Results 10,161-10,180 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. The allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demands. This includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, prosecutions are a matter for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The DPP is wholly independent in her functions under the Prosecution of Offences Act 1974 (as amended) and, as Minister, I have no role in the operations, governance or oversight of the Office of the Director, which is funded through the Vote of the Department of the Taoiseach.  As a...

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

Helen McEntee: I would like to assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to ensuring that the range of services and supports we provide meet the needs of those who engage with my Department and its agencies. As the Deputy may be aware, my Department launched its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) strategy in March 2022. The Strategy aims to strengthen the Department’s capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 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: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: At the outset, I would like to acknowledge the pain and trauma experienced by all families of missing persons. I am deeply conscious of how difficult life is for loved ones who simply don't know what has happened to their relative. My Department is committed to working with all relevant state bodies to help more families find their missing relatives. As the Deputy will appreciate, in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 558 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: Crime Prevention (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 552 together. As the Deputy will appreciate, the restricting of a person’s liberty is a serious issue, given the Constitutional presumption that a person is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. While the State’s bail laws do provide for the refusal of bail in certain circumstances, the presiding judge is entirely independent in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Abuse (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Government takes the issue of sexual exploitation of children very seriously and there is comprehensive legislation in place to deal with these offences. The Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act was enacted in early 2017. It is a wide-ranging piece of legislation which significantly enhances laws to combat the sexual exploitation and sexual abuse of children.  Specific offences...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 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: Crime Prevention (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have all the necessary resources to tackle all forms of criminality that affects our communities and has allocated An Garda Síochána with an unprecedented budget of over €2 billion for 2022. As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, 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. I am advised by the Garda authorities that at 31 May 2022, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that to ensure that Garda members can safely and effectively carry...

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

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, there are two categories of legal aid; civil legal aid and criminal legal aid. The provision of civil legal aid in the State is delivered by the independent Legal Aid Board pursuant to the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995, as amended, and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996 to 2017. The Board also provides family mediation services and operates 30 full-time law centres...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: A non-EEA national does not necessarily need to become a naturalised Irish citizen before they can access employment in the State. Any person, during the five years reckonable residence required for naturalisation, may have been able to seek employment having been granted an immigration permission from my Department that permits employment, or upon being granted an employment permit from the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that tackling organised crime activity is a key ongoing priority for both the Government and An Garda Síochána. An Garda Síochána tackles organised criminal activity through a range of targeted measures designed to disrupt and dismantle the operations of criminal organisations. To the greatest extent possible, these measures include the use of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (5 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Irish Prison Service provides a wide range of educational and rehabilitation facilities to those in custody that aim to offer purposeful activity to prisoners while serving their sentences and encourage them to lead law abiding lives on release.  All prisoners are eligible and allowed to use the services, including those who are first-time offenders. There is no application...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (5 Jul 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 Garda HR matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. However, I am pleased to note that the Garda Employee Assistance Service provides a proactive...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I thank all colleagues for their contributions and for their support for this Bill. Without wading into a debate about timelines, while some might say what happened in Ukraine was predictable, a lot of us did not expect it to happen in the way it did. At a national level, a European level and internationally, we have responded in a quick manner. We have put measures in place as quickly as...

Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022: Second Stage (1 Jul 2022)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." In light of the omnibus nature of the Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, I will share time with my colleagues, the Minister forChildren, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O’Gorman, and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton, who will speak to the Parts in the Bill under their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (30 Jun 2022)

Helen McEntee: Anyone who wishes to travel from the State may do so regardless of whether their Irish Residence Permit (IRP) card is in date or has expired. Non visa-required nationals trying to re-enter the State may rely on their in-date IRP card. If their IRP card has expired they will need to provide proof of their permission to reside in the State, such as a letter from my Department, to an...