Results 10,541-10,560 of 16,457 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am sure the Deputy will join me in condemning any attacks made on the men and women serving in An Garda Síochána, the Health Services and other frontline workers. The Deputy will agree that we are all immensely grateful to these people for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society, notably throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms. As the deputy is aware, I am currently leading on the development of a new whole-of-government strategy to combat domestic, sexual, gender-based violence. The goal of the strategy is zero tolerance for violence against women and it will be structured around the four...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Government is committed to ensuring Ireland is a safe and secure place for all. An Garda Síochána has made important progress in suppressing the threat of organised crime and there has been significant successes achieved in this area through intelligence-led operations. I can assure the Deputy that there will be no let-up in the pressure being brought to bear on those...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The pandemic has had a significant impact on our service delivery. However, at all times and during all levels of restrictions, my Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications. There are currently 3,038 citizenship applications for minors being processed by my Department. The majority of these are more than 12 months in the system. Some cases are unfortunately...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Violent crime, including domestic, sexual and gender based violence, can never be tolerated. Such crimes are terrifying both for the victim themselves and the entire community. I can assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to ensuring that there is strong, visible community policing right across Ireland, in both rural and urban areas. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Tackling organised criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and an ongoing priority for An Garda Síochána. As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters and the deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. However,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: My thoughts are with the victims of the recent horrific attacks in their own homes. I know I speak for everyone in this House in utterly condemning these senseless and cowardly attacks and also in my belief that the perpetrators must be brought to justice. Incidents like these, although rare, are terrifying not only for the victim themselves but for the entire community. Home is the one...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 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 direct role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps this...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that they continue to review and modify the Covid-19 restrictions which have been in place in our prisons throughout the pandemic. Restrictive measures have continued to be modified in line with the various announcements made by Government and in line with advice from Public Health/HSE and the Irish Prison Service National Infection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114, 147, 149 and 162 together. As the Deputies may be aware, Minister O’Gorman and I brought the Tusla ‘Review of the Provision of Accommodation for Victims of Domestic Violence’ to Government earlier this week and it has now been published. The review highlights gaps in geographical coverage and inadequate provision of safe...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Reports (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 119 together. I wish to assure the Deputy that I recognise the ongoing pain and anguish of the O'Farrell family on the tragic death of Shane and I sincerely sympathise with them on their loss. As the Deputy will be aware, a highly respected retired Judge has been conducting a scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding Shane...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Prevention (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, in April 2021 I secured government agreement to publish the general scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill. The Bill will provide for a key principle from the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, namely that preventing crime and harm and making our communities safer does not rest with An Garda Síochána...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Family law reform is a priority for me as Minister and was a major element of my Justice Plan 2021. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to enact a Family Court Bill which will create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and provide for court procedures that support a faster and less adversarial resolution of disputes in specialised centres. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Drug Dealing (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that 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 adversely affected by the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As you will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including commemorative matters. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.  I understand, however, that the matter referred to by the Deputy is currently under consideration by the Garda authorities,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy I am committed to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence (DSGBV) in all its forms. As the Deputy is aware, I am currently leading on a new whole-of-government strategy to combat domestic, sexual, gender-based violence. The goal of the strategy is zero tolerance for any form of domestic, sexual or gender based violence and it will be structured around the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 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 direct role in these matters.  I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: My Department has put in place Victims of Domestic Violence Immigration Guidelines. The Guidelines rightly state that no one should have to suffer domestic violence and recognise that migrants may have additional vulnerability in this area, as the perpetrator may threaten a victim with the loss of their status if they report the abuse.   Anyone who is the victim of domestic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sex Offenders Notification Requirements (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that there is a robust framework of legislation in place to monitor and manage the ongoing risk posed by convicted sex offenders and that it is kept under ongoing review.   Under the Sex Offenders Act 2001, convicted sex offenders have to notify Gardaí of their personal details including their name and address for a period of time after conviction, up to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130, 140, 145 and 159 together. As the Deputies are aware, the decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the presiding judge, who is independent in the exercise of his or her judicial functions. There is a constitutional presumption in favour of granting of bail, reflecting the core principle of our law is that a person is presumed...