Results 41,161-41,180 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Cahill for raising this. I know he raised it in recent weeks. I will ask the line Minister to directly respond to him, or perhaps both the Minister for Finance and the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. At a broad level, of course it is important that there is a level playing field and that any business activity in our country is tax compliant and...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Conway-Walsh. I will pass her views on to the Minister for Health. We have provided an additional €15 million to oral health care services this year. I take the point about needing people in place to deliver the service. On workforce capacity, I am informed that we live in a country with more registered dentists than ever before, at 3,472 as of March 2023, which is...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne for raising this important issue. Homelessness is a major issue that we are all working to challenge. Child homelessness is an issue that we all want to see real progress on. I will ask the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, to respond directly to the Deputy on that legislation but I assure her that every resource that is required to help ensure that we address...

Central Statistics Office Sexual Violence Survey 2022: Statements (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I very much welcome the opportunity to be here today to discuss the publication of the Central Statistics Office, CSO, survey providing national prevalence figures on sexual violence in Ireland. I thank the House for facilitating this discussion. The Sexual Violence Survey 2022 focused on respondents' experiences of a broad spectrum of sexual violence and harassment experienced in their...

Central Statistics Office Sexual Violence Survey 2022: Statements (Resumed) (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I think so, yes.

Central Statistics Office Sexual Violence Survey 2022: Statements (Resumed) (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I might begin on refuge spaces, as they were an issue that came up throughout the debate. Deputies Murnane O'Connor, Funchion and many others across the House raised them. The Leas-Cheann Comhairle raised the issue with me on oral questions and I have an update to send to her trying to provide this detail. There are quite a few issues here, but two important ones. One is to map out...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised that the Prison Services Psychology Service would complete an assessment for Foetal Alcohol Spectrum if they had a concern about an individual's history and presentation. The healthcare records of patients in the custody of the Irish Prison Service are recorded on an individual patient basis on the Prisoner Healthcare Management System (PHMS). Each Prisoner’s...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The EU-IMF-ECB (Troika) Programme of financial support for Ireland 2011-2014, required a number of actions by my Department. The Legal Services Regulation Act of 2015 was one of the undertakings in support of structural reform, national competitiveness and economic recovery under the EU/IMF/ECB Memorandum of Understanding on Specific Economic Policy Conditionality of 28thNovember 2010. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I want to assure the Deputy that I am very aware of the devastating impact that illegal drugs and drug dealing have on communities across the country and I have discussed these concerns with the Garda Commissioner and his senior team on a number of occasions since my appointment as Minister.  Tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious of the grave humanitarian crisis in Sudan. I understand that this is a difficult situation for our Sudanese community and their loved ones and I can assure you that all current immigration avenues remain open for new applications, including visa and family reunification applications.  My Department will process any new applications received speedily and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 May 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 Contracts (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the table below. Vendor Name Paid in 2021 Paid in 2022 Paid in 2023 (to date) Grosvenor €451,309.60 €548,373.90 €159,703.02 Derrycourt €415,573.18 €289,101.35 €75,708.90 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, as well as for decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am, however, assured that Garda management keeps...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 167 and 171 together. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters. As the Deputy will also be aware An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The Coroner Service provides an important service to next of kin and society in general in seeking to explain the causes of death in those instances which are reportable by law. Section 9 of the Coroners Act, 1962 provides for the payment by the Local Authorities of a salary to the Coroners. This salary has been fixed from time to time after consultation between the Minister for Justice and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The Per-Cent for Arts scheme provides for a prescribed funding allocation to be made from capital budgets to support public arts schemes. The scheme is not applied directly at Departmental level and funds are not released directly from the Department's budget. The Office of Public Works manages capital projects on behalf of the Department and the scheme is applied at individual project level...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are 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. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Tackling Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (DSGBV) is an absolute priority for me as Minister for Justice.  This includes focusing on prevention and on providing victim-centred supports and services and implementing the €363 million Zero Tolerance plan.  Under Budget 2023, an extra €9 million was secured, a 22% increase, for combatting domestic, sexual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Functions (17 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Lead responsibility for policy in relation to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence lies with  the Criminal Justice Policy function in my Department. The Policy function leads on the development of national policy on specific themes and drafts, consults on and manages the negotiation and approval of EU/International and applied policies. The Community Safety Policy team has...