Results 161-180 of 1,538 for justice speaker:Simon Harris

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (9 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Daly. I will follow up specifically with the Minister for Justice regarding the community engagement superintendents for counties Longford and Mayo, to which he referred. More broadly, we are beginning to see progress on recruitment of gardaí. I do not have the figures in front of me but a class of about 157 went into Templemore in recent weeks. A new class goes in...

Tackling All Forms of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence: Statements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: ..., and I hope across party lines, to address the epidemic of sexual and gender-based violence in Ireland. That is what it is: an epidemic. Through the leadership of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and working with TDs and Senators across these House, we have together made some real and meaningful changes. We have made stalking a stand-alone criminal offence....

Ceisteanna - Questions: Taoiseach's Meetings and Engagements (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: ...that letter remains our position. At the European Council, I have raised the question of recognition. I have raised, and changed, the European conclusions in regard to the International Court of Justice. Europe needed to be much stronger in that regard. I have raised the issue of UNRWA and the importance of financially supporting the Palestinian Authority. I might come back to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: ...home should be a safe haven for people. I will certainly pass on the Deputy's specific comments about Roscommon and Galway and the importance of a Garda presence in rural areas to the Minister for Justice. Obviously, the Garda Commissioner allocates resources but I am sure the Minister can raise that matter with him.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: ...for raising the issue, which is concerning to me. I have a number of concerns related to University Hospital Limerick and so too does the Government. That is why we have asked the former Chief Justice Frank Clarke to look at a number of issues. Let me specifically talk with the Minister for Health - I an conscious the Minister of State, Deputy Butler, is sitting behind me as well - and...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: ...us this month on that. Regarding roads policing, I have met the Garda Commissioner and the assistant Garda commissioner with responsibility for roads policing and of course I have met the Minister for Justice. I have personally chaired two meetings of the ministerial road safety committee. This year we will see an increase in roads-policing gardaí. There has also been a direction...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (3 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: We take it extraordinarily seriously. The Deputy's constant misrepresentation of the position of the Minister for Justice, time and time again, and indeed some of his commentary on some of the changes she has tried to make and the introduction of wokery into public debate, has certainly not helped, quite frankly. If we are deadly serious about creating a zero-tolerance approach to domestic,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: ...to Deputy Mac Lochlainn. In response to Deputy Verona Murphy, like her I welcome that the women's refuge spaces and centre in Wexford are now nearing delivery. I will ask the Minister for Justice to specifically come back to the Deputy on the operational cost issue she has highlighted.

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: ...I do not have that level of knowledge. I acknowledge that the Deputy has raised the issue of what he calls parental alienation on a very regular basis. What I know is that the Minister for Justice has just completed and published a very substantial piece of work in respect of how our family courts operate and how the voices and rights of children are at the centre of all that happens....

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: -----next week as well. Deputy Verona Murphy raised a very good piece of work done by the Department of Justice that highlights a real and serious need for reform in a number of areas related to our family courts. The Minister for Justice is very committed to this. In the first instance I might suggest she could respond to the Deputy in terms of the next steps we intend to take and I am...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (2 Jul 2024)

Simon Harris: ...my engagement at the European Council, as recently as last week. Ireland did make amendments to the conclusions of the European Council last week, specifically around the International Court of Justice, ICJ, and the very clear orders of the court, particularly in May in relation to Rafah, It significantly strengthened the language of the European Union's conclusions in relation to that...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: ...if that loop has been closed. How many people still in the Defence Forces today are concerned by that issue? We need that answer. The Tánaiste and I are progressing that. The Minister for Justice is seeking an urgent update from the Judicial Council on sentencing guidelines. My understanding, from memory, is that the first area on which the Judicial Council is working on...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: I very much remember from my time in the Departments of Health and Justice the excellent work that is done to seize these issues. We are continuing to beef up the resources to An Garda Síochána. As we grow garda recruitment, that will enable the Garda Commissioner to allocate more resources to those areas. I take very seriously the point the Deputy makes in terms of health,...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: ...has now been established and provides a structure for issues such as sentencing guidelines. Some analysis and research will be carried out. The Deputy is quite right that the administration of justice in Ireland will greatly benefit from it.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: ...violence. We do have the Judicial Council, which is absolutely charged with producing sentencing guidelines and with facilitating judicial training. These are two issues that the Minister for Justice is extraordinarily eager to see progress being made on, as am I. My understanding is that the first set of sentencing guidelines is likely to be in the area of domestic violence. We...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: ...in this place, in the Judiciary, in the Defence Forces, in our public services, in our homes and in our schools to work to bring it about. I am extremely proud of the work of the Minister for Justice, a Minister who has applied herself to this more than any Minister that has gone before her. I have watched as she has done that. She is not suggesting, I am not suggesting and nobody here...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: ...work by the Tánaiste in actions to bring about a cultural change in the Defence Forces, including the establishment of the tribunal that the Deputy quite rightly referenced. On the criminal justice aspect, section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 1993 provides an important safeguard under which the DPP may appeal to the Court of Appeal to have a sentence reviewed if it appears the...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (25 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: ...There are often moments in this House when Deputy McDonald and I do not agree. On this, I agree with her 100%. This is an issue on which I will work with her, with everyone across this House and across Irish society and with the Minister for Justice to get to where we need to get - we clearly are not there in Ireland - in terms of a zero-tolerance approach to domestic, sexual and...

International Protection, Asylum and Migration: Motion (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: ...Dáil Éireann approves the exercise by the State of the option or discretion under Protocol No. 21 on the position of the United Kingdom and Ireland in respect of the area of freedom, security and justice annexed to the Treaty on European Union and to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, to accept the following measures: (a) Directive (EU) 2024/1346 of the...

Ceisteanna - Questions: Child Poverty (18 Jun 2024)

Simon Harris: ...in the context of those wrap-around, enhanced supports we need in communities. I hope, as the community safety partnerships develop and roll out, that they do not just become discussions about criminal justice issues. They are not mean to be in terms of their membership. We are trying to have a conversation about what can be done to create a better and safer - in every sense of the word...