Results 1-20 of 1,057 for garda speaker:Simon Harris

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: ...of the processes is important, such as fitness and vetting, and no one is disputing any of that. However, is there a more efficient way of moving through this, particularly at a time when we need more gardaí? There are quite a lot of people expressing an interest in becoming a garda and I know my colleague, the Minister for Justice, is working on this.

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Revised) (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: ...accommodation for the people there. However, there is a broader issue in terms of safety, including public safety, that seriously needs to be addressed. There is a role in this for the Garda, Dublin City Council and, of course, for the Government as well. I do not want to broaden the Deputy's question too much but we need a debate in Ireland around migration policy that is broader...

Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach: Estimates for Public Services 2024
Vote 1 - President's Establishment (Revised)
Vote 2 - Department of the Taoiseach (Revised)
Vote 3 - Office of the Attorney General (Revised)
Vote 5 - Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Revised)
Vote 6 - Chief State Solicitor's Office (Revised) (24 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: ...focus and resource directed towards checks at the airports has yielded positive results in terms of a reduction in the number of people arriving without documents, increased fines and a greater Garda presence, which has been good. Now, the number of people coming through the airports as a percentage is significantly diminished, which means we now have to have a focus on other areas....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (17 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: I am not familiar with the circumstances in which people found themselves sleeping in a Garda station. I thank the Deputy for bringing this to my attention. I will ask Kildare County Council, the local Garda station involved and the Minister for Housing for a report and write to the Deputy directly.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (17 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: ...I will answer his question in two parts. First, in regard to the horrific death of Josip, I extend my sympathy and that of everyone in this House to his family and friends. I spoke briefly to the Garda Commissioner in regard to this matter. I am conscious that there is an ongoing, active Garda investigation. I do not wish to say anything to cut across that. I understand the Garda has...

Ceapachán an Taoisigh agus Ainmniú Chomhaltaí an Rialtais - Appointment of Taoiseach and Nomination of Members of Government (9 Apr 2024)

Simon Harris: ...intend to prioritise law and order and to work to make our streets safe and to end the scourge of antisocial behaviour in our communities. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and I have had many great conversations on this in recent days and weeks. Under her leadership, garda recruitment is strongly recovering after the pandemic, with 746 trainees entering Templemore. She has worked to...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: The Government and the Minister for children take this issue of any non-compliance with Garda vetting requirements by commissioned services extraordinarily seriously. I referred earlier to this issue raised by the Deputy. Tusla now has an internal compliance unit in place to do exactly as the Deputy suggested concerning examining and stress-testing evidence from providers of special...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: It was the internal compliance unit of Tusla itself that detected this issue. The organisation immediately ceased using the service and reported the matter to An Garda Síochána-----

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (28 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: ...'s, that Tusla has put in place a new internal compliance unit. The purpose of this unit is to enable it to examine evidence from providers of special emergency accommodation that their staff have Garda vetting and adequate qualifications. It is so important that we have that compliance structure within Tusla and that it is very much on top of this matter. That compliance unit itself...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (28 Feb 2024)

Simon Harris: At the outset, I will call out and condemn what happened to the Deputy’s constituency office. I am thinking of her and her staff and would encourage anyone with information to come forward to the Garda in Offaly. It was an utterly despicable act that should be called out and condemned by all. I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. She has made a number of...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Apprenticeship Programmes (18 Jan 2024)

Simon Harris: ...employed across the public sector, Civil Service and semi-state organisations combined. Among the public sector employers currently employing apprentices, participating employers include An Garda Síochana, the HSE,the Irish Defence Forces, the Irish Naval Services and within the education sector. Among the semi-state organisations currently employing apprentices, participating...

Confidence in the Minister for Justice: Motion (5 Dec 2023)

Simon Harris: I have full confidence in my friend and colleague, the Minister, Deputy McEntee. I am proud of her and proud of her work. The Irish people wanted political leaders to stand united behind the gardaí, behind our Minister for Justice and against the thugs who set this city alight. The Minister wanted to park politics. She picked up the phone and offered that to the leader of the...

Policing, Protests and Public Order: Statements (28 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: ...Square last week, most particularly the young children impacted and their care worker. I commend the local heroes who stepped in. I thank everybody on the front line - the emergency services, the gardaí, the front-line workers and the fire brigade - for their swift response. This House needs to send a clear message that we stand united in the face of criminality because the eyes of...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: -----and the largest Garda budget ever. These are the practical actions we are taking to build stronger, safer communities in Ireland.

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: I have already outlined very clearly to the House that the Government is already taking action to do exactly what the Deputy is suggesting, namely, increasing Garda numbers. That can be seen in the steps the Minister for Justice has taken. What I said about Covid is a statement of fact. The Garda College closed at least twice, which caused disruption. The Garda college is now back open....

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: As the Minister has said, it will take time to catch up as a result of Covid, but catching up we are. This year will see between 700 and 800 new recruits go into the Garda College. The Deputy asked what we will do to protect the welfare, well-being and terms and conditions of gardaí. This week, the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform will...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (14 Nov 2023)

Simon Harris: ...our zero-tolerance strategy will in time be seen as very significant, along with significant legislative reform to ensure we genuinely take a zero-tolerance approach to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence. Garda recruitment is an absolute priority for the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Government. The Government is very much committed to building stronger safer communities and...

Seanad: Garda Reserve: Statements (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...matter. I thank Senator McDowell who sought this discussion. We have spoken about the issue and I am very grateful to have the opportunity to explore it. I express my gratitude to the members of the Garda Reserve for their commitment and dedication to community safety. The time volunteered by all reservists has been of huge benefit to their communities since the Garda Reserve was...

Seanad: Non-Fatal Offences against the Person (Amendment) (Spiking) Bill 2023: Second Stage (31 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...debate does not think that spiking, in any way, shape or form, is legal. It is not. It is illegal. It is a criminal offence, and with that come sanctions. There are ongoing discussions with the Garda, particularly on how we build a deeper understanding of the prevalence of spiking and how we get and garner better data in this regard. I have also sought formal submissions from both An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (30 May 2023)

Simon Harris: I understand that Parliamentary Question No. 467 of 9 May 2023 refers to the ages of each horsebox vehicles currently within the Garda Mounted Unit. 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 purchase, allocation, and effective...