Results 3,981-4,000 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2017. The Act was amended by Section 54 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, which...

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

Simon Harris: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2017. The Act was amended by Section 54 of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2011, which gave the Board the additional...

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

Simon Harris: On 8 December 2017, the then Minister for Justice signed the Commencement Order bringing all sections of the Mediation Act 2017 into effect on 1 January 2018 (S.I. 591 of 2017). The formation of the Mediation Council of Ireland is a key component of the Mediation Act 2017 and the overall development of mediation throughout Ireland. The Council will play a crucial role in promoting public...

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 all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters. As the Deputy will also be aware An Garda Síochána launched a new recruitment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wildlife Conservation (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that, as part of my Department’s commitment to biodiversity, two bee hives were installed at its Dublin HQ building during 2022.The original 15,000 bees populating each hive have built up over the spring and there are now approximately 40,000 bees in each hive, bringing in nectar from the chestnut and sycamore trees and pollen from the flowers in St....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, I obtained approval from the Government to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further new applications from 15 February 2023. I appreciate that closure of the Programme has given rise to many queries on the part of individuals and organisations with an interest in the Programme. My Department is committed to managing the closure of the Programme in a way...

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

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 27 May 2022, and received by the New Delhi visa office on the 23 June 2022. I am informed that the visa office in Delhi has been engaging with the applicant’s legal representative in relation to additional documentation, which I understand has since been supplied. The legal representative was informed that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (23 May 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). I am informed by the GNIB that the specific information requested by the Deputy is not available. However, a team of Immigration Officers are assigned to Dublin Port and are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence, we are committed to doubling the number of refuge spaces, bringing it to over 280 nationwide. In addition, by putting in place the correct structures to deliver additional refuge accommodation, the Government will accelerate the number of refuge spaces that can be opened each year. Tusla is continuing to support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Strategies (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 545 and 571 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 presented an opportunity for individuals and organisations to offer their views and experiences of parental alienation, its impact and how it could be...

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 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 is committed...

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

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that legislation governing the powers of the Minister for Justice to grant temporary release is provided for in section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1960, as amended. All applications for temporary release are assessed as per the criteria outlined in section 2. I can also inform the Deputy that the objective of the Irish Prison Service is that all releases from...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 and 568 together. I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to all of those who apply for it. My Department knows that delays in processing times can be very frustrating and would like to apologise for any stress or uncertainty it has caused applicants. Citizenship Division’s current policy remains to process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Director of Public Prosecutions is completely independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). As the Office of the Director is not a body under my remit as Minister for Justice, falling under the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach, I have no role in the operations, functions, oversight or governance of the Director. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance Strategy to address Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am committed to working with my Government colleagues and those working in the sector to achieve this. In line with the priority which this government is attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow workers report alleged wrongdoing to the appropriate authorities. The Act, as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022, also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. I am sure the Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not be appropriate for me to...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 559 and 560 together. The Deputy will be aware that section 30 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) makes provision for An Garda Síochána to charge for policing services provided for events on private property or in areas open to the public. Section 30 covers events such as sports fixtures, concerts, festivals, the making of films,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (23 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 561 and 572 together. 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...

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

Simon Harris: Reforming the operation of the family justice system to ensure that we have a more efficient and user-friendly family court system is a key continuing commitment in the Department's Justice Plan. The Programme for Government also contains a commitment to build a new Family Law Court building in Dublin. The construction of a purpose-built Family Law Court complex at Hammond Lane is a key...

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

Simon Harris: As the deputy may be aware, the Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is 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...