Results 5,401-5,420 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I am acutely conscious that any delay in the carrying out of coroner-directed post-mortems can be upsetting for bereaved families and loved ones. The Coroner Service provides a valuable service to next of kin and society in general in seeking to explain the causes of death in those instances which are reportable by law. The Department of Justice has responsibility for providing financial and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications for naturalisation and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eTax clearance, eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be to free up more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can inform the Deputy that the data provided to him in question 304 of 20th of April was not data on convictions or the number of persons charged under the Acts in question. The data provided was of incidents recorded on the Garda PULSE system. As the Deputy can appreciate not every incident recorded on the PULSE system necessarily leads to an individual appearing before a Court, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) is independent in the performance of its functions. As Minister, I have no direct role in such matters. The existing legal framework for the operation of GSOC is set out in Part 3 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Act includes...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) has a very important role to play in ensuring public confidence in An Garda Síochána and it has extensive powers under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). The Government is committed to ensuring that GSOC has the necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I am aware, particularly in the current economic climate, of the financial pressures that non-EEA nationals in the State are under. The cost of registration and validity periods for permissions is kept under ongoing review by my Department. However, there are no current plans to reduce the fee or extend any validity periods. All non-EEA persons over the age of 16 are required by Section 9...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can inform the Deputy that my Department does not have any contracts with the company named.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Schemes (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I instigated an independent review of the Student Grant Scheme which was published in 2022. The Funding the Future framework sets out my intention to implement a progressive range of measures to address costs as a barrier to education alongside improving core funding for higher education, in the context of overall Budgetary decision-making. This will include progressive implementation of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Period Poverty (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware from my reply to his recent parliamentary question that the Programme for Government contains a commitment to “provide a range of free, adequate, safe, and suitable period products in all educational publicly-funded settings (including schools, colleges and HEIs), to ensure that no students are disadvantaged in their education by period poverty.” Last...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (27 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department currently has no contracts with J. Murphy & Sons Limited.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (26 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Trespass is a civil wrong and, for the most part, falls to be addressed by means of a civil remedy. Trespass may be dealt with under criminal law in certain circumstances and a range of offences are provided for in legislation. There is already robust legislation in place in relation to trespass and I have, therefore, no plans to change the law in this regard, but the situation will be kept...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (26 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Non visa required nationals resident in Northern Ireland can travel and remain in the State for up to a month without requiring permission to remain, in accordance with section 4(5)(d) of the Immigration Act 2004. A person's residency status in the UK does not affect their visa required status to travel to the State. Northern Ireland residents who are visa required to enter the State must...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (26 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: On the 25th of February 2022, Minister McEntee announced the lifting of visa requirements between Ukraine and Ireland. This emergency measure applies to all Ukrainians nationals travelling to Ireland regardless of their place of residence, destination within the State or the purpose of their visit to the State. It is open to any person to leave the State. However, they should check with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of the Child (26 Apr 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 Offences)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rental Sector (26 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the Private Security Authority (PSA), an independent body under the aegis of my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for licensing and regulating the private security industry in Ireland. The PSA regulates both contractors and employees across a range of sectors in the security industry. All contractors engaged in providing security services in the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Let us see how many of Deputy Bacik's Deputies run.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Staff (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, I wish to assure the Deputy that any County Registrar vacancy which has arisen in recent years has been filled. The Courts Service Act 1998 sets out the nature of the relationship between the Courts Service...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The State is required to examine the application of anyone who presents at the borders of the State, or is in the State, and indicates that they wish to make an application for international protection. This is in accordance with our obligations under international and EU asylum law and the Government takes those commitments very seriously. My Department takes all necessary steps to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy but 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: An Garda Síochána (25 Apr 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...