Results 6,021-6,040 of 45,495 for speaker:Simon Harris

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...

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

Simon Harris: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions. All naturalisation applications are processed in chronological order on date received and in accordance with the provisions of the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (18 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 Citizenship division wrote to the person concerned on 11 January 2022 requesting that a form be...

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

Simon Harris: My Department's overall objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection as quickly as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection in Ireland can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. As the Deputy will be aware, during 2022 the number of people claiming...

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

Simon Harris: The table below contains details of persons confirmed deported and those confirmed deported following unsuccessful International Protection applications. The Department does not record data in the manner requested by the Deputy where criminality is concerned. Year Effected DO Effected DO Effected after Failed IP Application 2012 301 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy may wish to note that on the commencement of the International Protection Act 2015 in December 2016, the Office of the Refugee Applications Commissioner was abolished and responsibility for the investigation of applications for international protection transferred to the International Protection Office. The International Protection Appeals Tribunal, formerly the Refugee Appeals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1105, 1113 and 1114 together. The statistics sought by the Deputy are set out in the document attached to this response. My Department's overall objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection as quickly as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection in Ireland can receive it...

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

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet. While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for 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, including the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps 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 Garda business. Under the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Act 2012, the Garda National Vetting Bureau (GNVB) is responsible for the Garda vetting system, and the processing of individual applications....

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

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda...

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

Simon Harris: The Garda Síochána (Compensation) Act 2021 was enacted on 24 October 2022. As the Deputy may be aware, this Act provides for a complete overhaul of the current Garda compensation scheme which has been in operation since the 1940s. The main objective is to reduce the length of time it takes for compensation claims to be dealt with by using the Personal Injuries Assessment Board...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (18 Jan 2023)

Simon Harris: The Bill referred to by the Deputy, the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person (Amendment) (Stalking) Bill 2021, is a Private Member's Bill sponsored by Senators Chambers, Fitzpatrick and McGreehan . As the Deputy will appreciate once published, a Private Member's Bill becomes the property of the Houses. Its passage and any amendments to the Bill are carried out according to a schedule set...

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

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, for good reason it is not the practice to deal publicly with security matters and it would not be appropriate for me to give details of the arrangements that may be put in place in this regard. To do so would be contrary to the public interest. The personal safety of individuals is a priority, and the arrangements for security operate dynamically on 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, including responsibility for the Garda vetting system. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. However, I am advised that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the...