Results 12,501-12,520 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 470 and 471 together. As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the law for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including investigative matters. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda authorities that Garda personnel may be assigned to several...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (16 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together. As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including investigative matters. As Minister I play no role in these independent functions. I am informed by the Garda authorities that Gardaí continue...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Online Safety (16 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Bullying can come in many forms, but public discourse is usually about young people bullying each other. It is important to point out that this generally requires a response within community and institutional - including schools - contexts, rather than an automatic resort to criminal sanction. That said, this Government is acutely aware of the impact any kind of harassment can have on a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. Statistics are not maintained by my Department in a manner to enable the identification of those applications that are at ‘initial assessment’ stage. Current processing times have been...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Applications for naturalisation received by my Department are dealt with in chronological order. The application for the person referred to by the Deputy will be registered in the coming weeks. Following initial assessment of the application, an application reference number will be issued by my Department. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and public health limits on staff attendance in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Applications for naturalisation received by my Department are dealt with in chronological order. The application for the person referred to by the Deputy will be registered in the coming weeks. Following initial assessment of the application, an application reference number will be issued by my Department. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and public health limits on staff attendance in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (16 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: My Department consistently works in partnership with the Public Appointments Service to ensure optimum staffing levels across the Immigration Service Delivery function and continuously reviews staffing levels to ensure that each area is adequately and efficiently resourced. Regarding the Registration Office in particular, a number of additional measures have been put in place to help clear...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (16 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am deeply conscious of how important the granting of naturalisation is to those who apply for it. My Department has continued to accept and process citizenship applications throughout the pandemic and at all levels of public health restrictions and is on track to make 11,000 citizenship decisions this year. My officials and I continue to explore new ways of processing citizenship...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: On the Deputy's last point, it is my understanding that, under current law, people are able to use all three of the old rules, which are common law time immemorial rules, common law doctrine of lost modern grant and, as the Deputy mentioned, the Prescription Act 1832.I may be corrected on this, but the feeling was that there were more complexities and difficulties with the Prescription Act...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Senator has rightly said, this is the only element of the 2009 Act that is being kept on in the Bill. The clock will not be set back. That will not happen in any instance, be it the 30 years for the State-owned lands or the 60 years for the foreshore. The longer periods were put in place on foot of the recommendation from the Law Reform Commission. This can be looked at as part of...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Senator Higgins has outlined not just how complex this legislation is, but also how it is interconnected in so many ways. Even though the 2009 Act was brought in to try to make things easier, the reason we are reverting back is that this section of the 2009 Bill just has not worked in this instance. In setting out the terms of reference for the review that will take place next year, I am...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will come back to the 1832 Act. The view from stakeholder engagement is that it is problematic and difficult and that is why the reference is being taken out. I ask that we have some engagement prior to this going on to the next stage because any further amendments or changes might delay it. As people will appreciate, many problems could arise for individuals if this is not passed on...

Seanad: Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Committee Stage (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for her engagement on this issue. I know it is a matter in which she has had a long-standing interest and I appreciate that she has been engaging with my officials for some time. I thank those officials because this has been a lengthy and complex issue and, as all present will agree, it is a matter we need to resolve before the deadline because of the impacts it could...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. The Commissioner is also responsible, under Section 33 of the Act, for the distribution of the Garda Síochána throughout the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources.  As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.  I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes the deployment and stationing of Garda members throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in this independent function. I am advised by the Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Government committed to introducing new pathways to status regularisation within 18 months of its formation.  My Justice Plan 2021 contains a commitment to create new pathways for long-term undocumented people and their dependents who must meet specified criteria to regularise their status.  The scheme will provide an opportunity for those who meet its criteria to remain and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), written representations have been submitted on behalf of the persons concerned. These representations, together with all other information and documentation on file, will be fully considered, under Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (11 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: This application for a certificate of naturalisation was received on 30 September 2019. This application 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. However, the public health restrictions in place...

Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Bill 2021: Report and Final Stages (10 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from in putting forward this amendment, but my role as Minister is to support the Garda and the Garda Commissioner in carrying out their functions. Even though it is clear that all members of An Garda Síochána are required to be proficient in Irish, there is a potential in passing the amendment that in some way we would be tying the...