Results 3,961-3,980 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am very pleased to bring the Bill before the Seanad this evening. As colleagues know, this is a wide-ranging Bill that will improve our criminal law. It will help combat domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, DSGBV, tackle organised crime, enhance public safety and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of our legal system. Given its wide scope, I will only touch on the most...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am conscious of the dedication and commitment of our front-line workers, as I know Senators are. I am also conscious of the risks they take. I attended a Garda memorial day on Saturday at which we paid tribute to the 89 men of An Garda Síochána who lost their lives in the line of duty. We live in a country where there is great respect for the police. Surveys indicate that we...

Seanad: Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank and all the Senators for their contributions and for the widespread general support for at least the thrust of the legislation. While Senator Ruane and others quite rightly want more detail and to tease through the issues, I welcome the broad cross-party and cross-bench support for what we are trying to do in this pretty significant Bill. I start by paying tribute to the officials...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy does not state the nationality of the children referred to. If the person concerned in the Deputy's query is unsure as to whether their children require a visa/preclearance to enter Ireland they can check on the list at the following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Immigrati on-Service-Delivery-Visa-and-Non-Visa-Required-Countries.pdf The person referred...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Student Visas (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of non-EEA students. My Department engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, among other key sectorial stakeholders, in this area. A student's primary purpose for being in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The application referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department. When an application for a certificate of naturalisation is received by the Citizenship Division of my Department, they are subject to an initial check and examination. On completion of the initial checks, my Department will assign an application number and issue an acknowledgment to the address given at the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I understand that this is a difficult situation for our Sudanese community and their loved ones. My Department has assisted the Department of Foreign Affairs in their work to evacuate Irish citizens and their families from Sudan. Where necessary, we are continuing to work closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs on a case by case basis assisting any remaining Irish citizens who are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ukraine War (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that Temporary Protection in Ireland applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia: 1. Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February 2022; 2. Nationals of a third country (other than Ukraine) or a stateless person who would have benefited from international protection (for example:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (23 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: Naturalisation Applications (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, requires applications for naturalisation on behalf of minors to be made by a parent or guardian of the minor. When a minor is the subject of a care order, Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, takes on the role and responsibility of providing for that child. However, Tusla does not become the child's parent or guardian within the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously. The total number of international protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. A person subject to a Deportation Order has no legal basis to remain in the State. Their case to remain in the State has been considered in detail and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme is under review and a General Scheme of a Criminal Legal Aid Bill is being prepared. The key purpose of this will be to transfer the administration of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to the Legal Aid Board and to otherwise update the administration of criminal legal aid. This Bill, when enacted, will also put on a statutory footing a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: With regard to Criminal Legal Aid fees, it is the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform that has responsibility for restoration of barrister fees arising from the FEMPI cuts. While my Department is responsible for administering the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme we cannot make any changes to the fees without the consent of Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and...

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

Simon Harris: I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including HR matters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of Garda members and Garda staff who resigned on health grounds in the years 2018 to 2022, and up to 22 May 2023. Please note that these figures are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 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 recruitment and distribution of Garda members between the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am however assured that the Commissioner keeps the...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for all HR matters relating to personnel within An Garda Síochána. As Minister I have no direct role in such matters. I have been advised by the Garda authorities that they do not hold specific records in the overtime reporting system on the role of the...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is statutorily independent in its operation and administration. Specifically, under section 67(4) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, GSOC is independent in the exercise of its functions under the Act. As Minister, I have no role in these functions, including investigations conducted by GSOC, or any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: The Afghan Admission Programme offers temporary Irish residence to people whose freedom or safety is at risk, whether resident in Afghanistan or certain neighbouring countries having fled from Afghanistan since the 1 August 2021 and who have close family members in Ireland. The Programme closed for applications on the 11 March 2022. A total of 528 applications in respect of 1,492 potential...