Results 4,481-4,500 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Apr 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 to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Apr 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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to doubling...

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

Simon Harris: The Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Custodial Sentences) Act 2023 was signed into law on 1 March 2023. The Act is expected to commence in the coming weeks and work is ongoing to prepare information material for people in the custody of the Irish Prison Service. The purpose of the Act is to implement Framework Decision 2008/909/JHA on the mutual recognition of custodial sentences,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: All immigration schemes and the requirements in relation to those schemes, including the policy for non-EEA family reunification, are kept under ongoing review. The position in regard to applications of this nature is set out in the Policy Document for Non-EEA Family Reunificationwhich is available on my Departments website. In general terms. the sponsor must demonstrate their capacity to...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Costs (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Education has responsibility for initial teacher education policy including the determination of the number of students admitted to Professional Masters in Education (PME) courses in State-funded higher education institutions each year. My Department allocates recurrent grant funding to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) for direct disbursement...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As part of the cost of living response in Budget 2023, I prioritised the introduction of a significant package of measures to directly support students and their families. These measures included, for the 2022/23 academic year, a once off reduction of €1,000 in the student contribution payable by free fees eligible students. I have been clear that I want to see the student's...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the Further Education and Training Act (2013), SOLAS has statutory responsibility for planning, funding, and co-ordinating Further Education and Training (FET) in Ireland. My officials have referred your query to SOLAS for direct reply on this individual matter. Solas has confirmed the individual will be called for training beginning in September 2023. The apprentice and their employer...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Craft apprenticeship is modelled on a series of on-the-job (Phase 1, 3, 5, & 7 in the workplace) and off-the-job (Phase 2, 4, & 6 in the education or training centre) components. Apprenticeship programmes are standard based, they are not time based, so the question’s assumption of there being “first-year, second-year, third-year and fourth-year...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Schemes (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The main support available to assist students with the cost of attending higher education is the Student Grant Scheme. Under the Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to eligible students attending an approved full-time course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Costs (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government recognises third level education can be a significant cost for families and students. Following on from improvements made to the Student Grant Scheme in Budget 2022, a range of further measures were announced to enhance the scheme as part of Budget 2023. Part of the 2023 budget saw all maintenance grants increased effective from January 2023 in order to provide further...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 to 647, inclusive, together. The number of apprentice electricians, plumbers, plasterers and bricklayers recorded for each of the years 2019 to 2022 are attached in tabular form. 2019 2020 2021 2022 Apprentice Electrician 6202 6808 ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 to 651, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to number of apprentice electricians, plumbers, plasterers and bricklayers recorded for each of the years 2005-2008 is presently being compiled by Solas. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has had no contracts over the past 12 months with KPMG.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Members for contributing to the debate. I want to begin on the topic of drugs because we have had a good discussion on this during the debate. It is an important one. I have listened very carefully to what people have said. People have spoken from different perspectives. I am conscious that Citizens’ Assembly proceedings are under way and have no doubt that the...

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: That is the point

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to discuss the impact of gangland and organised crime on communities across the country. It is a timely discussion as the Government sets to introduce tougher laws to further support An Garda Síochána in taking on the gangs that try to inflict misery on communities. I am pleased to report that significant progress has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. The number of international protection applications last year was 13,651 – a significant increase on recent years. In 2019, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 309 together. The Government is firmly committed to ratification of the Second Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. In consultation with the Office of the Attorney General, several legislative measures have been implemented which were necessary to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with the obligations of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Private Security Authority (PSA), an agency of the Department of Justice, is responsible for the regulation of the private security industry in Ireland including the event security sector. Those regulated by the PSA must meet prescribed standards and training requirements. They are also vetted by the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána. Contractors providing event...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 was commenced on the 10th February 2021. Along with other provisions, it created two new offences of sending, or threatening to send, intimate images without the consent of the person whose image it is. It also broadened the existing offence of harassment and provided for a new offence of sending, distributing or publishing...