Results 7,481-7,500 of 47,419 for speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill was formally published in January of 2023 and is based on the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) report. As the Deputy may be aware, the CoFPI report recommended that Garda staff be recruited directly to An Garda Síochána, rather than the Civil Service. A central tenet of the CoFPI...

Co-ordination of International Protection Services: Statements (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy at the outset that one letter is a moment in time but everybody in government, across every Government Department and every State agency, is supporting the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth in the incredible challenge of trying to find accommodation, including in my own two Departments. All student accommodation is being offered again...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this because it provides me with an opportunity to update the House. I am examining the issue raised in a recent court case very carefully. Government approval has been provided for the drafting of heads of Bill to provide for an amendment to the Children Act 2001 to ensure there are sufficient alternative sentencing options to fully and partially suspended...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The short answer is that it can and should. I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I came together on this issue with the Garda and with student unions to roll out an awareness campaign. I now intend to work with the Garda and student unions to do the same again. It is absolutely horrific when this happens to people. It is really important that people...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I am not sure of the Dáil rules regarding what can be said on matters like this.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I will just be careful in my role. With regard to the factual position, Judge Haughton was asked to carry out a scoping exercise. The terms of reference of that exercise were settled in July 2019. The judge's remit was to advise the then Minister for Justice and now myself as to whether there were any circumstances surrounding the death of Shane O'Farrell that warrant further investigation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I cannot imagine the grief or pain of the O'Farrell family on the loss of their son. I again express my condolences and those of the Government to that family. I know the Deputy is not impugning anyone's integrity but we did ask a retired judge, a person of integrity, to do as the Deputy has suggested, that is, to examine all of the circumstances and to advise me as to whether there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter, which he rightly raises on a regular basis. What I said, and now repeat, is that the Government made a decision to proceed with the scoping inquiry as a response to the views of the Oireachtas. That was a decision made by the then Government. I know everybody in this House will join me in sending our condolences to the O'Farrell family on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I fully agree. We must and will always support people overcoming addiction. I welcome the establishment of the Citizens' Assembly on drugs. As a former Minster for Health, I know the importance of a health-led approach to supporting those going through addiction and their families. That is not what we are talking about. What I am talking about is the so-called social use of drugs, as it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Murphy for raising this important matter. I begin by extending my sincere sympathies and those of the Government to the family of the late George Nkencho on their very sad loss. While events of this nature are thankfully extraordinarily rare in this country, that is of no comfort to his grieving family. My thoughts are with them. The circumstances must be fully...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I am very conscious that there is a grieving family in all of this. It is important that this matter is fully investigated by GSOC. I cannot comment on the ongoing investigation. It is important to note that this House decided that GSOC must be independent in the exercise of its function. I am advised, and I can only relay to the Deputy the latest information that I have, that the report...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank the Deputies. I fully agree that this matter needs to be fully investigated. On that, there is no disagreement. I can only relay the answer as truthfully as I have been given it, which is that there is now a draft report that is out for internal and external peer review and legal review. I have been assured by GSOC that it is not a matter of resourcing. If it was, I would ensure...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this matter. I have spoken to him about it in recent days and am acutely conscious of the devastating impact that illegal drugs and drug dealing have on communities across the country. I have discussed these concerns directly with the Garda Commissioner and his senior team working on this issue since my appointment as Minister. Tackling drug dealing and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is entirely correct and I want to build on his last point. I am very concerned about the growing social acceptance of drug-taking in this country. Let me be clear, I am not talking about people with drug addiction and the pain and hurt associated with that. We need to support people in overcoming addiction. They need our help, not stigma, and they need a health-led approach but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Drug Dealing (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: Any conversation we have about drug use cannot ignore this reality. There is a direct link between snorting a line or taking a pill and murder, assault, criminality and misery. Drug use on a Friday or Saturday night is funding and supporting violence, crime and murder the next week. Those using drugs are helping to line the pockets of criminals who are inflicting misery and pain in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Burke for raising this matter. Zero tolerance is the Government's third national strategy on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. It was published by my colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee, last year. The strategy has been widely accepted by stakeholders as an ambitious five-year programme for reform to achieve a society which simply does not accept domestic,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is entirely right. While we need to pass legislation in this House, the education piece is key. My colleague, the Minister for Education, Deputy Foley, is leading on a number of actions in that area, including overhauling the social, personal and health education, SPHE, curriculum, effective from next September, and work on age-appropriate primary school education in this space....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: I will do that. We have also significantly increased funding for groups working with victims and survivors of domestic, sexual and gender-based violence, as is right and proper, to help those on the front line respond in communities. The roll-out of safe homes, alongside the roll-out of refuge spaces, is a key element in making sure of this. I do not want anyone listening to this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The best way we can keep our gardaí safe is to pass laws in this House that help ensure they have the legal powers to keep them safe. When they take criminals off the street there should be adequate sentencing in place and we should give them the technology and resources they require. Front-line gardaí are asking us to provide them with body cameras to keep them safe. They have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (16 Feb 2023)

Simon Harris: The Deputy is right. We should always follow data and check that we get what we want. To take a point in time, since 2015 over 880 Garda members who were doing back office duties - I am not suggesting that is unimportant but they were not able to do front-line duties - have been freed up to do front-line duties. That is 880 more gardaí. Taking the global picture from 2015 to now,...