Results 9,961-9,980 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to inform the Deputy that from Monday 11 July 2022 all prisoners are entitled to receive two physical family visits per month, physical visits are limited to five persons with a maximum of three adult visitors. Prisoners may also avail of up to four video visits or a combination of both per month. Each prison has a dedicated telephone line for the public to make contact and book a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy created an online Long Stay Join Family visa application on 24 June 2022. As it appears that the person referred to intends to travel to Ireland on a short visit and does not intend to stay long term, they may wish to contact their local Embassy or Honorary Consulate, and request that their visa application be withdrawn, and to submit a new Short Stay...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 743 and 757 together. I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it and my Department continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and during all levels of public health restrictions. The division currently receives almost 1200 applications per month. For a broad...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Fines Administration (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: In order to work in Ireland, a non-EEA national, unless they are exempted, must hold a valid employment permit, which is granted by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). Once they have been granted an employment permit from DETE, visa required nationals must apply for a “D” long stay employment visa. The granting of an employment permit by DETE is not...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions. I am assured, however,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the enforcement of road traffic legislation. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. The below table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, is a yearly breakdown of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: For the Deputy's information, Police Certificates are issued on a non-statutory basis. The issuance of Police Certificates is an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner. Under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted the Garda authorities to request the information sought by the Deputy. Regrettably this was not available within the time available. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy has applied to the scheme for the Regularisation of Long Term Undocumented Migrants. Their application was received by the Undocumented Unit of my Department on 1 March 2022 and continues to be processed. Due to the large number of applications on hand it is not possible to provide a definitive timeframe for a decision to issue. In order to be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Applicants for naturalisation are required to have five years reckonable residence in the state prior to making an application, except for spouses of Irish nationals where the requirement is three years. In both cases, the final 12 months must be continuous residence in the State with up to six weeks allowed to facilitate foreign travel for business, family or holiday purposes. The granting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Paramilitary Groups (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. The Bureau has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and my Department. The Bureau’s remit is to target assets, wherever...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 753 and 758 together. In all cases, whether a non-EEA national can remain in or seek employment, will depend on the immigration permission that they were originally granted and currently hold when they make any new immigration or citizenship application. A person who makes a Spouse of an Irish National (SOIN) application or an application for naturalisation...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Records (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Kenova is a series of ongoing independent UK police investigations or reviews into Northern Ireland legacy cases. The legal distinction between investigations and reviews is important in this context. An Garda Síochána is committed to cooperating to the greatest extent possible with Kenova and already has in place a High Level Agreement which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department's overall objective is to have decisions made on applications from people seeking international protection as quickly as possible. This ensures that those who are found to be in need of protection in Ireland can receive it quickly and begin rebuilding their lives here with a sense of safety and security. I want to assure the Deputy that my Department continues to innovate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. The Bureau has staff drawn from An Garda Síochána, the Office of the Revenue Commissioners (including Customs), the Department of Social Protection and my Department. The Bureau’s remit is to target the assets, wherever...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Agreements (12 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 759 and 760 together. The Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) was introduced by Government Decision in April 2012, to encourage inward investment and to create business and employment opportunities in the State. The Programme was introduced at a time when Ireland was going through a very significant economic downturn and Departments were tasked with initiating...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to introduce the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022 to the House. The purpose of the Bill is to make certain priority amendments to the current Communications (Retention of Data) Act 2011, referred to in this Bill as the principal Act. To comply with rulings of the Court of Justice of the European Union, the principal Act provides for the general and...

Seanad: Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (11 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank all Senators for their contributions. I will start with the last point and reassure Senators that this is not about mass surveillance or retaining data for indiscriminate purposes. From our point of view, what this Bill does is reduce the amount of data that can be retained in comparison with what is currently the case. It increases the number of safeguards of judicial oversight...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (7 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, vetting applications are an operational matter for An Garda Síochána. Neither I, as Minister, nor my Department have any role in the processing of individual vetting applications. The Deputy will be aware that the primary purpose of the employment vetting carried out by the National Vetting Bureau is to seek to ensure the safety of children and...