Results 3,901-3,920 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 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 that. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget of An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment. The Deputy will appreciate that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions, who is independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). While the enforcement of road traffic legislation is an operational matter for the Garda authorities, I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The safety and security of both public 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that a decision of the Workplace Relations Commission to award €30,000 to the individual concerned was appealed by the Irish Prison Service to the Labour Court. I am further advised that on 20th April 2022 the Labour Court set aside the Workplace Relations Commission decision, on that basis, no payment has been made nor is any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I have requested the information requested from the Garda authorities, however, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is leading a number of important initiatives to ensure we better support all victims of crime. When a victim engages with the justice system, they should know what to expect, be confident they will be treated respectfully and sensitively, know what their legally enforceable rights are and what supports are available at every step in the process. Central to this is 'Supporting a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The Irish Prison Service makes every effort to provide reasonable accommodations to people in custody with a range of disabilities. Everyone committed to the care of the Irish Prison Service has both a nursing and medical assessment completed within 2 and 24 hours respectively. These assessments highlight and initiate further services that may be required to safely and appropriately...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 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, including the allocation of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am, however, assured that the distribution of resources is kept under continual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As committed to in the Zero Tolerance Strategy, this work is ongoing and officials are continuing their examination of the practical and legal issues involved. Setting up a domestic violence register is something I discussed with Jason Poole, brother of Jennifer Poole who was murdered by her ex-partner, when I met with Jason. Officials in my Department are currently working to prepare policy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, an independent study was commissioned by my Department into familicide and domestic homicide reviews. This independent research involved consultations with a wide range of stakeholders, including family members of victims, state agencies and non-governmental organisations, with a view to making recommendations to improve the State's response to familicide and domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Procedures (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The scheme referenced by the Deputy relates to sentencing and alternatives to detention. I’m sure the Deputy will appreciate that judges are independent in the matter of sentencing, as in other matters concerning the exercise of judicial functions, subject only to the constitution and the law. In accordance with this principle, the court is required to impose a sentence which is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: From the outset I want to make it clear that I am are extremely grateful to all frontline workers for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society. It is imperative that frontline workers are able to go about their work safely, and that the law reflects the importance of this. For the most part, the relationship...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Community safety is not just about the number of Gardaí in communities. Community safety is a whole of Government responsibility and it requires a multi-agency approach. The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill will place statutory obligations on Departments and other public service bodies to cooperate with each other to improve community safety. It also establishes national...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill 2022, which is currently before the Houses, will create new, aggravated forms of certain existing criminal offences – i.e. hate crimes - where those offences are aggravated by hatred of a protected characteristic. It will also strengthen the law around incitement to violence or hatred...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 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 Minister, I have no role in such matters. I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to building stronger and safer communities and implementing policies designed to create a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, under section 72 of the International Protection Act 2015 the Minister may make an order designating a country as a safe country of origin. In deciding to make such an order, the Minister must be satisfied that, on the basis of the legal situation, the application of the law within a democratic system and the general political circumstances, it can be shown that there...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can inform the Deputy that all Department of Justice official mobile devices and applications which run on them comply with guidance provided by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). This guidance is based on risk assessments appropriate to the circumstances and is kept under continuous review by the NCSC. My Department requires all users of official devices to exercise appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the Garda authorities that, in line with the Garda Diversity and Integration Strategy, the Garda National Diversity and Integration Unit (GNDIU) established a Garda National Diversity and Integration Forum to monitor and review the implementation of the strategy, and also to act as a critical friend. The Forum is made up of a number of representatives of communities and key...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, for reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for international protection has been made in the State. An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Housing Policy (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that the Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 (the MUDs Act) was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments, and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). Well-functioning OMCs are key to maintaining and sustaining...