Results 5,381-5,400 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised that the relevant Division will correspond directly with the person concerned to confirm that they have not applied for Irish citizenship.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Feb 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 play no role in these independent functions.  I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is...

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

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to ensuring that Gardaí have the resources necessary to carry out their vital service, demonstrated by the unprecedented €2.14 billion allocated to An Garda Síochána under Budget 2023. This level of funding will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming year. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Overall, my Department is working to minimise the timeframe for receiving a decision on an international protection application, giving status to those who are entitled to international protection to rebuild their lives here, while also ensuring faster decision making in respect of those who are deemed to be not entitled to international protection. The Government has also committed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The International Protection Appeals Tribunal was established on 31 December 2016 in accordance with Section 61 of the International Protection Act 2015. The Tribunal is a statutorily independent body and exercises a quasi-judicial function under the Act. The Tribunal consists of a Chairperson, two Deputy Chairpersons, and such number of ordinary members appointed on either a whole-time...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory, independent body responsible for the provision of civil legal aid and advice to persons of modest means in the State, in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996, as amended. Given their independence, the matter of resource allocation is an operational matter entirely for the Legal Aid...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, International Protection applicants are not required to apply for an employment permit from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to legally obtain employment in the State. Since its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Feb 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 can however assure the Deputy that the Government is committed...

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

Simon Harris: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy, however, 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: An Garda Síochána (28 Feb 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: Asylum Seekers (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Since its introduction in June 2018, under the European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 230 of 2018), the labour market access permission issued by my Department has had a very positive impact for international protection applicants and employers alike. Over 12,000 first labour market access permissions have been granted to date. This permission gives...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 478 and 479 together. The Irish Prison Service Psychology Service is a national service, made up of a Head of Psychological Services, a Principal Psychologist, Senior Psychologists, Staff Grade Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists. Psychologists are embedded within a multidisciplinary team in each prison and services provided by Psychologists are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (28 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. The Citizenship Division continues to have engagement with the applicant, most recently in February 2023 and provided an update on the progress of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Feb 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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am however assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Agreements (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that a review of the immigration arrangements for non-EEA circus performers is nearing completion within my Department. Following the completion of that review, officials from my Department will engage with relevant stakeholders, including the circus industry and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The current immigration arrangements will remain in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application referred to was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on the 5 October 2022 outlining the reasons for this refusal. An appeal was lodged in respect of this application, to the relevant Visa Office, on the 3 November 2022. The appeal was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 17 November...

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

Simon Harris: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy, however, 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: Work Permits (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has responsibility for immigration-related matters, including the entry and residence conditions of dependants of critical skills employment permit holders. My Department consults and engages with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment who are responsible for labour market policy, and for the issuance of employment permits. As the Deputy will be aware, in March...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 487 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (28 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. Neither I, nor Minister McEntee, have had any engagements with the Central Bank or the Revenue Commissioners in respect of the closure of the IIP. However, the Department of Finance is represented on the Evaluation Committee that...