Results 5,601-5,620 of 45,373 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (14 Feb 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: A Health Needs Assessment Steering Group was established in 2018, following a memorandum of understanding between the then Ministers for Justice and Health to take forward an independent review of the current and future delivery of appropriate provision of healthcare services to persons in custody. The Health Needs Assessment, both for the Irish Prison Service as a whole and for the 12...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The persons referred to by the Deputy created on-line Join Family visa applications on 20 July 2022. The supporting documentation and fee waivers were received on 3 August 2022 in the Abu Dhabi visa office. Processing of these applications is ongoing at present. As each application is examined under its own merits, we are unable to give an exact time-frame for completion. However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service has committed to the elimination of the practice referred colloquially as ‘slopping out’, through the provision of in cell sanitation in the older parts of the prison estate where that practice remained. A number of major capital projects have been undertaken over the years with the primary objective of eliminating...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 504 and 505 together. The Programme for Government commits to considering the mental health and addiction treatments of persons imprisoned and primary care support on release. This commitment reflects the fact that the healthcare needs of vulnerable, sometimes seriously ill, people who interact with the criminal justice system are complex and require whole of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reviews (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The issue of drug use continues to be a major challenge facing prisons systems across the globe. Large proportions of the people who come into contact with the criminal justice system, and who enter prison, have a history of drug use. A 2014 study for the World Health Organisation estimated that half the prison population of the EU had a history of drug use and many continue to use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Irish Prison Service engages Merchants Quay Ireland (MQI) to provide a prison-based addiction counselling service across the entire Irish Prison Service estate (with the exception of Arbour Hill Prison where there is no clinical need for such a service in that prison). The addiction counselling service includes structured assessments and evidence-based counselling interventions, with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Feb 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: An Garda Síochána (14 Feb 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 the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no operational role in such matters. I am advised that Garda management keeps the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the distribution and stationing of Garda members throughout the State, including to specialist units within the organisation. As Minister, I have no role in these independent, operational functions. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner and as Minister I have no role in these operational policing matters. I have been informed by the Garda authorities that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering and renewing immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. Registrations outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network. The immigration service of my department continually reviews its processes, including...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (14 Feb 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: Naturalisation Applications (14 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: Visa Applications (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station network. I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that there is currently a 12-week waiting time for customers seeking an appointment at Henry Street Immigration Office. There continues to be significant pressure on immigration services in the Limerick Division, as reflected in the table below. Registration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As provided for in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021 - 2030, the new Cork County Garda Divisional Headquarters in Macroom, Co. Cork and the new Garda Station in Clonmel are to be built as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) along with the Family Law Court in Hammond Lane, Dublin 7. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Legal Aid Board is the statutory 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. Section 3(3) of the Act provides that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána and will contact the Deputy again when this information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Defibrillators Provision (14 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.