Results 4,141-4,160 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 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: Road Traffic Accidents (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate the enforcement of road traffic legislation is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations, carried out in partnership with other state agencies,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy, and will contact him again when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 495 and 496 together. In 2022 there were 13,613 Certificates of Naturalisation issued, including 1,719 in respect of minor applicants. This represents a 39% increase on the number of certificates issued for 2021 (9,780) and demonstrates my Department's commitment to processing applications in a timely manner. The median processing time for applications now...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Ceremonies (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to say that the next citizenship ceremonies will take place on Monday 19th June and Tuesday 20th June 2023 at the Killarney Convention Centre, Co. Kerry. Citizenship Division will begin issuing invitations for the ceremonies shortly. In March 2023, my Department held a smaller ceremony in the RDS in Dublin where approximately 1,300 candidates became Irish citizens. This event...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residential Institutions (16 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: Paramilitary Groups (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Government attaches the highest priority to the security of the State and the people. The State has a strong body of laws in place to counter terrorism and sustain our national security. The primary body of law in this regard is the Offences Against the State Acts 1939-1998 and the Criminal Law Act 1976 which were enacted and have been applied to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that it is not possible to provide complete statistics for people in custody specifically for cannabis-related offences, as the recording of controlled drugs offences does not always specify the type of substance. On 30 April 2023, there were 16 individuals in custody whose most serious offence was specifically categorised as a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (16 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: Citizenship Applications (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: In 2022 there were 13,613 Certificates of Naturalisation issued, including 1,719 in respect of minor applicants. This represents a 39% increase on the number of certificates issued for 2021 (9,780) and demonstrates my Department's commitment to processing applications in a timely manner. The median processing time for Citizenship applications now currently stands at 19 months. I understand...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Social Media (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, 9.22% of posts made on my Departmental social media accounts were exclusively written in Irish, while 4.92% of posts featured Irish and English. The social media platforms in use by my Department during this period were Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube. The breakdown of posts across each platform is set...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that my Department and the public bodies and agencies under its aegis are committed to ensuring that obligations for reasonable accommodation under the Employment Equality Acts, 1998-2015 are met, and that all staff have access to equal opportunities surrounding employment, career progression, learning and development and all other aspects of working life. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 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 any decisions in relation to the allocation and control of Garda equipment and resources. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in such matters. I am advised that the Garda Dog Unit is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 388 of 25 April 2023 refers to the number of unmarked Garda vans in each Garda division as of 17 April 2023, in tabular form. 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 purchase,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration of An Garda Síochána, including recruitment and the management of Garda resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am advised that there are no civilian equine instructors/trainers attached to the Garda Mounted Unit. I am informed that all instruction and training is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demands, including deployment...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the Sale of Alcohol Bill, which is currently being drafted, An Garda Siochána will be able to apply to the District Court for a temporary closure order where a licensed premises has failed to comply with a direction to preserve order on their premises. An Garda Siochána will also have the power to enter and inspect licensed premises without warrant. In addition, An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: 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. Payments are made to Coroners by the Local Authority with responsibility for each District, with the exception of Dublin, on the basis of a basic retainer and a fee per item. The last review of the Coroners of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to reducing processing times for international protection applicants and is taking steps to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible. On November 8 2022, the International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department introduced accelerated procedures for international protection applicants from safe countries of origin. Applicants from a safe...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (16 May 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is committed to reducing processing times for international protection applicants and is taking steps to ensure that applications are dealt with as quickly as possible. The number of International Protection applications last year was 13,651 – a significant increase on recent years. The application figure for 2022 represents a 186% increase on the same period in 2019,...