Results 6,181-6,200 of 46,260 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Feb 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 role in such matters. I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that the Office...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I understand the Deputy is referring to Parliamentary Questions No. 283 of 15 December 2022 and No. 512 of 14 February 2023, which asked for 'the number of full-time senior investigating officers; and the total full-time equivalent of each child protection unit since 2019’. In accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. I can, however, advise the Deputy that prior information notices (PINs) in respect of this procurement procedure, and the details of the aircraft...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 527 together. All of the fees payable under the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended, are kept under ongoing review by my Department. However, there are no current plans to amend the fees. The fees to be paid by an applicant for a certificate of naturalisation are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy is aware, the review of the Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) for non-EEA fishers was published last year. One of the key recommendations of the Review Group is that the employment of non-EEA crew in the Irish fishing fleet should be provided for under the Employment Permit system, instead of the existing Atypical Working Scheme. As such questions concerning how such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Work Permits (28 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Atypical Working Scheme (AWS) was developed by agreement between the Department of Justice and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE), in order to facilitate specialised, highly-skilled employment of a short term nature (generally less than 90 days) that is not supported by current Employment Permit legislation. Following consultation with other Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (23 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy, 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: Departmental Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The table below lists the live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by my Department, and includes the scheduled completion date of each. Study/Review/Research Scheduled Completion Date Review of the operation of Section 31 (Digital Age of Consent provision) of the Data Protection Act, 2018 Q4 2023 Review of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (23 Feb 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...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The criminal acts carried out in Ballyfermot the other day were the responsibility of the those who decided to carry out those criminal acts and attack members of An Garda Síochána and injure a serving member, to whom we all send our best wishes and wish a speedy recovery. I am very satisfied that the full rigours of the law will apply in that case. I have already outlined the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Antisocial Behaviour (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies for raising this issue and for their ongoing engagement on it. Like everyone in this House, I am absolutely clear that the criminal events in Ballyfermot this week – that is what it they were – were completely unacceptable. I absolutely acknowledge that the activity was not in any way reflective of the good, decent people of Ballyfermot. I share their...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Technological Universities (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Funding allocated to technological university (TU) projects and programmes under the Revised Estimates for 2023 totals some €41.92 million and includes the TU Regional Research Development and Innovation Integration Programme to be co-funded annually under the European Regional Development Fund in the period to 2027 and the TU Transformation Fund Education and Training Reforms...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Qualifications Recognition (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Qualifications and Quality Assurance (Education and Training) Act 2012 imposes a statutory obligation on Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) to assist learners who are affected by either the cessation of a programme of education and training or the non-commencement of a programme where a learner has paid programme fees. Planning is underway to replace the statutory arrangements...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Appointments to State Boards (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The information in respect of state bodies within the scope of the Deputy’s question is being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it becomes available.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Lobbying Reform (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that no senior staff members of my Department are also on the boards of bodies registered for lobbying purposes under the Regulation of Lobbying Act 2015, or on the board of bodies which have had to disclose that they engaged in lobbying State authorities. Any intention to issue directions on the appropriateness of any involvement in these bodies is a matter for DPER. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) defines employee turnover as the proportion of employees who leave an organisation over a set period (often on a year-on-year basis), expressed as a percentage of total workforce numbers. The table below sets out the turnover of officers and the percentage of staff which this represents within my Department for 2020, 2021 and 2022....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Freedom of Speech (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Minister McEntee published the Criminal Justice (Incitement to Violence or Hatred and Hate Offences) Bill last October which addresses both incitement to hatred or violence and hate crime. Once enacted the Bill will criminalise any intentional or reckless communication or behaviour that is likely to incite violence or hatred against a person or persons because they are associated with a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I can confirm that my Department has received and responded to the correspondence referred to by the Deputy. I have asked officials in my Department to engage with the group concerned to better understand the issues raised. The Deputy may wish to note that, following Government approval in December last year, my Department has established an Inter-Departmental Working Group to prepare an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (22 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: As part of delivering on the actions contained in the Zero Tolerance Strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, I will bring forward a number of significant pieces of legislation in the coming weeks and months. This includes the Criminal Justice (Sexual Offences and Human Trafficking) Bill 2022 which will update sexual offences legislation. Provisions in the Bill will update the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Agreements (22 Feb 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...