Results 40,361-40,380 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister for Justice, I have no direct role in these matters. I have been provided by the Garda authorities with the below table, outlining a...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am aware of and actively addressing the difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation. Fundamentally the challenge of affordable student accommodation is one of supply of housing more generally, and the impact of the global economy on the cost of construction. To assist with the shortage of accommodation for our students, on 29 November 2022, I secured...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: UCC submitted their Dental School project to the Higher Education Authority for consideration under the Higher Education Capacity Building process. This process was developed to identify opportunities in the Higher Education system to build capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine programmes. The Higher Education Authority will consider opportunities for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: There are two-year professional qualification programmes available in the University of Limerick at Masters level in the disciplines of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language therapy. The data for the most recently available five years of graduates from these programmes is in the table below. This data was sourced from the Student Records System (SRS) of the HEA. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Media (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department’s ICT Usage policy, currently under review, states that, save for approved social media accounts, staff members should not publish official business information on social media websites, bulletin boards, or other fora in the name of my Department or purport to represent its views on such platforms. Under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code, which is issued to all new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. Probate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department reviewed the contents of the correspondence mentioned and that, due to the nature of the correspondence, both An Garda Síochána and Tusla were notified by my Department. A response was issued to the Deputy’s office on 18 November to inform the Deputy of this outcome. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Social Media (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: All staff of the Department of Justice are bound by the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour and the Department has specific guidelines in relation to social media. Officers are routinely advised on their responsibilities and compliance with these guidelines via regular communications. Under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code, any inappropriate use of social media may be considered...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (23 Mar 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: Travel Documents (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Border Management Unit of my Department and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have valid documentation when boarding. Border Management Unit officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries they have in relation to immigration matters. Immigration Officials are actively engaging...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (23 Mar 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. I can advise that a person is automatically an Irish citizen if one of their parents was an Irish...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to be here. I thank Deputy Feighan for raising the issue. Like him, I recall the contribution of our former colleague and friend Tony McLoughlin on these issues. I thank Deputy Feighan for engaging with me on this issue over recent weeks and months. As he will appreciate, and as outlined in his contribution, the Garda Commissioner is responsible in law for the management...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy and commend his family's proud tradition of service with An Garda Síochána. There is no greater service given than that of the men and women of An Garda Síochána in keeping our country and people safe. They have done so proudly through community policing for 100 years. We are all very conscious of and grateful for that. Divisional headquarters...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Inspector of Prisons (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I want to thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important issue. I will certainly seek an update on Garda resources for County Tipperary because I am conscious that Tipperary is the home of Garda recruitment. The Deputy and I have visited the Garda College in Templemore and the Deputy knows it very well. We will visit it again shortly as we welcome more Garda recruits into it in May. ...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Inspector of Prisons (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I again thank Deputy Cahill for raising this important issue and for putting across his point succinctly and forcefully. I assure him that I will continue to engage with him as we publish the Bill and as we engage with the OPW. I am happy to keep in touch with him in this regard.

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coroners Service (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Senator for raising this important matter and for the opportunity it provides me to supply what I hope are some useful updates to the House on the issues he raised. The Coroner Service is a network of coroners in districts throughout our country. As the Senator reminded us, coroners are independent, quasi-judicial officials whose function is to investigate sudden and unexplained...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Coroners Service (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I fully acknowledge that. It is very important that the Senator has highlighted and raised this issue.It is a sensitive and important matter which requires constant focus and attention. He is right that for this process to work seamlessly and efficiently requires all parts of the pipeline to work effectively. This is not in any way a criticism of the health service or hospitals. As the...

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Not 1 million.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: We need bit of order in the House, a Leas-Cheann Comhairle.

Confidence in Government: Motion (29 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: First, there is a complete misrepresentation being put forward by the Opposition, which is this monopoly on concern and compassion. It has been made very clear by Government. Deputies heard from the Taoiseach's speech today and from the contributions of all Ministers the options that are being put in place to support people around the time period of six months. The six months was used to...