Results 6,301-6,320 of 46,575 for speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Under the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 there is a commitment to conduct a review of remission and temporary release to improve rehabilitation and reduce reoffending and overcrowding in prisons. As the Deputy will be aware, prisoners sentenced to a definite term generally qualify for one quarter remission on the basis of good behaviour. In the current...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy will be aware that the Irish Prison Service commenced a review of Prison Rules in 2020 following the publication of the revised European Prison Rules by the Council of Europe. Progress on the Review was delayed due to challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic. However, work on the Review restarted in 2022 and significant progress has been achieved on the development of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: On 28 June 2022 the Government gave approval to draft the General Scheme of a Bill to place the Irish Prison Service (IPS) on a full statutory footing with a non-executive Board and other structures that align with best practice in the governance of State bodies. Drafting of the Scheme is well advanced with a view to its submission to Government in the coming months. The IPS is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Irish Prison Service Chaplaincy Service has a significant contribution to make as part of the multi-disciplinary team in a prison, addressing the physical, social and spiritual needs of prisoners in a holistic way. Each Chaplain is required under Rule 119(1) of the Prison Rules to submit a report to the Director General and to the Governor on matters relating to the provision of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (21 Mar 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 operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I would like to assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the...

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

Simon Harris: Táim tar éis dul i dteagmháil le húdaráis an Gharda Síochána le haghaidh na faisnéise a lorg an tAire ach, ar an drochuair, ní raibh an fhaisnéis sin ar fáil in am. Scríobhfaidh mé chuig an Teachta arís a luaithe a bheidh an fhaisnéis ar fáil

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Office of the Inspector of Prisons (OIP) was established under the Prisons Act 2007 and is independent in how it carries out its functions. The Inspector's role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. The OIP has submitted a number of reports relating to Mountjoy Women’s Prison (Dóchas Centre) which have not yet been published. The Inspector of Prisons' three day...

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

Simon Harris: The application for the person referred to by the Deputy was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 09 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,...

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

Simon Harris: 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 following link: www.irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-do cument-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf This Policy Document contains a stated business target that visa applications...

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

Simon Harris: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office on the 15 November 2022. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicant at that time. An appeal of this decision was received in the Dublin Visa Office on the 20 December 2022. All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: The Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 (Child's Views Expert) Regulations 2018 (S.I. No. 587 of 2018) specify the necessary qualifications and experience of child’s views experts appointed under section 32(1)(b) of the Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 in private family law proceedings. The Regulations provide that the following may be appointed to perform the functions of child’s...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Peace Commissioners (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1079, 1080, 1081, 1082, 1083 and 1084 together. Peace Commissioners are appointed and may be removed from that appointment by the Minister for Justice under section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924. The office of Peace Commissioner is an honorary one for which there is no remuneration or compensation by way of fees or expenses for their services. A person...

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

Simon Harris: I requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, this information was not received in time, however, I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

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

Simon Harris: I requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, this information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

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

Simon Harris: An Garda Síochána has made important progress in tackling the threat of gangland crime in Drogheda through Operation Stratus. The Operation consists of high visibility patrols and checkpoints, days of action and covert policing initiatives. This work is supplemented by personnel from the regional armed support unit, the drugs unit and the divisional roads policing unit and has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: Human trafficking is an exploitive crime that preys on the vulnerable. There is no place for it in our society. We know vulnerable people are trafficked into Ireland for exploitation reasons, including sexual exploitation, forced labour and forced criminality. The Government is fully committed to identifying and supporting victims of this terrible crime. All Immigration Officers in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Sign Language (21 Mar 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: Irish Sign Language (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised that the Irish Prison Service has informed and updated all prison governors across the estate of the requirements under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. People in custody can request the assistance of an interpreter in a particular language, including Irish Sign language. Across the prison estate, contact details for the Sign Language Interpreting Service (the national...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Sign Language (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: I requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, this information was not received in time, however, I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Sign Language (21 Mar 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Legal Aid Board provides legal advice and aid under the relevant terms of the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2017. Section 3(3) of the Act provides that the Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Act, be independent in the exercise of its functions. Notwithstanding the Legal Aid Board’s independence, I can...