Results 101-120 of 1,451 for justice speaker:Simon Harris

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Penal Policy Review Group (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...published in August 2022. Core to the Review of Policy Options for Prison and Penal Reform 2022-2024 is the principle that while punishment for those who commit crime is a central element of our justice system, the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders is at the core of our penal system. The guiding principle is that a trial judge should first consider community and non-custodial...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Data (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ..., the Inspector of Prisons makes recommendations where appropriate. These recommendations are considered and responded to by the Irish Prison Service and the final report is submitted to the Minister for Justice. Finalised reports and any associated Prison Service Action Plan to address recommendations made are published in an anonymised form on the Gov.iewebsite and made available to the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...in terms of sentences that are handed down by the Judiciary. I am really glad Deputy O' Sullivan mentioned body cameras. I have mentioned them since the first day I became Minister for Justice and will mention them until the last day. I will keep on mentioning them because they are a really practical way to help members of An Garda Síochána. The idea that gardaí...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ..., as he asked. I have engaged with the AGSI, the Association of Garda Superintendents and the Garda Representative Association, GRA, and I am in regular contact with the Garda Commissioner. The Department of Justice has its policing legislation coming through this House at the moment and there are opportunities to tease through all of these issues. I genuinely believe, from all of those...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Legislative Measures (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...face the full rigour of the law. An assault on a member of An Garda Síochána, a prison officer, a member of the fire brigade, ambulance personnel or a member of the Defence Forces is an offence under section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. A person convicted of such an offence is currently liable to a fine or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...country. I do not have a role in these matters. The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recognises that community safety is not solely the responsibility of the Garda or the Department of Justice alone. Rather, it is a whole-of-government responsibility. Deputy Smith may be aware that a number of actions are in progress under A Policing Service for the Future, which is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Courts Service (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: .... I can confirm that the independent group appointed to review the Offences Against the State Acts, including the Special Criminal Court, has completed its work and I met the chairperson, Mr. Justice Michael Peart, on Thursday, 18 May. I thank Mr. Justice Peart and all the members of the review group for their diligence and commitment over more than two years in conducting this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Courts Service (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...will take time to digest and to decide the course of action. What is clear and does not require any time is the need to renew the resolutions this June. The clear security advice as Minister for Justice is that there continues to be an important role for the Special Criminal Court to play for all the reasons I outlined such as the continuing threat from dissidents, international...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Courts Service (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...the public safe. I agree with the Deputy that in the exceptional circumstances that it is required with all the safeguards that need to be in place, the court is a very important part of the jigsaw that is our criminal justice system in terms of keeping this country safe from international terrorism and ongoing threats from dissident paramilitary groups.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I absolutely believe in democratic oversight and oversight structures with regard to An Garda Síochána and our justice system - of course, I do. However, I am also conscious that when we talk about this subject in the House, we are talking about pieces of information we see. An Garda Síochána has a helicopter view of information and of intelligence and in terms of its...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Prison Service (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ..., I assure Deputy Daly that we are committed to building stronger and safer communities. To do that we need to progress policies aimed at reducing offending, diverting people away from the criminal justice system and, where appropriate, providing effective rehabilitation. My colleague, Minister of State, Deputy James Browne, is leading a lot of good work in the Department on that. We...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Prison Service (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...properly resource but also structure schools and training centres. The Government recently published the health needs assessments for the prison population joint project between the Departments of Justice and Health and the Irish Prison Service. It outlines how we can begin to tackle some of those issues in terms of the health needs of prisoners. I fundamentally believe that we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...when that line between protesting and threatening or intimidating behaviour is crossed, there are a number of provisions in our laws that apply. We are also strengthening our legislation in this area with our Criminal Justice (Public Order) (Amendment) Bill, which we hope to enact later this year. The Bill will repeal the prohibition of incitement to hatred and replace it with new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Insurance Industry (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: Insurance reform is a key priority for this Government and is reflected in the Programme for Government, the Government’s Action Plan for Insurance Reform, and in my Justice Plan 2023. The Government's Action Plan for Insurance Reform sets out 66 actions designed to bring down costs for consumers and business, introduce more competition into the market, prevent fraud and reduce the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Mental Health Services (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Deputy will be aware, the Final Report and Recommendations of the High Level Task Force to consider the mental health and addiction challenges of those who come into contact with the criminal justice sector was published by Minister McEntee and the Minister for Health in September 2022. The recommendations aim to ensure better support for people at the earliest point at which they...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: When a victim engages with the justice system, they should know what to expect, be confident they will be treated respectfully and sensitively, know what their legally enforceable rights are and what supports are available at every step in the process. My Department is leading a number of important initiatives to ensure we better support all victims of crime. Central to this is 'Supporting a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...they receive from my Department as this arrangement enables newly qualified barristers gain greater experience of the Criminal Court. Criminal Legal Aid fees paid to solicitors are set out in S.I. No. 362/2011 - Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 and S.I. No. 33/1978 - Criminal Justice (Legal Aid) (Amendment) Regulations, 1978. Separately my Department is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Victim Support Services (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: My Department is leading a number of important initiatives to ensure we better support all victims of crime. When a victim engages with the justice system, they should know what to expect, be confident they will be treated respectfully and sensitively, know what their legally enforceable rights are and what supports are available at every step in the process. Central to this is 'Supporting a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...clear that I support the establishment of such a register, subject to this process. The recommendations of the recently published National Women's Council report on the Intersection of the Criminal Justice, Private Family Law and Public Law Child Care Processes in relation to Domestic and Sexual Violence will also be taken into consideration as part of this process.

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

Simon Harris: ...rigours of the law. An assault on a member of An Garda Síochána, a prison officer, a member of the fire brigade, ambulance personnel, or a member of the Defence Forces is an offence under section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994. A person convicted of such an offence is currently liable to a fine, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years, or both....