Results 41,281-41,300 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, 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. My Department is committed to bringing forward nationwide coroner review proposals to address identified issues and drive innovative change. I can assure the Deputy that work is well...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, a progress report from the Working Group to Examine the Disregard of Convictions for Certain Qualifying Offences Related to Consensual Sexual Activity between Men was published on Thursday, 5 May 2022 by Minister Helen McEntee. The Victorian-era laws which were repealed by the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1993 caused immeasurable harm to generations of gay...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 400 and 401 together. As the Deputy may be aware, last year, my Department committed to undertake a public consultation on the issue of parental alienation as part of the Justice Plan 2022. The consultation was an opportunity for individuals and organisations to offer their views and experiences of parental alienation, its impact and how it could be responded...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. I am advised that an eVetting invitation will shortly issue to the person concerned. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (18 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: Departmental Programmes (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, I obtained approval from the Government to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The IIP Unit has published a FAQ concerning the closure on my Department's website, which will be updated with any further arising questions from the closure, and is available here:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy holds a Stamp 1G immigration permission until 20 December 2023. A Stamp 1G indicates that a person has permission to look for employment in the State under the Third Level Graduate Programme. When an applicant has completed their studies in Ireland and gained an award at Level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) or above, that person may...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The matter of resource allocation is an operational matter entirely for the Legal Aid Board, which is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995. I, as Minister for Justice, have no role in these matters and, as Minister, I cannot comment upon...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: There is no record of the applications referred to by the Deputy being received by my Department. However there is a small batch of applications that are yet to be registered and I am assured that these will be dealt with shortly. If the Deputy wishes to provide the postal tracking reference number and the date of posting of the applications via my Department's Oireachtas mail facility,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department. A request to complete eVetting was sent to the person concerned on 24 March 2023. This request was not completed and has now since expired. Citizenship Division will re-issue the eVetting link again to the person in the coming days. The granting of Irish citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: International Protection (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Children, Disability, Equality, Integration and Youth is responsible for providing accommodation and related supports to people in the protection process, and is endeavouring to accommodate those applicants not yet provided with accommodation as soon as possible. The International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) of that Department records...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (18 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible 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...

Seanad: Garda Reserve: Statements (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and Senators for the opportunity to address the House on this matter. I thank Senator McDowell who sought this discussion. We have spoken about the issue and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to explore it. I express my gratitude to the members of the Garda Reserve for their commitment and dedication to community safety. The time...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: In the week I have been described in one newspaper as a poor Michael McDowell tribute act, which I do not think was meant as a compliment, I am now taking it as such after listening to Senator McDowell's worthy intervention.

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: First, I am delighted to be here to take this legislation. I thank my colleagues in the Fine Gael Parliamentary Party and the Fine Gael Seanad group for tabling this legislation and for working so proactively on it. I am delighted we have an opportunity to discuss it. I thank the members of Young Fine Gael for all their work. Whatever people's political persuasion in this House, is it not...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for the question. I agree that this absolutely has to be, and is, a priority area. We need to, and we have, changed the policy on student accommodation. If the Deputy and I were having this conversation just before Christmas, or if we were talking about it last September, the factual position in Ireland was that universities had either decided, or not, to fund their own...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: That is a very fair question. I was looking back at figures while the Deputy was asking the question. We have approved €59 million worth of taxpayer investment in student accommodation projects, just since last December - certainly we did some before Christmas and some after Christmas. This has allowed projects to move forward in Dublin City University, Maynooth University,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Student Accommodation (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: This is a sensitive issue. The Deputy is correct on one level in that we absolutely want to make sure that anybody who avails of any accommodation gets good and decent accommodation, and that students are protected and are in an environment where wellbeing and standards are respected. We also do not want to accidentally over-regulate the older person who might, for example, be living in a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for this question. It is a very important one because our greatest resource now for our future economic and social wellbeing is our people. We want to both retain and attract the best and the brightest to carry out research into areas that could make a fundamental societal, economic and educational difference. That is so important to our wellbeing. Under pillar 4 of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Third Level Education (1 Jun 2023)

Simon Harris: It would certainly be my intention to publish the report once I get Cabinet approval. I would like to get it out there pretty quickly and urgently. I would like people to see the benefit of their input because, just looking back, it has been very significant. An all-day in-person workshop was held on 8 March. Some 35 stakeholder organisations attended, including the Irish Research Staff...