Results 39,581-39,600 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government approved a once off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under my Departments free fees schemes in academic year 22/23. This once-off support relates specifically to the student contribution payable by students eligible for free tuition fees under the Department's free fees schemes in academic year 22/23....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused on 5 October 2022. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal was received in the Dublin Visa Office on 3 November 2022. To be fair to all applicants appeals are processed in the order in which they are received. While every effort is made to process these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Appointments (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, State Solicitor vacancies are an internal matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Under Section 2(5) of the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 Act, the DPP is independent in their functions. The Minister has no role in the operations, functions, governance or oversight of the Office of the DPP. The DPP is funded through the Vote of the Department of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy lodged a review application in respect of their EU Treaty Rights application decision on 28 September 2021. Processing of this application is ongoing at present. As each application is examined under it's own merits, my Department is unable to give an exact time-frame for completion. However, the person referred to by the Deputy can be assured that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 23 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 27 July 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand, it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications under the scheme will vary depending on the complexity of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I can inform the Deputy that the first person referred to created an online Employment Visa application on 23 December 2022. The summary sheet and supporting documentation has not been received by the relevant Visa Office to date. Once the applicant is satisfied with their application they should click “submit” and print a copy of their “Summary Form”. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Dublin on 12 July 2022. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 16 September 2022. To be fair to all applicants appeals are processed in the order in which they are received. While every effort is made to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Human trafficking is an exploitive crime that preys on the vulnerable. I have been clear that there is no place for it in our society. We know vulnerable people are trafficked into Ireland for exploitation reasons, including sexual exploitation, forced labour and forced criminality. The Government is fully committed to identifying and supporting victims of this terrible crime. The General...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (25 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Working with our Northern Ireland counterparts on Criminal Justice issues has always been a priority and this is showcased in a number of ongoing initiatives such as the Shared Island events, including the recent event in Kells that was focused on tackling gender-based violence and abuse. The Deputy may also be aware that human trafficking has been on the agenda for the North South Project...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: To ensure all eligible apprentices are offered a training place, the SOLAS apprenticeship scheduling management system is designed to call apprentices by apprenticeship and training phase, on a longest waiting basis on the day of scheduling to the nearest available Education and Training Board, Institute of Technology, or Technological University. Whilst every effort is made to eliminate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Safety (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the legislation regarding cycling offences falls under the remit for the Minister for Transport. In 2015, Fixed Charge Notices were introduced for a number of offences, including cycling without reasonable consideration As the Deputy will also be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Beijing on the 6 October 2022. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. The Irish immigration website advises all applicants that if they include false or misleading information or documents in their application they may be refused. They are also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Peace Commissioners are appointed and, may be removed from that appointment, by the Minister for Justice under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. There are no qualifying examinations or educational standards required to be appointed as a Peace Commissioner but applicants are required to be a person of good character. Anyone who has been charged with or convicted of a serious...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am advised that An Garda Síochána makes crime prevention advice publicly available through the national Crime Prevention Officer's network, the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to inform you that the application referred to by the Deputy was granted on 22 January 2023 and the visa sticker was issued on the same day. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...