Results 61-80 of 1,061 for garda speaker:Simon Harris

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

Simon Harris: ...strong views and, indeed, his significant experience in this House and in the Border region, so I take seriously what he says. He will know that I have to say respectfully that the deployment of gardaí and management structures is, as it should be, a matter for the Garda Commissioner. What we can do, as a Government, is make sure that we increase the size of the Garda, increase the...

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy O’Dowd. I am pleased to hear of the increasing garda numbers. As we continue to see more men and women enter Templemore and more gardaí come out, I can assure him the direction of travel will be upwards in terms of Garda resources, with a focus on community gardaí. At the core of all that gardaí do and have done so well is policing by consent and...

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

Simon Harris: ...raising this matter today and previously, and for his support for what I think is a practical, common-sense measure that we can take in this House to show solidarity with the men and women of the Garda Síochána and to show solidarity with their families. Those families worry when they hear the door open at an early hour in the morning, and maybe remain concerned knowing their...

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

Simon Harris: ...safety threatened, cross well beyond the line of protest into absolutely disgusting and vile behaviour and clearly crossed the line into criminal behaviour. I have, of course, had a number of conversations and meetings with the Garda Commissioner and I am in regular contact with him. I thank the Garda members because they are working in extraordinarily charged environments in this...

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

Simon Harris: There is no contradiction. The country needs more gardaí and the Government is actively recruiting more gardaí with the Garda Commissioner. This is happening alongside a scenario where the Garda Commissioner says, to use his phrase, he has the operational integrity to police protests. There has been in Dublin city alone well over 125 protests, or so-called protests on occasion,...

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

Simon Harris: ...dealt with the issue of the burning of a tent which was somebody's home. This was an utterly vile and disgusting act that rightly appalled and sickened people in this country. There is an ongoing Garda investigation into this situation, as there rightly should be, and the full rigours of the law should apply. With regard to the issue we saw in Santry let me be very clear that we saw...

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

Simon Harris: ...months. Those people do not speak for Ireland. They have no democratic mandate. There is no part of this country that can be in any way lawless. There are very clear laws for this country. The Garda Commissioner and I have discussed this and we keep in regular contact. Under the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act it is an offence to make someone believe they are likely to be...

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Smith for the question. He and I and the Government are committed to working to make sure we build strong, safe communities and that we support the Garda and resource it properly. Everyone, no matter where in the country people live, deserves to be safe and feel safe. This is central to all that we do with regard to our community safety policy. As Deputy Smith is aware,...

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

Simon Harris: ...that there remains a real and persistent threat from terrorist activity, in particular from so-called "dissident" republican paramilitary groups based on clear and consistent advice to me from the Garda Commissioner, which warrants the continuance in force of the particular provisions of the Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998. Neither, of course, can we ignore the potential...

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

Simon Harris: The people of County Louth know all too well the risks members of An Garda Síochána face. I had the pleasure of meeting the father of Garda Adrian Donohoe at the weekend when we had the memorial day for the 89 members of An Garda Síochána who were murdered in the line of duty and taken from their families and communities. These were attacks on democracy. When the Deputy...

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Berry for this important question. The Government is committed to doing all that we can to build stronger safer communities. A key part of that has to be supporting An Garda Síochána, increasing the numbers, resourcing and equipping it properly. That is why we have given the highest allocation ever to An Garda Síochána in budget 2023 of €2.1...

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

Simon Harris: The aim is to recruit 1,000 new gardaí this year. The exact net increase depends on a number of variables, such as how many people retire or resign from the Garda this year. The high-level target I have set is that by the end of this year, it will be the first year since the Covid pandemic that Garda numbers are back growing. This should be the first year that recruitment begins to...

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

Simon Harris: I will certainly take that away and look at it because I see the logic in what the Deputy is saying. The Garda Reserve has a very important role to play alongside growing Garda numbers, which we are now back growing with an annual recruitment campaign. Recruiting Garda staff is important. I have met many staff in Garda stations across this country in recent months. They are doing sterling...

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

Simon Harris: ...the number, nor should we tolerate their actions. There is a line between protest and the other side of that line, and they are often on the wrong side of that line. There are a number of active Garda investigations under way, which I will not comment on for obvious reasons, but I will take the opportunity to set out the laws that exist in this area. There are clear laws and clear...

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: ...to send out a very clear message and solidarity from this, the people's House, with those on the front line that it simply will not be tolerated if anybody tries to attack or assault a member of An Garda Síochána or ram their vehicle or attack any other emergency worker. I know we are united in that overall view. Regarding the broader point on prison overcrowding, I assure...

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

Simon Harris: I thank Deputy Kenny for raising the question. I very much appreciate the fact that he referenced the challenging situation gardaí can find themselves in. I want to take this opportunity to thank members of An Garda Síochána. There have been well over 125 anti-immigration protests in the city alone. Gardaí have been working in very challenging environments and I want...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Travel Documents (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...has fallen by approximately 17%. If a person cannot produce a valid passport, or other equivalent document, then the Immigration Officer will arrange for the person to be referred to the Garda National Immigration Bureau for return on the next practicable flight. If a person indicates or is identified as being in need of international protection they are admitted to the international...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (25 May 2023)

Simon Harris: ...One such digitisation measure streamlines how e-vetting is initiated, on foot of which Citizenship Division has this week written to some 13,000 outstanding applicants inviting them to commence Garda vetting as part of their application. While my Department works to improve processing times, and so as enhance communication with applicants, I am pleased to say that regular quarterly...

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

Simon Harris: The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. Since 2015, the Government has increased the budget of An Garda Síochána by approximately €672m, or 46%. Funding has been provided for up to 1,000 new Gardaí this year and we are seeing more Garda recruits enter...