Results 5,521-5,540 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: It is a fair question and I somewhat share the Deputy's frustration. I have voiced similar frustration, as have my colleagues. In July 2020, departmental officials contracted an independent expert to undertake the review of Part 4 of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act. Significant work was completed cataloguing the submissions received under the Part 4 review, which, as the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget for An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment. As the Deputy will be aware,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Border Management Unit of my Department performs an essential service in preventing illegal immigration and maintaining the security of our borders.  Very properly, the exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights, as well as for the dignity of each individual passenger.  BMU officers receive extensive training and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including HR matters. However, I can assure the Deputy that Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to perform their vital role in the community. It is important to emphasise that, of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The safety and security of both public transport passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour, are important matters that must be managed by every public transport company, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána where appropriate. We can all agree that any acts of violence and anti-social behaviour are completely unacceptable. I want to make it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that the HSE / National Forensic Mental Health Service provides in-reach psychiatric services to the Irish Prison Service. This direct service includes dedicated Clinical Forensic Consultants, Community Forensic Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers and administrative staff. In 2022, the cost associated with this service was €1.9 million and I am informed that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, in June of last year Government launched Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. In line with the priority which we are attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based violence, we will double the number of refuge spaces over the lifetime of the strategy, bringing it to 280. This will be the fastest ever...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: If a person does not produce a valid passport, or other equivalent document, an Immigration Officer may refuse the person leave to land in accordance with Section 4 of the Immigration Act 2004. When a person is refused leave to land at an airport, the priority is to return them on the next available return flight to the last point of embarkation. If a person indicates or is identified as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I am sure the Deputy will agree that the public is immensely grateful to An Garda Síochána for their outstanding dedication and commitment and for the important role that they play in our society. I am pleased to note the consistently high levels of public trust recorded in our Gardaí. The unprecedented funding of over €2.24 billion to An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including HR matters. However, I can assure the Deputy that Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to perform their vital role in the community. It is important to emphasise that,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Border Management Unit (BMU) of my Department has responsibility for frontline immigration duties at Dublin Airport only. Other ports of entry are the responsibility of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB).    The Border Management Unit and the GNIB work closely with airlines on a range of measures to ensure that passengers possess correct documentation when boarding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Applications (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, the Probate Office is an office of the High Court. Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in its functions. Probate functions are also carried out by County Registrars at District Probate Registries in 14 provincial court offices, and these office holders are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 89 together. I can assure the Deputy that the Prison Service and I are committed to providing safe and secure custody for all people committed to prison and officials in my Department and in the Irish Prison Service continuously work together to identify short, medium and longer term proposals to help manage capacity issues in our prisons as they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 77 together. The safety and security of both public transport passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour, are important matters that must be managed by every public transport company, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána where appropriate. We can all agree that any acts of violence and anti-social...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Government is very conscious of the commitment to deliver effective data protection regulation and protection of the data privacy rights of EU citizens. The Programme for Government commits to ‘recognise the domestic and international importance of data protection in Ireland’ and states that the Government ‘will ensure that Ireland delivers on its responsibilities...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel and resources between the different Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these operational matters. I can advise the Deputy that the new Garda Operating Model reflects and addresses the challenges of modern policing by enabling specialisation in the delivery of key...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources, including all Garda stations. In addition, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. Works in relation to Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to review and reform defamation laws to ensure a balanced approach to the right to freedom of expression, the right to protection of good name and reputation, and the right of access to justice. On 28 March 2023, Government approved publication of the General Scheme of the Defamation (Amendment) Bill to reform our defamation legislation....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Online Safety (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: The Harassment, Harmful Communications and Related Offences Act 2020 was commenced on 10 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 a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Apr 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 responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I can however assure the Deputy that the Government remains...