Results 11,581-11,600 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management of An Garda Síochána, including operational matters. As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters. The appointment of Access Officers is covered under Section 26 of the Disability Act 2005. This section places a requirement on the head of a public body to “authorise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (22 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. During this time, it is important that the person maintains their immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Communications (22 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that I have the application referenced on my official phone. I do not use the disappearing messages setting.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (22 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The stamp 4 immigration permission of the person referred to by Deputy was previously based upon a Spouse of Irish National (SOIN) application. As a result, this person was exempt from paying the registration fee. However, the person concerned has now been granted a stamp 5 Without Condition as to Time (WCAT) permission and would, therefore, not be exempt from paying the fee. As the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána as well as for decisions in relation to the allocation and management of Garda equipment and resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda Mounted Unit is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, tackling drug dealing and organised criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and for An Garda Síochána. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including operational decisions and the deployment of resources to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (22 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy refers to Operation Kenova, which is one of a series of ongoing independent UK police investigations or reviews into Northern Ireland legacy cases that are collectively described as the Kenova cases and are headed up by former Chief Constable Jon Boutcher. The Deputy will appreciate that cooperation by An Garda Síochána with Operation Kenova is, of course, an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy makes a valid point. In the past year, several close friends of mine have moved out of cities back home to rural areas. I refer to the work the Garda Commissioner is doing in considering resources, where they are needed and how there has been a change in the numbers in communities. That is reflected in how Garda numbers are deployed and redeployed. I have no doubt that when the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: In Justice Plan 2021 I committed to introducing legislation to provide for the introduction of body-worn cameras, in line with the recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland to which the Deputy refers. The commission in its report stated that policing organisations around the world have found that such devices can help improve front-line capability with the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy outlined two key issues, that is, we need to introduce this as quickly as possible, but we also need to ensure it is watertight and there are no challenges, particularly in the context of the GDPR rights of people. I am conscious we are probably one of the few countries that do not have these cameras yet. I am conscious this is not only important for protecting members of An...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Garda Commissioner is constantly engaging with his colleagues and police services across Europe, but also internationally. As is the case with departments, governments and agencies, they work with each other to share information and ways in which they can progress their services. From a policy point of view and that of my Department, when introducing legislation we look at best practice...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, I met a significant number of front-line and community organisations, some of which are already delivering refuge supports for people across the country. The report and the accommodation review published by Tusla clearly highlight the need that exists and the work that has to be done in delivering additional refuge spaces. It identified ten areas of 82 units on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Of the 66 actions contained in the Government’s action plan for insurance reform, which includes four Departments, 26 have been completed by my Department. A major focus has been placed on insurance reform in the Department of Justice. We have already introduced legislation. While a number of deadlines have, perhaps, been missed, the focus has not been taken away from insurance....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Insurance Industry (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: Having met and engaged with the Alliance for Insurance Reform, many members of it and, indeed, members of my community, I am very aware that there is no silver bullet and that a single action is not going to facilitate the changes we need. Of the 66 actions, 51 of which have been completed, we are starting to see changes in some, not all, areas. In the context of some of the larger...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: The Government and I are committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs. As I have said many times today, the unprecedented allocation provided, in budget 2022, of in excess of €2 billion reflects that. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda staff. It should be noted that many of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: While they have a title, and it is important to acknowledge that the community gardaí and the specific work that they do, what we have seen throughout Covid-19 and the last two years is that every member of An Garda Síochána is essentially a community garda. The work they do is about responding to crime, needs and incidents as they arise, but it is also about outreach. It is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: No, it is not on my desk. The judge is independent in the work he is doing. It is important that I do not comment on, pre-empt or discuss what work he may be doing but I can say that any support required by him and his team has been provided. There is regular contact with the O’Farrell family. There are a few responses to be obtained. Once this is done, the judge will be able to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Inquiries (17 Feb 2022)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has outlined, none of this is straightforward. I do not pretend to know the time the scoping exercise should or needs to take, but we must allow the judge to do the work he feels necessary in order to provide a clear, direct and pointed response to the questions asked, based on the terms of reference that have been set in this instance. I continue to support the work he is...