Results 5,401-5,420 of 45,373 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy has permission to reside in the State until 16 December 2026. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy created an on-line Employment visa application on 5 January 2023. The supporting documentation and relevant fees were received on 11 January 2023, in the New Delhi visa office. Processing of this application is ongoing at present. As each application is examined under it's own merits, we are unable to give an exact time-frame for completion. However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (21 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. As communciated in the letter issued directly to the applicant on 16 May 2022, they should advise the Citizenship Division of my Department directly when the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The processing time for de-facto partnership applications for persons with an existing immigration permission, which can be made from inside the State, takes an average of twelve months. At present, my Department is currently processing applications from May 2022. Applications are strictly dealt with in chronological order of receipt and decisions are reached on a case by case basis. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Sign Language (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that my Department and the agencies and bodies under its aegis are committed to full implementation of the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. We are also keen to continue the fruitful collaboration with the National Disability Authority (NDA) in this regard which has come as a result of the recent Operation of the ISL Act Survey and report. My Department hosted a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Further to Parliamentary Question No. 455 of 24 January 2023 I can confirm that carriers are required to ensure that passengers travelling to the State are in possession of a valid travel document that establishes the person’s identity and nationality, and that they have the appropriate visa if required. Section 2(1) of the Immigration Act 2003 specifically refers. Where a person...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that Ireland follows the guidance of the UNHCR in relation to claims for international protection based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity and was one of the first countries to specifically bring sexual orientation within the ambit of a ‘particular social group’, under the legislation that was in force prior to the commencement of the...

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

Simon Harris: The appointments referred to are to be made in accordance with Section 15 of the Data Protection Act 2018, which provides for up to three Commissioners to be appointed. Section 15(5) of the Act specifies that the Public Appointments Service shall recommend a person for appointment as Commissioner following an open selection competition held by the Service for that purpose. As such, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications that Radon gas is recognised as a serious threat to public health and estimated to be responsible for approximately 350 cases of lung cancer annually in Ireland. The Government has established a National Radon Control Strategy (NRCS), which included 31 actions on a broad range of measures aimed at reducing the risk from...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (21 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (21 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...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 562 and 583 together. 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 decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that there are a number of people in prison serving sentences listed as “Careless” or “Dangerous” Driving. The number of people and the offences, as requested by the Deputy, are set out in the table below. Offence Description 2025 2026 CARELESS DRIVING...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Border Management Unit of my Department is responsible for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. All other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I want to assure the Deputy that I am acutely conscious of the devastating impact that illegal drugs and drug dealing have on communities across the country....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Official Engagements (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Since my appointment as Minister for Justice in December 2022, it has not yet been possible to arrange a meeting with the UK Home Secretary, Suella Braverman. I do however hope to speak with her in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 567 and 586 together. On 1st March 2022, the Government approved publication of the Report of the Review of the Defamation Act 2009 and the development of a General Scheme of a Defamation (Amendment) Bill on foot of the Report. As the Deputy has noted, a key recommendation in the Report is to introduce a new ‘anti-SLAPP’ mechanism -...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Equality Issues (21 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department launched its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy in March 2022. The Strategy is central to my Department’s mission of working for safe, fair and inclusive Ireland. It aims to strengthen my Department’s capabilities to promote equality, embrace diversity and foster inclusion, both in our daily interactions and activities as colleagues, and also...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 569 and 570 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment of Garda members and staff under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As the Deputy will also be aware, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by...

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

Simon Harris: The Citizenship Division receives approximately 1,000 applications per month and utilises the resources available to maximise processing and reduce waiting times. The Division are working very hard to maintain as prompt a service delivery as possible, given the volume of applications currently being received. Unfortunately, last year significant delays were regrettably experienced...