Results 301-320 of 1,066 for garda speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I respectfully suggest that we should allow the discussions between the Garda, the OPW and Dublin City Council to conclude. This will then enable them to prepare for planning with a view to bringing forward planning in 2024 potentially. This is the window or timeframe that we potentially have. Of course it will be important that local communities are updated and kept engaged and informed...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Northern Ireland (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: ...I state that clearly. This includes co-operation between my Department and the Department of Justice in Northern Ireland on a range of issues as well as extraordinarily good co-operation between An Garda Síochána, the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, and other agencies with their counterparts. The intergovernmental agreement on co-operation on criminal justice...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: ...enforcement activity based on intelligence and the latest burglary trends. Since the operation’s inception in 2015, there has been a sustained reduction in burglary nationwide, on which I commend the Garda. The Garda is rightly scrutinised. This is an area of enormous success by An Garda Síochána. The overall reported level of burglary in 2022 was 45% lower than...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: We will absolutely support the Garda in resourcing Operation Thor, in recruiting gardaí and getting more gardaí on the streets and rolling out the community safety plans in every county in Ireland in 2024. The numbers show a stark improvement. Every burglary impacts on a person or family. I do not dismiss in any way the significance of that individual trauma and loss of a sense...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Crime Prevention (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: ...criminal activity for a variety of reasons. There can always be local and regional-specific reasons from time to time. We can see burglary trends in a certain direction. Through Operation Thor, the Garda tries to respond to those trends through the deployment of additional resources. I think the Deputy will agree with me that key to this is increasing the size of the Garda force,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: ...protections to persons involved in prostitution, especially vulnerable persons and victims of human trafficking. The Act allows those engaged in prostitution to provide information to An Garda if they, for instance, are subjected to violence by clients, without fear of prosecution for selling sexual services. Section 27 provides for the review to which the Deputy's question refers. As...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget for An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment. As the Deputy will be aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including HR matters. However, I can assure the Deputy that Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to perform their vital role in the community. It is important to emphasise that, of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: ...transport passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour, are important matters that must be managed by every public transport company, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána where appropriate. We can all agree that any acts of violence and anti-social behaviour are completely unacceptable. I want to make it very clear that criminality on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I am sure the Deputy will agree that the public is immensely grateful to An Garda Síochána for their outstanding dedication and commitment and for the important role that they play in our society. I am pleased to note the consistently high levels of public trust recorded in our Gardaí. The unprecedented funding of over €2.24 billion to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including HR matters. However, I can assure the Deputy that Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to perform their vital role in the community. It is important to emphasise that,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. Other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).    The Border Management Unit and the GNIB work closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers possess correct documentation when boarding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: ...transport passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour, are important matters that must be managed by every public transport company, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána where appropriate. We can all agree that any acts of violence and anti-social behaviour are completely unacceptable. I want to make it very clear that criminality on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel and resources between the different Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these operational matters. I can advise the Deputy that the new Garda Operating Model reflects and addresses the challenges of modern policing by enabling specialisation in the delivery of key...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources, including all Garda stations. In addition, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Works in relation to Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Online Safety (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: ...of the Taoiseach. As a result I am unable to provide any statistical information related to the work of the DPP. However, I can inform the Deputy that I received information from An Garda Síochána in February of this year in relation to their work which the Deputy may find useful. At that time I was informed that An Garda Síochána had commenced 72...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 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, including responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I can however assure the Deputy that the Government remains...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to create stronger, safer communities. My Department has provided funding for the recruitment of 1,000 new Gardaí this year and we are seeing more Garda recruits enter Templemore approximately every 11 weeks. As the Deputy will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and this Government. An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mental Health Services (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: ...area will be used to develop the learnings from this multi-disciplinary approach in order to inform further roll-out on a national level. The CAST pilot project is expected to commence in late 2023 and I am advised by the Garda Authorities that regular meetings are taking place between An Garda Síochána, the HSE and Limerick City and County Council. All aspects of the...