to refuse the visas, stating that comprehensive documentation and detailed plans about the various visits to GAA clubs across Ireland were submitted. 'Contrary to the information communicated in recent correspondence, Irish immigration officials have claimed that the visa applications were refused due to 'insufficient documentation'. 'We understand from letters sent by the Irish Embassy in Israel that the reason cited was a lack of detailed itineraries and financial arrangements — information that had been provided with the application. In fact, GAA Palestine was under the impression that all necessary documentation and information had been provided and met the requirements for visa approval as stated by the Irish Embassy in Israel,' said the group. Steven Redmond, chairperson of GAA Palestine, expressed his profound dismay stating that just seven days before these young boys and girls were meant to leave the West Bank, they are now being told that additional documentation is now required. 'We went as far as sending a volunteer to the West Bank to assist with additional documentation that was requested as part of our application,' he said. He said GAA Palestine remains committed to collaborating closely with the Department of Justice to resolve this matter swiftly. 'We have a dedicated team of volunteers ready to respond and take immediate action,' he added. GAA Palestine has now called on the Irish authorities to reconsider the decision stating that the unfortunate setback 'will not deter us'. Sinn Féin's Matt Carthy is one of a number of opposition TDs who has hit out at the decision. He has called on the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan to intervene to review the 'inexplicable decision'. 'We are talking about 33 children aged 9 to 16 years of age and their adult chaperones who intended to play GAA and visit a beach and Croke Park. 'It is incomprehensible that a resolution could not be found to address any issues with visa applications. I had written to both the Justice Minister, Jim O'Callaghan, and the Foreign Affairs Minister, Simon Harris, three weeks ago urging them to ensure that the visa process was concluded swiftly. Neither Minister replied to me,' he added. The department must work with GAA Palestine to make a success of this incredible opportunity for cultural exchange, he said. With original reporting by Eimer McAuley. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
02-07-2025
- Business
- The Journal
Harris 'not convinced' that dole increases should be in line with other social welfare payments
TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS has said that he would rather see further increases in public pension and other social welfare payments than the jobseekers' allowance in Budget 2026. Harris was asked in Dublin this afternoon if he was in favour of separating the dole from universal increases to social welfare payments in the upcoming budget. While seeking to refrain from discussing budgetary matters before negotiations, the Tánaiste said he was in favour. 'I do always think there is merit in not looking at social welfare payments with uniformity across the board.' Harris said that he would 'keep an open mind' about separating the jobseekers' allowance from future increases in social welfare payments. He added: 'I'm not convinced that you need to see as significant a rise in the dole as you do in the pension, for example, at the time where our country is at full employment, when there is lots of supports out there for people getting into work. 'When there are other supports out there for very many people who can't work for very many good reasons. That's my opinion. We'll thrash it out all that out at the time of budget.' Addressing recent debate around the earmarked increase in student college fees next year, Harris claimed that 'roughly €1.20 to €1.25 on every social welfare payment' is equivalent to government seeking to continue a €1,000 reduction. Advertisement 'Budgets are all about choices,' the Fine Gael leader said. 'They're all about balance, and there's only so much money in the pot.' Harris is not alone in this opinion within his party. Fine Gael's Offaly TD John Clendennen recently told local station Midlands 103 that he is opposed to increasing the dole at the same rate as pensions or disability allowances. College fees Earmarked increases in college fees took centre stage for a second day during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil earlier today . Public expenditure minister Jack Chambers did not provide clarity on the decision, despite being asked repeatedly in the chamber. Harris, a former higher education minister, claimed today that the only reason he didn't reduce fees on a permanent basis during his term was because there were only enough funds to introduce temporary measures. According to Social Democrats' deputy leader Cian O'Callaghan, families have been budgeting for reductions because the commitment to cut and abolish fees was included in the Programme for Government and election manifestos. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that parents and students need to know what they will be paying as a contribution fee at third-level facilities in the new term. Chambers largely repeated what he said yesterday, telling the TDs that the engagement around the issue remains ongoing and that higher education minister James Lawless will work to introduce more permanent reductions in the long-term. The government is endeavouring to avoid permanent public expenditure being dependent on temporary corporate tax revenue, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin said today. While there are significant uncertainties around what might transpire with US tariffs, Martin said it was important not to 'build up expenditure levels that are not sustainable'. With reporting by Christina Finn in Japan. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
The Journal
26-06-2025
- Business
- The Journal
The Tánaiste has published the outline of the Occupied Territories Bill - here's what's in it
TÁNAISTE SIMON HARRIS yesterday published a broad outline of the updated Occupied Territories Bill as he endeavours to soon include services amongst prohibited trade activity. Ireland is the only EU country seeking to pass legislation sanctioning trade with businesses located in Palestinian land that is under the military control of Israel since its declaration of independence in 1967 – otherwise known as the Occupied Territories. These territories include the West Bank, East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip and the Golan Heights in southwest Syria. Israeli settlements in the territories are illegal under international law, as laid out in Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court which stipulates that the transfer by a state of its own citizens into the land of another territory is illegal. This has been happening in the Occupied Palestinian Territories – particularly in the West Bank – for decades. A map of modern Israel showing the Occupied Territories of Palestine (marked by grey and white stripes) United Nations United Nations The Occupied Territories Bill was first introduced by Independent Senator Francis Black in 2018 and proposed making it an offence 'for a person to import or sell goods or services originating in an occupied territory or to extract resources from an occupied territory in certain circumstances'. The slightly amended bill proposed now by the Tánaiste, and formally known as the Israeli Settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (Prohibition of Importation of Goods) Bill, would make it a crime under the Customs Act 2015 to import goods into Ireland that originate in Israeli settlements built over what is legally recognised as Palestinian land. Advertisement New homes being constructed in the West Bank After the Israeli government approved the expansion of Jewish settlements. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo However, services such as tourism and IT are as of yet excluded in the latest draft of the legislation. An estimated 700,000 Israeli settlers currently live in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which were seized by Israel in during the Six Day War in 1967. At present, Ireland is Israel's second largest trading partner after the US, purchasing €2.9 billion of its total exports, according to data from the Central Statistics Office. What will be included in the Bill? In its current form, the Bill only applies to goods imported from the Occupied Territories. The broad outline published by the Tánaiste yesterday breaks down the proposed terminology. Goods – materials and products, animate or inanimate. Material – indicates ingredients or component parts used to manufacture a good. Product – the good being manufactured, even if intended for use in a later manufacturing process. Importation - the act of bringing goods into the State from outside of the State (as per the Customs Act 2015). Israeli settlement - a city, village or industrial zone located in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem. Parties found to be importing goods that are subject to prohibition under the Bill will be subject to punishment as outlined in Section 14(1) of the Customs Act. Will services be included? The Government has faced backlash for not including services in its recent outline of banned imports, with Labour accusing the Taoiseach of instead publishing a 'retreat'. Micheál Martin has commented on the difficulty of incorporating services into the Bill, stating that it is 'genuinely more complex than goods transferring' due to issues over defining where the service originates. However, Simon Harris has vowed to seek their inclusion in an enhanced version of the Bill due to go before an Oireachtas committee for examination. 'Let's not forget one thing before we get into the detail of the legislation, there isn't another country in the European Union that you can visit today and ask a government minister about their Bill to ban trade and the detail of it, because they don't have one,' Harris said. He is also understood to be looking for a second opinion from the Attorney General on the legalities surrounding the inclusion of services before passing it through to the pre-legislative stage. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
