Results 5,561-5,580 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: Cyber-crimes can cause not only devastating financial problems but can also cause mental stress for the victims and their families. Every person in Ireland deserves to feel safe and to be safe when they conduct their personal business online or over the phone, and so the practice of trying to trick people out of their personal information or hard-earned money is truly disgusting and will not...

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 of An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment. The Deputy will appreciate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders Notification Requirements (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that there is a robust framework of legislation in place to monitor and manage the risk posed by convicted sex offenders to the community and that it is kept under ongoing review.   Under the Sex Offenders Act 2001, convicted sex offenders have to notify Gardaí of their personal details, including their name and address for a period of time after...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Community CCTV schemes have benefitted many communities, helping people to feel safer in their local areas. It is a priority for this Department to ensure that community groups continue to be supported in making contributions to the setting up of their local CCTV schemes.  As the Deputy may be aware, the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme is under review and a General Scheme of a Criminal Legal Aid Bill is being prepared, the key purpose of which will be, to transfer the administration of the Criminal Legal Aid Scheme to the Legal Aid Board and to otherwise update the administration of criminal legal aid. My Department has consulted with the Courts Service, the Legal...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for the deployment of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured that Garda management keeps the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Seekers (18 Apr 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 13,000 first labour market access permissions have been granted to date.  This permission gives...

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

Simon Harris: The person referred to made an application to the Afghan Admission Programme which was received by my Department on the 9th of March 2022 and continues to be processed. I would like to take this opportunity to assure the person concerned that my Department is processing applications under the Afghan Admissions Programme as quickly as possible. To ensure as many people as possible can...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 957 and 958 together. I recognise the importance of international protection recipients having their family members reunited with them as soon as possible. To this end my Department engages, where necessary, with applicants for family reunification to ensure that they have every opportunity to meet the requirements of the International Protection Act 2015...

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

Simon Harris: The vast majority of Irish Prison Service members serve their organisation and the State with integrity each and every day of their careers and we are rightly proud of the jobs they do often under difficult circumstances. Professionalism and integrity is taught and promoted right from training for new recruits through to each and every rank and grade in the Prison Service. The prevailing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, the Programme for Government commits to commencing the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, and the necessary amending legislation, recognising the importance of the much-needed reform that it represents. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amendment) Act 2022 was signed into law in December 2022. The Acts bring into effect a new legislative framework...

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

Simon Harris: The Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Commissioner is responsible for all decisions related to the Garda Estate and that such works are progressed by the Office of Public Works in close cooperation with the Garda authorities.   I and my officials have engaged with the Garda Commissioner, members of An Garda...

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

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 962 and 973 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 responsibility for the Garda vetting system.  Additionally, the National Vetting Bureau Act 2012 makes it the...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, civilian members of An Garda Síochána are civil servants of the Government. The terms and conditions of their employment, including details of their retirement, are a matter for the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. As the Deputy will also be aware, the Government is committed to doubling the number of Garda staff to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the Family Reunification Unit (FRU) of my Department that the applicant wrote to the Unit on 10 November 2022 regarding an error of date of birth. The unit requested that the applicant send back the original letter before issuing the updated/corrected version, which is standard for the Unit to ask of applicants in order to avoid creating multiple versions of documents to...

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

Simon Harris: I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, 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: Legal Aid (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 to 2021. In its forty years of operation, the Civil Legal Aid Scheme has been a significant and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Public Inquiries (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: Unfortunately, as the Deputy may be aware, Judge McDonagh informed Minister McEntee that he was unable to continue with the work of the Inquiry due to personal reasons. Consequently, on 11 January 2022, the Minister appointed retired District Court Judge, Michael Coghlan to continue the work of the Inquiry. Judge Coghlan had provided updates on his work and has advised that the vast bulk...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (18 Apr 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 968 and 996 together. Family reunification as provided for in the International Protection Act 2015, gives certain family members of a qualified person, the sponsor, an immigration permission allowing them to enter, remain and reside in the State with the sponsor.  An application for family reunification must be made by the sponsor within 12 months...

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

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that the visa application he refers to was refused on the 12th of December 2022. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 24th of January 2023. All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in...