Results 6,021-6,040 of 45,510 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Communications (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I can confirm for the Deputy that my Department has not engaged in any communication activities specifically aimed at informing nationals of Albania or Georgia about Ireland’s international protection system or its application procedure. It would not be appropriate for my Department to engage in such an activity as it is open to any person regardless of their nationality to make an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1078 and 1079 together. The International Protection office of my Department endeavours to make recommendations on international protection applications as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection from the State can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, coroners are independent quasi-judicial office holders whose function under the Coroners Acts 1962-2020 is to investigate sudden and unexplained deaths so that a death certificate can issue. The Department has no role in directing the work of coroners during their death investigation, which may culminate in an inquest. An inquest is a fact-finding...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that the person referred to is subject to a Deportation Order. They have made a request to have their deportation order revoked, pursuant to the provisions of section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). This request will be considered as soon as it is possible to do so. The decision to ensue from the consideration of this request will be that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 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. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am advised, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review to ensure their optimum use in light of identified...

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

Simon Harris: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. A determination on whether an applicant satisfies the statutory criteria attendant to naturalisation can...

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

Simon Harris: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Dublin on 12 July 2022. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 3 August 2022. It should be noted that visa appeals are dealt with in strict chronological order. While every effort is made to process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Bench Warrants (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the allocation of Garda resources in respect of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. As the Deputy will appreciate, difficulties in relation to the execution of warrants, including bench warrants, are...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, an independent study has been commissioned by the Department into familicide and domestic homicide reviews. This independent research has involved consultations with a wide range of stakeholders including family members of victims, state agencies and non-governmental organisations, with a view to making recommendations to improve the State's response to familicide and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the appropriate authorities. The Act as amended by the Protected Disclosures (Amendment) Act 2022 also affords very important protections to persons making protected disclosures. I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate therefore that it would not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (18 Jan 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...

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

Simon Harris: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 10 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether...

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

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that I have asked officials in my Department to liaise with management in the Irish Prison Service to examine proposals on replacing the current Scheme with a Scheme similar to the one being introduced for An Garda Síochána and to revert with their observations in due course. As regards the operation of the current Scheme, I wish to advise the Deputy that it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will wish to note that, in October 2016, the Legal Services Regulatory Authority was established under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 as the independent statutory regulator for both branches of the legal profession - barristers and solicitors. The Authority’s remit includes the maintenance and improvement of standards in the provision of legal services and it...

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

Simon Harris: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 16 February 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. The processing times of applications will vary depending on the complexity of the application, whether...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The staffing levels in the Citizenship Division of my Department are kept under review in line with the business needs of the Division. The Citizenship Division receives approximately 1,000 applications per month and utilises the resources available to maximise processing and reduce waiting times. Unfortunately due to unprecedented demand, and the ongoing legacy of the pandemic,...

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

Simon Harris: I can advise the Deputy that, following significant engagement with stakeholders and other agencies, the Irish Prison Service Staff Recognition Policy came into effect on 1 June 2013 and was updated in 2017. There are various schemes provided under the current version of the policy to recognise (a) length of service, (b) retirements, (c) Merit Awards for Bravery and (d) Excellence and...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members and members of the Garda Reserve. As Minister I have no direct role in these matters. I would however...