Results 4,641-4,660 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including human resourcing matters, the Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to continue to provide a world class policing service. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget for An Garda Síochána by...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including HR matters. However, I can assure the Deputy that Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to perform their vital role in the community. It is important to emphasise that, of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: We are all immensely grateful to members of our police service for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society. For the most part, the relationship between Gardaí and the public is one built on very significant trust. We only have to look to the fact that An Garda Síochána is a largely unarmed, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of all Garda members and Garda staff. I also want to make it clear that I am very aware of how stressful and difficult the work of members of An Garda Síochána can be. We only have to look at the fatal incidents to see how, in the face of the most tragic and distressing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Commissioner is also responsible for the maintenance of Garda discipline under the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 (as amended). As Minister, I have no role in internal...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department's Dignity at Work policy aims to promote respect, dignity, safety, and equality in the workplace. This policy provides information to staff on the steps they may take and the recommended procedures to follow if they believe that they have been bullied, harassed, or sexually harassed. My Department adheres to this Civil Service-wide policy in relation to allegations of bullying...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Compliance with the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour is a condition of employment within the Department of Justice. When a concern arises about the conduct or performance of an individual, their line manager will initially address it as a management issue through discussion and appropriate assistance. If no resolution is reached, or, where more serious circumstances arise,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probation and Welfare Service (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can inform the Deputy no such report has been commissioned.  I would encourage anyone who has been a victim of any kind of sexual assault to reach out for help and support and to report the matter to An Garda Síochána. There are specialist Garda members in every Garda Division, trained to ensure that any victim presenting to Gardaí are met with a consistently high...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria for naturalisation can only...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (18 Apr 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 (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I am aware that for some applicants the scorecard may not have adequately addressed their individual circumstances. In such cases and where the applicant has justifiable reasons for not reaching the 150 points target required, the Citizenship Division of the Department may accept a sworn affidavit, which could help the applicant make up the deficit in points to enable them to meet the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: For those fleeing Russian aggression in Ukraine, they may be entitled to register for Temporary Protection (TP). In accordance with the Council Implementing Decision (EU 2022/382), Temporary Protection in Ireland applies to the following groups of people who have had to flee Ukraine due to the invasion by Russia:Ukrainian nationals who were residing in Ukraine before 24 February...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda authorities that all personnel attached...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, the Law Reform Commission published a report in 2016 entitled 'Consolidation and Reform of Aspects of the Law of Evidence' which broadly recommended that hearsay evidence should only be admissible, either in civil or criminal proceedings, under the exceptions already established by the Courts. In light of the above, I can advise the Deputy that the matter is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Regulations (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, an independent study has been commissioned by my Department into familicide and domestic homicide reviews.  The final report is being considered by officials in the Department and I intend to publish the report as soon as this examination and analysis is complete.  The recommendations of this report will be taken into consideration in the context of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I want to reiterate that any attacks on members of An Garda Síochána and other frontline services are totally unacceptable. We are all immensely grateful to these people for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public, and for the important role that they play in our society. Frontline workers must be protected in carrying out their work and the law...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that Rule 17 of the Prison Rules 2007 makes provision for a child to remain in the care of their mother in prison, until the child has reached twelve months of age. I can further advise the Deputy that pregnant women in the custody of the Prison Service receive all of their antenatal care and education through the services of the local HSE Maternity hospital. Access to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I requested information from the Irish Prison Service to reply to the Deputy but unfortunately it was not possible to collate the information in the time allowed. I will respond directly to the Deputy once this information is collated.