Results 5,121-5,140 of 45,373 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions. In 2022 there were 13,613 Certificates of Naturalisation issued, including 1,719 in respect of minor applicants. This represents a 39% increase...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: 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 Optional Protocol. Enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (21 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. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy may be aware that the Department of Health leads on Government policy in the area of drugs, and this policy is guided by the national drugs and alcohol strategy "Reducing Harm, Supporting Recovery - a health-led response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland 2017-2025". This strategy represents a whole-of-Government response to drug and alcohol use in Ireland. The implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, in June of last year Government launched Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. Reflecting the Government’s commitment to make this the most ambitious Strategy to date, and in particular to make a real impact on the provision of refuge units and other associated support services, will require additional...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Female Genital Mutilation (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1103 and 1105 together. This Government is committed to combatting all forms of domestic sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) and to supporting those who are victims of these terrible crimes. Our whole of Government third national strategy specifically and rightly recognises female genital mutilation (FGM) as a form of DSGBV and contains actions to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Female Genital Mutilation (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The International Protection Office (IPO) of my Department is responsible for examining all international protection applications received. The staff of the IPO (the Chief International Protection Officer and the International Protection Officers) are independent by law in the exercise of their international protection functions. Under the International Protection Act 2015, each application...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Records (21 Mar 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Peru remains on the list of visa required countries for Ireland. There is a Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Lima, Peru to assist in making an application for a visa to Ireland and my Department has also extended the multi-entry visa option for up to 5 years for all visa required countries, including Peru. These measures should assist in timely processing of visa applications and more...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Family reunification as provided for in the International Protection Act 2015, gives certain family members of a qualified person, the sponsor, an immigration permission allowing them to enter, remain and reside in the State with the sponsor. Applications for family reunification must be made by the sponsor within 12 months of them being granted an International Protection permission and are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government commits to ‘recognise the domestic and international importance of data protection in Ireland’ and states that the Government ‘will ensure that Ireland delivers on its responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation’. The Government is very conscious of the commitment to deliver effective data protection regulation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Established in 2006, the Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to support policing and give something back to their communities. The Reserve reinforces An Garda Síochána's essential community links, and provides the capacity to draw on additional resources to assist in policing. I would like to acknowledge the important contribution made by all...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: There are currently 866 staff employed in Immigration Service Delivery which includes 234 staff in the International Protection Office. The Deputy will be aware that Government has committed additional funding of nearly €18m to increase staffing in the International Protection Office. There are constraints however in terms of recruitment in the broader labour market currently and in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1115 and 1117 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members and members of the Garda Reserve. As Minister I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, an independent study was commissioned by my Department into familicide and domestic homicide reviews. This independent research involved consultations with a wide range of stakeholders including family members of victims, state agencies and non-governmental organisations, with a view to making recommendations to improve the State's response to familicide and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1119 and 1120 together. I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. I will contact the Deputy directly once this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, which is reflected in an allocation of over €2 billion in Budget 2023. This level of funding will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, supporting the recruitment of up to 1,000 Garda members and 400 new Garda staff. The attached document outlines the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, Garda staff are civil servants and therefore civil service salary scales apply. Salary scales are set out in the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform's most recent pay circular published on www.gov.ie. The circular sets out all the pay scales for Civil Service staff, ranging from cleaner to Secretary General level. I can however assure the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Online Safety (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP is wholly independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended) and, as Minister, I have no role in the operations, decision making process, governance or oversight of the Office of the Director. As a result I am unable to provide any statistical...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Online Safety (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 criminalises the non-consensual distribution of intimate images. It is a criminal offence to share, or threaten to share, an intimate image of another person without their consent. This includes sharing intimate images purporting to be of another person - often referred to as ‘deep-fakes’. The legislation...