Results 12,821-12,840 of 17,543 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: If that is okay, I will speak as quickly as I can. I acknowledge the work done by Senator Bacik and her Labour Party colleagues and thank them for it. Since we last discussed this Bill, I have had a good engagement with the Senator on a number of citizenship issues. I thank her for that ongoing engagement. During our previous debate on Committee Stage in December, I committed to reviewing...

Civil Liability and Courts (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage [Private Members] (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: First, I thank Deputy Denis Naughten and his colleagues in the Regional Independent Group for highlighting the issue with which the Bill deals. I acknowledge the spirit in which the Bill has been brought forward. I also thank those Members who have participated so far in the debate. As the Minister of State outlined, there is much common ground between this Bill and the Government's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The difficulties faced by people regarding their ability to obtain new passports at this time are noted by my Department. I recognise that this is clearly a very difficult situation for all involved. The Immigration Service of my Department is not in a position to provide assistance with obtaining new or replacement national passports and the issuance of same is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: On 18 January 2021, I was pleased to announce a temporary system that enables citizenship applicants to complete their naturalisation process by signing a statutory declaration of loyalty. This signed statutory declaration replaces the requirement for citizenship applicants to attend citizenship ceremonies, which have been temporarily suspended during COVID-19. The Citizenship...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics.  The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics, including recorded and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Equipment (25 Mar 2021)

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.  The allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands.  This includes the allocation of vehicles among...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested, with regard to the dedicated email addresses for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas to contact my Department and the agencies under the aegis of my Department, are provided in the following table: Agency Email Address An Garda Síochána oireachtasqueries@justice.ie ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 151 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 came into operation on 15 July 2014 and my Department has a protected disclosures policy in place, which is available on the Department's website. The policy is kept under review and a revised Policy is due to be published in 2021. With regard to the Deputy’s...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The person referred to by the Deputy was issued a letter refusing them permission to remain in the state on 11 December 2019. 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 person concerned. These representations, together with all other information...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Sittings (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. Furthermore, the scheduling of court cases and the allocation of court business are matters for the Presidents of the Courts and the presiding judges who are, under the Constitution, independent in the exercise...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has advised me as follows.  The Courts Service has used all available means to keep court users updated on the status of their...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Following the Supreme Court judgement in Pourgholami v Minister for Justice and Equality, I have established a Single Person Committee of inquiry into the refusal of applications of Irish Citizenship via the Naturalisation process where National Security concerns arise.  The Committee has been established to review, on request from the applicant, the material upon which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have not yet had any engagements with other Ministers on the policy of progressing disability services in my capacity as Minister for Justice.  As the Deputy will be aware, my colleague in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Minister of State Anne Rabbitte has policy responsibility for disability. However, I would like to assure the Deputy that...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Reports (25 Mar 2021)

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: International Protection (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The table below provides the numbers of recommendations made under s21(3) of the International Protection Act 2015, in the years requested by the Deputy. These applications for international protection were inadmissible under s.21(2)(a) of the International Protection Act 2015, as another EU Member State had already granted refugee status or subsidiary protection status to the person, which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: A total of 498 interviews under section 35 of the International Protection Act 2015, took place in the period 1 March 2020 to 15 March 2021.  Of these, 45 interviews were adjourned and the applicant will be scheduled to attend a further interview to complete the process. The interview schedule for the International Protection Office (IPO) has unfortunately been severely...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: While the Minister for Health is primarily responsible for our overall National COVID strategy, I am happy to supply the following information about the current guidance developed by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) in this regard. The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is the statutory body established under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: A number of issues have impacted on the processing of citizenship applications over the past 18 months. A High Court case which was subsequently successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal resulted in significant delays in 2019. As well as this, a significant backlog has built up regarding the granting of citizenships due to the inability to hold in person ceremonies during the pandemic,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The registration renewal application of the person referred to by the Deputy remains in draft format and is awaiting a submission by the applicant. A confirmation of receipt will only issue after the application is fully submitted. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at...