Results 5,001-5,020 of 45,373 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug and Alcohol Testing (28 Mar 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is still awaited from the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Accommodation (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am aware of and actively addressing the difficulties faced by students in accessing affordable student accommodation. Fundamentally the challenge of affordable student accommodation is one of supply of housing more generally, and the impact of the global economy on the cost of construction. To assist with the shortage of accommodation for our students, on 29 November 2022, I secured...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: UCC submitted their Dental School project to the Higher Education Authority for consideration under the Higher Education Capacity Building process. This process was developed to identify opportunities in the Higher Education system to build capacity in Dentistry, Pharmacy, Medicine, Nursing, and Veterinary Medicine programmes. The Higher Education Authority will consider opportunities for...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: There are two-year professional qualification programmes available in the University of Limerick at Masters level in the disciplines of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and Speech and Language therapy. The data for the most recently available five years of graduates from these programmes is in the table below. This data was sourced from the Student Records System (SRS) of the HEA. ...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Social Media (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department’s ICT Usage policy, currently under review, states that, save for approved social media accounts, staff members should not publish official business information on social media websites, bulletin boards, or other fora in the name of my Department or purport to represent its views on such platforms. Under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code, which is issued to all new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is the responsibility of the judiciary and Courts Service, which are independent in exercising their functions under the Courts Service Act 1998 and given the separation of powers in the Constitution. Probate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that officials in my Department reviewed the contents of the correspondence mentioned and that, due to the nature of the correspondence, both An Garda Síochána and Tusla were notified by my Department. A response was issued to the Deputy’s office on 18 November to inform the Deputy of this outcome. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Social Media (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: All staff of the Department of Justice are bound by the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour and the Department has specific guidelines in relation to social media. Officers are routinely advised on their responsibilities and compliance with these guidelines via regular communications. Under the Civil Service Disciplinary Code, any inappropriate use of social media may be considered...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (23 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Border Management Unit of my Department and the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) are working closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers have valid documentation when boarding. Border Management Unit officials are available 24/7 to assist airlines with queries they have in relation to immigration matters. Immigration Officials are actively engaging...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (23 Mar 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. I can advise that a person is automatically an Irish citizen if one of their parents was an Irish...

Seanad: Location of Victims' Remains: Motion (22 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: In answer to Senator Wilson's rhetorical question, I do not think any of us can imagine the ongoing pain, grief and trauma the families have been put through. I feel humbled to be here this evening on behalf of the Government and in my role as Minister for Justice to respond to this important and timely debate. I join colleagues in the Seanad in welcoming the families and the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (22 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The assessment of eligibility under the Free Fees Initiative (FFI) in individual cases is a matter for each institution to determine within the terms of the scheme and it is not possible for my Department to advise individual students on eligibility. It is therefore necessary for students to contact the institution attended for guidance on the fees applicable to a course of study appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (22 Mar 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 referred your query to SOLAS and due to the provisions outlined in GDPR a response on this individual matter was issued to the apprentice on March 21st 2023.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Health Services Staff (22 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Significant engagement is ongoing between my Department, and the Department of Health to develop a joined-up approach to meet system level demand across the health sector. My Department does not place a quota on the number of places available on programmes therapy disciplines such as; speech and language therapy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and psychology, that is decided by the...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Public Sector Pensions (22 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As noted in my previous response, a business case has now been prepared to support access to the single public service pension scheme for those researchers who are not currently able to join the scheme. This business case, which considers the costs as well as the benefits of the proposal, is currently under review.It is not possible to provide a definitive timeline for the completion of this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Civil Service (22 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service, requires that all professional and technical staff recruited into my Department have the necessary qualifications and experience for the posts concerned and these are specified for individual competitions. In addition, many of the administrative staff in my Department hold qualifications across QQI levels including degrees,...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Civil Service (22 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: It is the policy of my Department to provide continuous learning and development opportunities for all staff of the Department. These opportunities range from "on the job" training to attendance at training courses, conferences, internal talks and to participation in formal education. As well as promoting performance and productivity gains, investment in training and development has the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (22 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Irish Prison Service, however, the information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.