Results 5,961-5,980 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Further and Higher Education (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: At the end of last year, I was delighted to announce that Dublin and Dun Laoghaire ETB’s strategic proposal was successful at the first stage of the assessment process under the FET College of the Future Major Projects Fund. This proposal will now move to the next stage of the process which will entail the development of a preliminary business case in line with public spending...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Pension Provisions (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am firmly of the view that there should be access to public service pensions for research staff in all higher education institutions across the sector. As such, my Department has been engaging positively with management bodies, the Department for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform and the Department of Education on a business case to support access to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1038, 1039, 1098, 1114 and 1118 together. I am aware of the delays being experienced by Citizenship applicants and I would like to assure those people that everything possible is being done to clear the existing backlogs. The current backlog is a legacy of the pandemic, where processing times were significantly impacted due to the paper based nature of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The persons referred to made an application to the Afghan Admission Programme which was received by my Department on 1 March 2022. I would like to take this opportunity to assure them that my Department is processing applications under the Afghan Admissions Programme as quickly as possible. To ensure as many people as possible can avail of this important programme my Department has been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Funding (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I can inform the Deputy that there has been no instances of virement since my appointment to the role of Minister for Justice on 22 December 2022.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I wish to advise the Deputy that probation officers and all other employees of the Probation Service, a body under the aegis of my Department, are serving civil servants.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: 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 Optional Protocol. Enactment of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences)...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Policing Authority (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) the Policing Authority is independent in its functions. I have been informed by the Policing Authority that the security contract for 90 North King Street was awarded to Top Security. I am further informed that the premises has a number of tenants in addition to the Policing Authority and the contract was...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (21 Mar 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: Asylum Applications (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1047 and 1048 together. 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 applicants last year was 13,651...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1049 and 1050 together. Since the International Protection Act 2015 commenced on 31 December 2016, the International Protection Office of my Department has carried out the function of considering permission to remain (under section 49 of the 2015 Act), in respect of those applicants who have been refused international protection (refugee status or subsidiary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Teanga Gaeilge (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Is iad na breithiúna agus an tSeirbhís Chúirteanna, atá neamhspleách agus iad ag feidhmiú a gcuid feidhmeanna faoin Acht um Sheirbhís Chúirteanna, 1998, agus i bhfianaise dheighilt na gcumhachtaí sa Bhunreacht, atá freagrach as bainistiú na gcúirteanna, as nithe a bhaineann le hoibríochtaí agus as feidhmeanna...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The tables below set out the information requested by the Deputy. It is important to note that not all those who are issued with a deportation order will have been in the international protection process and, when issued with a deportation order, many people leave the State without notifying the authorities. Nationality DO Signed 2021 Morocco 5 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Department of Justice provides funding to Muintir na Tíre to cover the costs incurred by communities in administering the Text Alert Scheme. The Scheme is administered on a refund basis whereby communities submit their annual costs to Muintir na Tíre and a maximum refund of up to €450 is provided to the community. This funding is provided for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fishing Industry (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Any person on a stamp 4 immigration permission is not required to hold an employment permit in order to work in the State. As such any non-EEA fisherman who has been granted a stamp 4 immigration permission may continue to work with their current employer and fishing vessel or may transfer to any other employer or fishing vessel or seek alternative employment elsewhere in the State. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Schemes (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, I obtained approval from the Government to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The Immigrant Investor Programme was established over a decade ago during a time of unprecedented economic difficulty to stimulate investment in Ireland that would be of strategic and public benefit to the State. Since its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Capital Expenditure Programme (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy may be aware the National development plan 2021-2023 is available online on the gov.ie website. Pleaserefer to page 152 for a listing of Justice Sector Capital projects. The sequencing of Capital projects takes account of a wide range of environmental factors, including but not limited to, planning status, evolving priorities and availability of Finance, accordingly Capital...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The State has a duty to protect its borders and following examination, ensure that all arriving passengers are entitled to enter the State. This is a fundamental exercise of State sovereignty, which is necessary to protect the security of the State and to prevent illegal immigration. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 569 of 2011). The application fee, stipulated at €175, is payable on application for a certificate of naturalisation and a certification fee is payable on the issue of a certificate of naturalisation. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill was formally published in January 2023 and is based on the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) report. As the Deputy may be aware, the report of the Commission recommended that Garda staff be recruited directly to An Garda Síochána, rather than the Civil Service. A central tenet of the...