Results 5,761-5,780 of 45,373 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, management of the courts, including 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.  As Minister, I have no role in these matters. It is the function of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Seeking protection is a human right and when someone asks for protection at the border of a country, that country’s authorities must examine that application. Ireland, as a party to the Geneva Convention, must also meet this obligation.  Immigration officials conduct passport checks on arrival to ensure passengers are properly documented in accordance with Section 11 of the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that 20 people died while in custody in 2022 and I would like to express my sympathies to the family and friends of each of those individuals. As the Deputy may be aware, all deaths in custody are notified to An Garda Síochána, who investigate where circumstances warrant, in addition to the inquest held in the Coroner's Court. The cause of death is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 567 together. As the Deputy may be aware, all deaths in custody and deaths that occur within one month of temporary release, are subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons. Following this investigation, the Inspector of Prisons Office makes recommendations for improvement where appropriate. These recommendations are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, since April 2012 all deaths in custody are subject to an independent investigation by the Inspector of Prisons. Following this investigation, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons makes recommendations for improvement where appropriate. These recommendations are forwarded to the Prison Service for their attention and the final report is submitted to the Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 570 to 574, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister I have no direct role in such matters. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) administers the initial stages...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, 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: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, 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: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, 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: An Garda Síochána (31 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: To ensure all eligible apprentices are offered a training place, the SOLAS apprenticeship scheduling management system is designed to call apprentices by apprenticeship and training phase, on a longest waiting basis on the day of scheduling to the nearest available Education and Training Board, Institute of Technology, or Technological University. Whilst every effort is made to eliminate...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the terms of the Student Grant Scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students attending an approved course in an approved institution who meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. The decision on eligibility for a student grant is a matter, in the first instance, for the centralised student...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Safety (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the legislation regarding cycling offences falls under the remit for the Minister for Transport. In 2015, Fixed Charge Notices were introduced for a number of offences, including cycling without reasonable consideration As the Deputy will also be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware the Government will establish a statutory agency with a dedicated focus on Domestic Sexual and Gender-Based Violence. The agency will have a specific mandate to drive the implementation of the Zero Tolerance: Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence across Government, bringing the expertise and focus required to tackle this complex...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Beijing on the 6 October 2022. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. The Irish immigration website advises all applicants that if they include false or misleading information or documents in their application they may be refused. They are also...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: Peace Commissioners are appointed and, may be removed from that appointment, by the Minister for Justice under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. There are no qualifying examinations or educational standards required to be appointed as a Peace Commissioner but applicants are required to be a person of good character. Anyone who has been charged with or convicted of a serious...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am advised that An Garda Síochána makes crime prevention advice publicly available through the national Crime Prevention Officer's network, the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (26 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I am pleased to inform you that the application referred to by the Deputy was granted on 22 January 2023 and the visa sticker was issued on the same day. 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 (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (26 Jan 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 (26 Jan 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 operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these independent functions. I made enquiries with the Garda authorities who have advised that the information...