Results 4,401-4,420 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (10 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based remains a priority for this Government, the Department of Justice and the Garda Commissioner. 'Zero Tolerance,' the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (DSGBV), published by Minister McEntee last year, sets out an ambitious five-year programme of reform to achieve a society which does not accept DSGBV...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (10 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices Digital Recordings) Bill will, when enacted, provide a legal basis for the deployment and use of body-worn cameras by An Garda Síochána and extend the powers governing Garda use of CCTV and Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology to help prevent crime and prosecute those involved in criminal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (10 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that a considerable body of work has been undertaken by my Department to ensure that the new legislation dealing with incitement to violence or hatred and hate offences is well researched, well balanced, and grounded in the lived experiences and reality of what individuals facing hate speech and hate crime in this country actually need. One element of this work was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (10 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Justice provides funding to Muintir na Tíre to cover the costs incurred by communities in administering the Text Alert Scheme. The Scheme is administered on a refund basis whereby communities submit their annual costs to Muintir na Tíre and a maximum refund of up to €450 is provided to the community. This funding is provided for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (10 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that a travel document was issued to a person with the same name, address and date of birth as supplied by the Deputy in 2022. This travel document is valid until the 14 January 2025. If the person is seeking a national passport from their country of citizenship, I can advise that foreign embassies who do not have a physical presence in Ireland usually provide...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (10 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application he refers to was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on the 8 May 2023 outlines the reasons for this refusal. An appeals process, which is free of charge, is available which allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors which gave...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Adult Education Provision (10 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Awaiting reply from Department.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I know there are no amendments to section 2, but I am obligated to flag that I intend to consider something on Report Stage. For the information of the Cathaoirleach's colleagues, I wish to mention that we may add further necessary definitions to this section on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: It is in section 2.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I have a relatively long speaking note. At a high level, I will point out that in reviewing the amendment, my view is that it is unnecessary in the context of this section, which essentially restates an existing section of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. As Deputy Ó Ríordáin says, the amendment provides that nothing in section 3 of the Bill, which relates to the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: It would be more accurate to say I am not sure it is required, full-stop. I certainly do not believe it fits well in this section because of this section being a lifting of section 3A of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended. The more general point that I did not relate in my summarised version is that the powers available to members of An Garda Síochána are already...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Amendments Nos. 2 and 3 both concern "policing principles", but they are quite different and I will deal with them separately. Amendment No. 2, in the name of Deputy Ó Ríordáin, restates, subject to certain important amendments, the meaning attributed to "policing principles" in section 3B of the 2005 Act, as amended. It is important to note that this Bill provides for a...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies. Of course we always reflect. It goes without saying that every member of the committee supports in full An Garda Síochána. I note Deputy Ó Ríordáín's comments and I do not in any way doubt anybody's bona fides on this. We live in a country where confidence in our police, in An Garda Síochána, is extraordinarily high relative to...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: This section is on appeals and replacement provisions and I want to flag there may be further amendments on Report Stage.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 4: In page 23, lines 23 and 24, to delete “Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform” and substitute “Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform”. There are many amendments in the group but I would be surprised if we have a big debate on it. This is a grouping of amendments that are entirely technical...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: It does not matter what Department I am in, I seem to have these conversations with Deputy Ó Snodaigh.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As he should on this issue. I enjoyed working with him in this area on the Higher Education Authority, HEA, Bill. I think we made a better Bill as a result of the engagement we had. We will approach this issue in this Bill in that same way. I agree with a lot of what he has said. I will flag that I intend to bring forward amendments to this section on Report Stage to address the issue as...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I move amendment No. 6: In page 24, line 24, to delete “in particular individuals, who” and substitute “in particular individuals who”. There are three amendments in this group. Amendment No. 6 is a technical amendment and serves to remove an unnecessary comma. Amendment No. 58 relates to section 78 and concerns a code of ethics for members of Garda personnel...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Committee Stage (9 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Costello. I note the point the Deputy makes and I acknowledge the concern. I send many letters to the Deputy providing a lot of statistics, through parliamentary questions and the likes. Often, we have to say that we have to get the data and then revert to the Deputy. I acknowledge the concern behind the amendment. The provision in section 77 of the Bill hopefully...