Results 9,601-9,620 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have to stress what we are talking about here. I appreciate that these amendments propose moving from nine to 11 people, but it would in fact become nine to 13, because I could not or would not accept that there would be a minority of lay persons.We have tried to strike a balance to ensure an equal number of laypeople and legal professionals on the commission. The Senator mentioned the...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: We are not talking about the degree of connection to the profession here. Regarding the two nominees from the Judicial Council, it is about an understanding of the role, how it operates, how people feel and an appreciation and understanding of what is required. This is why we have the interview process as well. It is not about the connection to the profession and removing that connection...

Seanad: Judicial Appointments Commission Bill 2022: Committee Stage (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for their amendments. Amendment No. 4 very much relates to whether or not amendment No. 6 is passed and is to balance out the number. I appreciate that. I reiterate what many colleagues have outlined. The Attorney General is a constitutional officeholder. He or she is not there to represent the Government. He or she is not on the commission to represent the Government....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 633, 658 and 659 together. My Department's Registration Office in Burgh Quay is responsible for registering and renewing immigration permissions for customers residing in the Dublin area only. Registrations and renewals for persons resident outside of the Dublin area are processed by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) through the Garda Station...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. The Government is committed to ensuring that An...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, as Minister I have no role in internal Garda HR matters which are matters for the Commissioner's remit. To be of assistance I have contact the Garda authorities and been advised of the following in relation to the scheme referred to. The "Doctors of Choice Scheme", also referred to as the Doctors’ Payments Scheme, came into effect on 1 January 2012. Under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy is the subject of a Deportation Order made on 16 October 2019. Representations were received on behalf of the person concerned requesting that the Deportation Order be revoked, pursuant to the provisions of section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended). All relevant aspects of the case will be considered before a decision is made either...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I would like to inform the Deputy that following receipt of correspondence to my Department on 13 September 2019 in relation to alleged procurement irregularities involving the Irish Prison Service and a named company, my Department’s Internal Audit Unit examined the complaint. An independent review of the complaint has since been conducted by EY, which I understand is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Contracts (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am informed that the Irish Prison Service has a number of contracts currently in place with the company referred to by the Deputy. In July 2020 a contract was awarded following an Office of Government Procurement (OGP)-led tender competition for Hard Facilities Management Services.  This tender process involved extensive engagement with a number of parties including the Chief...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The persons referred to by the Deputy created on-line Short Stay 'C' visa applications on 11 July 2022. The supporting documentation was subsequently received in the Paris office on 23 August 2022 and forwarded to our Dublin Visa Office for further processing . Processing of the applications is ongoing at present.  As each application is examined on its own merits, we are unable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the deputy that my Department can only provide the overall annual total for all deportation orders made in a particular year. The figures are not further broken down into the various sub-categories provided for in the relevant legislation, as outlined out in the Deputy’s Parliamentary Question No. 538 of 4 October 2022 As the response to your previous question on this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Cybersecurity Policy (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 641 and 643 together. For reasons of operational and national security it would not be appropriate to disclose details of my Department’s information technology infrastructure, cyber security arrangements including costs, or those of State offices, agencies and bodies under my remit.  Any information in relation to information technology...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that following full consideration by a Visa Officer, the visa application referred to was refused. A letter issued to the applicant on the 6 September 2022 outlines the reasons for this refusal. An appeals process, which is free of charge, is available which allows applicants, in the event of a refusal of the application at first instance, to address the factors...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Undefined (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I understand that the person referred to is currently outside of the State. Having an application to the scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants does not provide an individual the means to gain entry to the State or to bypass existing immigration laws.  This person’s application continues to be processed. The processing times of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which I am informed that €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet. While the Garda Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: Human trafficking is a particularly heinous crime, based on deception and exploitation of vulnerable people. The report referred to by the Deputy contains useful, constructive and positive commentaries about the situation in relation to human trafficking in Ireland, acknowledging good progress made by Ireland in a number of areas, while also making a number of recommendations. This Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Electronic Tagging (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Criminal Justice Act 2006 contains provisions for the introduction of Electronic Monitoring in this jurisdiction.  Section 101 concerns Restriction of Movement Orders and subsection 10 provides the stipulation that a person may be subjected to electronic monitoring as part of the conditions of the order.  Under section 108, Temporary Release of Prisoners, the Minister for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Staff (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that there are two people assigned to work with me as special advisers who have been formally appointed by the Government, as outlined below.  As the Deputy will be aware, the Minister of State does not have a special adviser. Special Advisers Salary Fiach Kelly €106,518.00 Patrick Cluskey ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including human resourcing matters, the Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to continue to provide a world class policing service. The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (18 Oct 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 651 together. As the Deputy will be aware, investigating and responding to any criminal activity, or concerns about criminal activity, is by law an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. As Minister, I cannot intervene in or comment on any operational matter, or on the allocation of Garda resources. I am advised by the Garda authorities that,...