Results 5,301-5,320 of 45,373 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The table below lists the live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by my Department, and includes the scheduled completion date of each. Study/Review/Research Scheduled Completion Date Review of the operation of Section 31 (Digital Age of Consent provision) of the Data Protection Act, 2018 Q4 2023 Review of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (23 Feb 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...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The criminal acts carried out in Ballyfermot the other day were the responsibility of the those who decided to carry out those criminal acts and attack members of An Garda Síochána and injure a serving member, to whom we all send our best wishes and wish a speedy recovery. I am very satisfied that the full rigours of the law will apply in that case. I have already outlined the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue and for their ongoing engagement on it. Like everyone in this House, I am absolutely clear that the criminal events in Ballyfermot this week – that is what it they were – were completely unacceptable. I absolutely acknowledge that the activity was not in any way reflective of the good, decent people of Ballyfermot. I share their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Funding allocated to technological university (TU) projects and programmes under the Revised Estimates for 2023 totals some €41.92 million and includes the TU Regional Research Development and Innovation Integration Programme to be co-funded annually under the European Regional Development Fund in the period to 2027 and the TU Transformation Fund Education and Training Reforms...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 imposes a statutory obligation on Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to assist learners who are affected by either the cessation of a programme of education and training or the non-commencement of a programme where a learner has paid programme fees. Planning is underway to replace the statutory arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The information in respect of state bodies within the scope of the Deputy’s question is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Lobbying Reform (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that no senior staff members of my Department are also on the boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or on the board of bodies which have had to disclose that they engaged in lobbying State authorities. Any intention to issue directions on the appropriateness of any involvement in these bodies is a matter for DPER. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) defines employee turnover as the proportion of employees who leave an organisation over a set period (often on a year-on-year basis), expressed as a percentage of total workforce numbers. The table below sets out the turnover of officers and the percentage of staff which this represents within my Department for 2020, 2021 and 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Speech (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Minister McEntee published the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill last October which addresses both incitement to hatred or violence and hate crime. Once enacted the Bill will criminalise any intentional or reckless communication or behaviour that is likely to incite violence or hatred against a person or persons because they are associated with a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that my Department has received and responded to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. I have asked officials in my Department to engage with the group concerned to better understand the issues raised. The Deputy may wish to note that, following Government approval in December last year, my Department has established an Inter-Departmental Working Group to prepare an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As part of delivering on the actions contained in the Zero Tolerance Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, I will bring forward a number of significant pieces of legislation in the coming weeks and months. This includes the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022 which will update sexual offences legislation. Provisions in the Bill will update the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (22 Feb 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: Sentencing Policy (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are 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. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are 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. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Management of the courts, operational matters and logistical functions are 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. The Courts Service has a dedicated email address for the provision of information to members of the Houses of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I have requested my officials to send the Deputy a copy of the report referred to.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Appointments to State Boards (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The information requested by the Deputy is not held by my Department. The nomination and appointment processes for boards of bodies under the aegis of my Department are set out in legislation. In line with a Government Decision in 2014 and Guidelines set out by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, my Department, in conjunction with the Public Appointments Service (PAS), currently...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Lobbying Reform (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is required to publish a list of staff who are Designated Public Officials (DPO) under Section 6(4) of the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015. The purpose of the Act is to provide for a web-based Register of Lobbying to make information available to the public on the identity of those communicating with designated public officials on specific...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, I obtained approval from the Government to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The Immigrant Investor Programme was established over a decade ago during a time of unprecedented economic difficulty to stimulate investment in Ireland that would be of strategic and public benefit to the State. Since its inception,...