Results 9,461-9,480 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. It is a priority for my Department to ensure that the courts are resourced so that we can administer justice efficiently and effectively for everybody who comes into contact with the justice system. Judicial vacancies arise for a number of reasons, including retirements, promotion and, unfortunately, deaths in service. The aim is always to fill...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The fact of the matter is that we do not have enough judges, and we need more. That is clear. That is why I set up the review group. It is important that we understand how many we need and why we need them. For that reason, the people the Deputy mentioned, who know exactly what is going on in the courts, have been part of this process. It is not just the OECD report. In its final report...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Judicial Appointments (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Six additional High Court judges were appointed last year, an additional €2 million was provided to prepare the work for the group that will be publishing the report in the coming weeks, there is additional funding for the modernisation programme and a very clear commitment to establish a new family court to take that very difficult situation out of the current structure. That is my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The continued increase in incidents of fraud is concerning. As highlighted in the most recent CSO crime statistics, most of the fraudulent activity recorded relates to attempts to obtain people’s personal or banking information. Every person in Ireland deserves to feel safe and to be safe when they conduct their personal business online or over the phone, and so the practice of trying...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As committed to in my Justice Plan 2022, I recently announced a comprehensive review of the Civil Legal Aid Scheme, for the first time in its more than 40-year history. The scheme provides legal aid and advice to people of limited means in civil disputes including in family law. The Review Group is being chaired by a former Chief Justice, with expert membership drawn from those who work...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, my Department remains focused on processing applications for family reunification made under all admission avenues, including the Afghan Admissions Programme for family members of Afghan nationals living in Ireland. The Afghan Admissions Programme is an additional avenue open to the relatively small number of Afghan nationals...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I would like to say at the outset that this Government is aware of the damaging affect anti-social behaviour can have on a community and as such remains very committed to tackling it. Some of the incidents we have seen recently are totally unacceptable and I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources to ensure people and communities are safe and feel safe. I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is the overriding priority for An Garda Síochána and the Government. I wish to acknowledge the superb and painstaking work of the Gardaí in harnessing an international coalition of support to tackle the criminality associated with a particular Organised Crime Group. The enforcement of sanctions demonstrates the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance policy to address Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am committed to working with my Government colleagues and those working in the sector to achieve this. In line with the priority which this government is attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am committed to supporting and building upon the high quality of the Irish judiciary, which has served Ireland so well over the last 100 years. This will be achieved through a number of important measures to reform legal education, judicial appointments and training and to enhance accountability and public confidence. Though the judiciary is independent in carrying out training through...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Clear actions and timelines regarding the Drogheda Implementation Plan are included in the Justice Plan 2022, which reflects the Government’s commitment to put a special focus on Drogheda. As the Deputy may be aware, in 2021 my Department published a report I had commissioned from the former Director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: One of the overarching goals of the Zero Tolerance policy to address Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence is to ensure that everyone who needs a refuge space will get one, and I am committed to working with my Government colleagues and those working in the sector to achieve this. In line with the priority which this government is attaching to tackling domestic, sexual and gender based...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I condemn, in the strongest possible way, any attacks made on members of An Garda Síochána and other frontline services. We are all immensely grateful to members of our police service for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society. Attacks on members of An Garda Síochána not only injure the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Family Reunification (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: In response to the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan, my Department remains focused on processing applications for family reunification made under all admission avenues, including the Afghan Admissions Programme for family members of Afghan nationals living in Ireland. The Afghan Admissions Programme is an additional avenue open to Afghan nationals to bring close family members to live...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Operation Citizen was commenced with the aim of reassuring the public that Dublin City Centre is a safe place to visit, to socialise in and in which to conduct business. I am informed that this operation was launched by An Garda Síochána on 22 October 2021. Operation Citizen delivers a high visibility police presence to Dublin City Centre and aligns...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As provided for in the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021 - 2030, the new Cork County Garda Divisional Headquarters in Macroom, Co. Cork is to be built as part of a Public Private Partnership (PPP) along with the Family Law Court in Hammond Lane, Dublin 7 and the new Garda Station in Clonmel. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 54 together. While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible I can inform the Deputy that as of 31 August there are 389 Garda Reserves. I can also inform the Deputy that a total of 72 Garda Reserves attested in 2021 and 1 in 2022. For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that An Garda Síochána is committed to protecting the health, safety and welfare of all Garda members and Garda staff. Last year An Garda Síochána launched 'Keeping Our People Supported', the Health and Wellbeing Strategy Statement and Action Plan 2021-2023. This plan identified three key goals to improve the health and welfare of members of An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in the performance of its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided me with the following update. In terms of Disposed of cases (ICMS) for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (20 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is responsible under law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes, determining the roles and responsibilities of both members of An Garda Síochána and of the Garda Reserves. I would like to take this opportunity to convey my gratitude to the members of the Garda Reserve for their...