Results 5,461-5,480 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 648 to 651, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to number of apprentice electricians, plumbers, plasterers and bricklayers recorded for each of the years 2005-2008 is presently being compiled by Solas. An answer will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Departmental Contracts (25 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department has had no contracts over the past 12 months with KPMG.

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Members for contributing to the debate. I want to begin on the topic of drugs because we have had a good discussion on this during the debate. It is an important one. I have listened very carefully to what people have said. People have spoken from different perspectives. I am conscious that Citizens’ Assembly proceedings are under way and have no doubt that the...

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: That is the point

Organised Crime: Statements (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle for the opportunity to discuss the impact of gangland and organised crime on communities across the country. It is a timely discussion as the Government sets to introduce tougher laws to further support An Garda Síochána in taking on the gangs that try to inflict misery on communities. I am pleased to report that significant progress has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is taking all necessary steps to manage the international protection process fairly, efficiently and effectively, as part of the broader Government response, while ensuring the integrity of Ireland's rules-based immigration system is maintained. The number of international protection applications last year was 13,651 – a significant increase on recent years. In 2019, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 309 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Private Security Authority (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Private Security Authority (PSA), an agency of the Department of Justice, is responsible for the regulation of the private security industry in Ireland including the event security sector. Those regulated by the PSA must meet prescribed standards and training requirements. They are also vetted by the National Vetting Bureau of An Garda Síochána. Contractors providing event...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 was commenced on the 10th February 2021. Along with other provisions, it created two new offences of sending, or threatening to send, intimate images without the consent of the person whose image it is. It also broadened the existing offence of harassment and provided for a new offence of sending, distributing or publishing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electoral Process (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: 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 the direction of investigative priorities for the service and the recording of information on Garda IT systems, including the PULSE database. As Minister, I have no role in these...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Prison Rules, 2007 (S.I. No. 252/2007) set out the minimum rules and regulations on all aspects of life in prisons in Ireland, including admission, accommodation, visiting rights, health, discipline, education, and so forth. Much of the daily operation of prisons is guided by the Prison Rules. Where a court makes an order committing a person to a prison, the Prison Service must accept...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: An Garda Síochána was fully consulted as this general scheme was developed. I can also assure the Deputy that the Department of Justice continues to engage with An Garda Síochána in relation to the Sale of Alcohol Bill to ensure that it contains a full suite of enforcement powers and resources to meet their policing needs. As the Deputy may be aware , the Joint...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Consultations (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: It has not been possible to collate the information requested in the time allowed. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Programmes (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to building stronger and safer communities and implementing policies designed to create a pathway to divert young people away from a life of crime. As the Deputy will be aware, Youth Diversion Projects (YDPs) are community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiatives which seek to divert young people who have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Combatting all forms of domestic, sexual and gender-based is a priority for this Government. It is reflected in a range of policies and legislation, as well as unprecedented increases in our Budget allocations. Our new Zero Tolerance Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence Strategy is the most ambitious to date. It was co-designed with the sector and fully recognises the need for a whole...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (20 Apr 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. Unfortunately due to unprecedented demand and the ongoing legacy of the pandemic, processing times for citizenship applications have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (20 Apr 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: Naturalisation Applications (20 Apr 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 Education and Skills: Third Level Education (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that the HEAR (Higher Education Access Route) scheme is a reduced points mechanisms for entry into higher education. The HEAR scheme is managed and operated by the Irish Universities Association (IUA) on behalf of the Higher Education Institutions who set the policy criteria for the scheme. Admissions under the schemes are regulated by the higher education...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (20 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department does not place a quota on the number of places on veterinary medicine courses offered by Higher Education Institutions and Munster Technological University is autonomous, within the meaning of the Technological Universities Act 2018 in relation to the courses it chooses to offer. However, I would note the significant infrastructural, placement and regulatory requirements of...