Results 9,541-9,560 of 16,457 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that I received a similar copy of the correspondence referred to directly from the organisation concerned, the contents of which which is focused on domestic, sexual and gender-based violence.  I can assure you and the organisation involved that tackling these heinous crimes is a priority for me, my Department and this Government. The prioritisation of this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters such as arrests for the sale and supply of drugs. As Minister, I have no role in the matter.  I am advised by the Garda authorities that the following table outlines the count of Charges/Summons by Proceedings...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 560 and 561 together. The continued disruption of the supply of all illicit drugs remains a priority for An Garda Síochána and the other State agencies tasked with responsibilities in this regard. A concerted effort has been made over the past two years to ensure that the detection and prevention of these types of criminal activity have not been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Serious Crime Review Team was established in 2007 under the direction of Detective Chief Superintendent, Garda National Bureau of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The overall objective of my Department is to have recommendations made on international protection applications as soon as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection from the State can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. I can assure the Deputy that my Department continues to work to improve the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 565 and 566 together. The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion. As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities to provide the information sought by the Deputy; unfortunately this was not to hand in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is received. 

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities.  Unfortunately this was not to hand in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is received. 

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office publishes reported crime figures under reservation on a quarterly basis, currently available up to Q4 2021. A brief synopsis of trends indicates the reduction in incident levels that were seen during 2020 and 2021, whilst COVID-19 restrictions were in place, have seen a consequential increase as society returns to normal...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment No. 2: In page 11, between lines 11 and 12, to insert the following: “ “TFEU” means the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;”. The amendments are mainly technical. I will go through them as quickly as I can. Amendment No. 2 inserts a new definition in the section. This is the interpretation section, which sets out the...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Amendments Nos. 4 and 9 propose to completely remove the English language title of the commission and the office from the Bill. Given the fact that the Bill is entirely in English, it would be out of step with the Bill as presented in the English language. As to section 8, the amendment refers to the name of the commission in the Irish language only. The section Deputy is referring to in...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The challenge with regard to amendment No. 5, where we are talking about the nine members of the council, four of whom are lay members and four Judiciary, with the Attorney General as a non-voting member, is that there are three ex officiomembers - the Attorney General, the Chief Justice, and the President of the Court of Appeal, and these alternate depending on which judge is appointed to...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: My concerns are the same as in the previous areas. I do not think the Minister, Deputy Catherine Martin's, Bill would apply to this, separate to the fact it is not commenced. I would have the same concerns if that had been the case. While there is the requirement for balance between gender, diversity and the Irish language, we have tried to set it out such that somebody is appointed based...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: My concern is it is an essential skill, rather than a desirable one. You would not preclude anyone from applying but, by making sure they had to have Irish, you are potentially excluding many people by making it mandatory.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: The two-year review will look at the judges appointed and the requirement around diversity, gender and Irish language. The specifics around the establishment of the commission dealing directly with the Minister, Deputy Martin's, Bill is for a date after that is commenced. It will look at things after that is commenced.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: Is the intention of the reference in amendment No. 12 to the commission conforming to these objectives with regard to all three names? The intention is that the applicants are based on merit but they would have to include somebody with a proficiency in the Irish language and somebody with a diverse background and alternate between male and female each time. This is very specific,...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: I move amendment 15 In page 28, to delete lines 21 to 25 and substitute the following: "(f) in the case of a nomination for appointment to be a judge of the Court of Justice, an Advocate General of the Court of Justice or a judge of the General Court, he or she is qualified for appointment in accordance with the requirements of the TFEU,".

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (24 May 2022)

Helen McEntee: My understanding of the amendments is that there is no reference to removing the Attorney General in either of them. The Attorney General advises the Government but is not a member of the Government. The 1995 Act puts in place a specific recommendation that Attorneys General applying to the JAAB must recuse themselves from any involvement in the overall process. This would absolutely apply...