Results 10,041-10,060 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The overall increase from 98,000 to 294,000 was to support the huge amount of work it already does. There are 30 full-time law centres, part-time centres, four specialist legal offices and 20 family mediation centres. Of the law centres, eight of these with a family mediation offices are collocated. It is not just the online services but a huge amount is happening in-person on the ground....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: What I always try to do and what any Department will try to do is respond to the asks, wishes and needs of the organisation it supports. The Department of Justice has tried, in many different ways, including financially, to support the expansion of FLAC. Any request coming into the budgetary process this year will be examined and hopefully responded to in a positive way. On the family...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: We have to look at where we are identifying locations and need and we can respond once we have that done.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: Under the national development plan, the Government will invest over €282 million in capital projects in 2022, including provision for PPP funding. The Government has prioritised a package of funding which will facilitate sustained investment to support an efficient and effective justice system providing important Government services and activities across the sector, including in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Private Partnerships (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: People might ask why we took this approach with the PPPs, which the Deputy has referred to. When the three elements of the PPP are combined they are more likely to be of a scale sufficient to attract the private sector parties and competition, where such interests and competition might not be generated if projects are progressed individually. The specific projects are often capable of being...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The issue of resources is a major factor. It was explored in the pre-legislative scrutiny and was highlighted in the wider report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I am pleased to say GSOC has had unprecedented levels of resources in recent years, with a total allocation of €13.4 million for 2022, marking an increase of more than €2 million in comparison...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: On the issue of staffing, like any other organisation, GSOC is planning ahead and identifying the type of staff it needs. It will have to go through the same official process and channels as any other organisation to appoint members. One of the Deputy's first questions concerned the overall improvements to GSOC. One of the issues that has been raised repeatedly is the timeliness of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: We have to introduce the legislation first. I hope to bring forward the general scheme after the summer recess.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I fully support the work of Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, and have met with members of the team. I compliment them on the work they do and, in particular, on the work they continued to do through Covid-19. It has been a difficult period for a number of organisations, particularly those that deal with the public. FLAC plays a key role in the provision of legal information, advice and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this question. As he will be aware, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which has completed its pre-legislative scrutiny, will provide for a reformed and strengthened Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission in line with the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which is obviously a significant body of work...

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank colleagues for contributing to the debate. There is nobody to blame here. I am not trying to lay the blame on anyone, certainly not on the Joint Committee on Justice. We are introducing emergency legislation. I appreciate that there is concern and annoyance at the timeframe in which this has been brought forward, but emergency legislation often has to be brought forward quickly....

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The general scheme would be published before the end of this year

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As soon as possible, yes.

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have done so multiple times.

Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022: Second Stage (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." I am pleased to introduce the Communications (Retention of Data) (Amendment) Bill 2022 to the House. This Bill relates to serious matters of policy with regard to the scope of data retention and access measures that are permitted for the purposes of an effective response by State agencies to issues of national security, crime and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 9 together. I have noted the publication last week of the Free Legal Aid Centre's annual report for 2021. FLAC plays a key role in the provision of legal information, advice and advocacy work and regularly engages with my Department on access to justice matters. My Department also provides substantial annual funding to FLAC to ensure that it...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have noted the report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the General Data Protection Regulation. As the Deputy will be aware, many of its 17 recommendations are directed to the Data Protection Commission itself. Under the GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, the Commission is independent in the performance of its tasks and the exercise of its powers. It does not report to me...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The guidance provided by the Council of Europe sets a recommended standard for the provision of shelter places which Government is committed to reaching. Under the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, we will see the fastest ever expansion in the number of refuge spaces. We will double the number of spaces and will put in place the structures to go on to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The guidance provided by the Council of Europe sets a recommended standard for the provision of shelter places which Government is committed to reaching. Under the Third National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender Based Violence, we will see the fastest ever expansion in the number of refuge spaces. We will double the number of spaces and will put in place the structures to go on to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Antisocial Behaviour (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I want to say at the outset, that acts of violence and anti-social behaviour are completely unacceptable. There are a number of tools at the disposal of the Garda Commissioner, who is operationally responsible, to respond to such incidents. The Commissioner is also responsible, as the Deputy will be aware, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes...