Results 6,081-6,100 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policies (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, the final text of any legislation as enacted is ultimately a matter for the Oireachtas, with the provisions of each Bill required to complete a number of stages involving debate and consideration of proposed amendments. Gender-neutral writing is about inclusion and equality, which my Department is fully committed to embedding in its culture and values....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the deputy is aware as Minister for Justice, I have no role in the exercise of Probate functions. The Probate Office is an office of the High Court, and management of the courts is 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. Probate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I understand the Deputy's question relates to the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation. The median processing time for applications now currently stands at 19 months. I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs. It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, public sector pensions, including Garda pensions, are a matter of Government policy overseen by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform, who have a Pensions Policy Unit for this purpose. I understand, people who joined the public service post January 2013 are all members of the Single Public Service Pension Scheme, which provides for pension benefits...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Last week, I secured Government approval for the drafting of legislation to create a statutory agency dedicated to tackling and reducing domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It follows the Government’s decision last June that an agency should be established under the remit of the Department of Justice to deliver on commitments under Zero Tolerance, the Third National Strategy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (7 Mar 2023)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The person referred to by the Deputy has no valid immigration permission to remain in the State, as their previous immigration permission expired over 6 years ago. It is important that persons keep their immigration permission up to date if they wish to continue to reside in the State. Where a person remains resident in the State without an immigration permission, I encourage them to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (7 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The visa application referred to was created on the 31 August 2022. The application was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 26 September 2022 where it awaits examination and processing. Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the...

Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023: Second Stage (Resumed) (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: We do.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Third Level Fees (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As part of Budget 2023, I secured a significant cost of living package for third level students, including a once-off €1,000 state financial support towards the undergraduate student contribution fee for higher education students eligible for my Department’s free fees schemes. Postgraduate students are not eligible for the free fees schemes and therefore the once-off student...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: In line with commitments in the National Economic Recovery Plan, my Department has undertaken the OECD’s Ireland Skills Strategy Review that is on track to be completed in 2023. The review focuses on an examination of National Skills Strategy and Ireland’s skills approaches in order to ensure that we have a solid foundation on which to build our competitiveness and support...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Research and Development (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Research and Development Budget Survey 2021–2022 is currently being finalised by members of my staff and will be published on the departmental website shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Education Policy (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: In line with commitments in the National Economic Recovery Plan, my Department has undertaken the OECD’s Ireland Skills Strategy Review that is on track to be completed in 2023. The review focuses on an examination of National Skills Strategy and Ireland’s skills approaches in order to ensure that we have a solid foundation on which to build our competitiveness and support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: An application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 05 May 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 it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 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: Prison Service (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the 1983 Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons provides the current mechanism through which a person may seek a transfer of their prison sentence between Ireland and the UK. The legislative basis for these transfers is the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Act 1995 (as amended). I am advised by officials in the Irish Prison Service, who are the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Programme for Government commits to ‘recognise the domestic and international importance of data protection in Ireland’ and states that the Government ‘will ensure that Ireland delivers on its responsibilities under the General Data Protection Regulation’. The Government is very conscious of the commitment to deliver effective data protection regulation and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: There is no citizenship application awaiting processing by my Department for the person referred to by the Deputy. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, and all applications are processed in line with the eligibility criteria as set out under the Act. Each application is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Citizenship Division of my Department wrote to the applicant referred to by the Deputy on the 30 January 2023 setting out the current status of the application and requested documentary evidence in relation to matters outstanding.  Upon receipt of this documentation processing of the application will recommence, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (2 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: An application by the person concerned for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants scheme was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 04 March 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...