Results 101-120 of 1,066 for garda speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to that. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget of An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment. The Deputy will appreciate that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Office of Director of Public Prosecutions (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...Public Prosecutions, who is independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended). While the enforcement of road traffic legislation is an operational matter for the Garda authorities, I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...transport passengers and staff, including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour, are important matters that must be managed by every public transport company, in conjunction with An Garda Síochána where appropriate. We can all agree that any acts of violence and anti-social behaviour are completely unacceptable. I want to make it very clear that criminality on public...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I have requested the information requested from the Garda authorities, however, the 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: Victim Support Services (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...focus on this important area of work. Funding is provided by my Department to NGOs that support victims of crime through services such as emotional support, court accompaniment, and accompaniment to Garda interviews, to sexual assault treatment units and referral to other services. This year, an increased budget of €5.8 million is being made available. We are also running a campaign...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 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 allocation of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am, however, assured that the distribution of resources is kept under continual...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...play in our society. It is imperative that frontline workers are able to go about their work safely, and that the law reflects the importance of this. For the most part, the relationship between Gardaí and the public is one built on very significant trust. We only have to look to the fact that An Garda Síochána is a largely unarmed, and yet hugely effective, community...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Community safety is not just about the number of Gardaí in communities. Community safety is a whole of Government responsibility and it requires a multi-agency approach. The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill will place statutory obligations on Departments and other public service bodies to cooperate with each other to improve community safety. It also establishes national...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...which will provide additional security to members of Ireland’s most vulnerable and minority communities, who have lived in fear for too long. Up to now, hate speech incidents have been investigated by An Garda Síochána under the 1989 Prohibition of Incitement to Hatred Act, while hate crimes have been investigated and prosecuted under general criminal law, but with the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 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. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to building stronger and safer communities and implementing policies designed to create a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I am advised by the Garda authorities that, in line with the Garda Diversity and Integration Strategy, the Garda National Diversity and Integration Unit (GNDIU) established a Garda National Diversity and Integration Forum to monitor and review the implementation of the strategy, and also to act as a critical friend. The Forum is made up of a number of representatives of communities and key...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 208, 214 and 217 together. As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the allocation of resources, such as Garda members. As Minister I have no role in these matters. I have been assured by the Garda authorities that the Commissioner keeps...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together. 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 all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. For the Deputy's information, and in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is the overriding priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business by law, and that I, as Minister, have no role in operational policing matters. We should not underestimate the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...the nature and likelihood of any danger to a person or to the community from granting bail. The 2017 Act provides for stricter bail terms for repeat serious offenders, including the use of curfews and strengthens Garda powers to deal with breaches of bail. If an individual fails to comply with any bail conditions, the Judge will issue a bench warrant and this gives An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes the recording of incidents/crime data on the Garda PULSE system. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am advised by the Garda authorities that membership of a 'criminal gang' is not recorded on PULSE and therefore the data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics. The CSO also continues to work with An Garda...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Missing Persons (24 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...we put in place a system whereby they can be identified. The families of missing persons require and deserve closure. The forum, comprising representatives of the Coroners Society of Ireland, the Garda and Forensic Science Ireland, which are agencies the Deputy referenced, will continue its valuable work in this regard. My Department has established a standing committee that is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Missing Persons (24 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...possible, to carry out further DNA profiling. Following the announcement last year to collate this data set, the Department of Justice worked closely with coroners, Forensic Science Ireland and An Garda Síochána's missing persons unit to compile and publish this information. The introduction of the new national DNA database in 2015 by Forensic Science Ireland was a key turning...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (24 May 2023)

Simon Harris: .... It is hoped that as more convictions follow, other victims of coercive control will feel confident to come forward. Policy officials from my Department have previously consulted with An Garda Síochána on the topic you raise, specifically on amendments in relation to the definition of 'relevant persons' in respect of coercive control under section 39 of the 2018 Act. ...