Results 4,661-4,680 of 45,291 for speaker:Simon Harris

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 be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I am acutely conscious of the devastating impact that illegal drugs, drug dealing and related criminality have on communities across the country and I have discussed these concerns with the Garda Commissioner and his senior team since my appointment as Minister. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for deployment of Garda resources. The Government...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is an independent law officer under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended) and I have no role in relation to the work of the Office of the DPP.  As the Deputy will also be aware, the management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts...

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

Simon Harris: 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 (as...

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 managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána as well as for decisions in relation to the allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.  I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Mounted Unit...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Official Engagements (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can inform the Deputy that I have not spoken to the United States Secretary of Homeland Security to date in 2023.   The Deputy will, of course, appreciate that engagement with the Department of Homeland Security in the context of the work of my Department may occur at a range of different levels as part of normal bilateral or multilateral relations  or through engagement...

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: An Garda Síochána (18 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 the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am however advised by the Garda authorities that Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (18 Apr 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 general management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including liquor licensing inspections. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that inspections of licensed premises, during...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 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 any decisions in relation to the allocation and control of Garda resources. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am however assured that Garda management keeps...

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

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

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

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 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: Immigration Policy (18 Apr 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). The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department that the person concerned has made an application under the Regularisation Scheme. That application is being examined at present to see if it meets the Regularisation Scheme’s qualifying criteria. Once that examination has been completed the person concerned will be notified of the outcome of their application....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Law Cases (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government is determined to overhaul the operation of the Family Justice System, to ensure that we have a more efficient and user-friendly family court process that puts the family at the centre of its work. As the Deputy is aware, on the 16th of November 2022, then Minister for Justice Helen McEntee published the first National Family Justice Strategy. The Strategy sets out the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that tackling drug dealing and associated criminal activity, including by organised crime groups, is a top priority for An Garda Síochána and this Government. An Garda Síochána continues to target those involved in the sale and supply of illegal drugs through Operation Tara, which has a strong focus on tackling...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1046 and 1047 together. In relation to the specific information sought by the Deputy, it is important to state that criminal investigations are carried out by An Garda Síochána, who then submit a report to the DPP. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is the agency responsible for the prosecution of crime in Ireland and it is for the DPP to...

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

Simon Harris: It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced to administer justice efficiently and effectively for citizens in their access to justice. The Government endeavours to fill judicial vacancies at the earliest opportunity, and a number of such vacancies have been filled recently. The number of positions to be filled in each jurisdiction is provided in the table below....

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

Simon Harris: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are currently 113 prisoners in custody, serving a sentence or awaiting trial, who are associated with known organised criminal gangs. There is an additional 70-80 prisoners who are associates of these prisoners, but who are not known to be officially aligned to organised gangs, and others who are part of...