Results 2,261-2,280 of 16,309 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: The figures suggest there is approximately €1.9 billion and €1 billion in loans and grants, but this is not something we consider acceptable. When the two funds are taken together, we are talking about paying more money than we had previously, while we are seeking less funding in the Common Agricultural Policy, which is a key priority for us, and receiving an overall fund that...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: For fisheries, "No" is the short answer. Michel Barnier was clear when he addressed the General Affairs Council on Tuesday that without a deal on fisheries, there would not be an overall trade agreement, and vice versa. The mandate is clear, therefore, and it has not changed.

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: We are still examining the proposals for the MFF and for the recovery fund, and nothing has yet been agreed. It is welcome that there are certain priorities for us where we have seen an increase in funding. In the MFF, there has been an increase in Pillar 1 and Pillar 2, while for the CAP in the recovery fund there has been an increase in Pillar 2 of €15 billion. While that amounts...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: Our position on settlements is absolutely clear and we are opposed to them. As I outlined earlier, the Government's position on what it would like to see happen is a two-state solution for Palestine and Israel. The Control of Economic Activity (Occupied Territories) Bill 2018, however, is different, given that it would move into an EU competence. The Attorney General's advice on this is...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: As I raised at the General Affairs Council, we have argued that the Commission was given a clear mandate and that it needed to base any instrument on the impact that Covid is having on a particular member state or industry. We believe that the Commission is looking at a pre-Covid economic picture, which is obviously very different. We have argued that point and are not the only country that...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: Again, there has been no change in terms of state aid or any of the parameters for the negotiations.

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: To correct the record for Deputy Harkin, there is an additional €200 million on top of the sum in question. Therefore, the overall figure is €650 million.

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: In state aid. I will get the details and have them sent to the Deputy. On Deputy Cian O'Callaghan’s questions, contrary to reports, the USA has not pulled out of the OECD process. It has raised concerns about the timeframe and the implementation. It has sought an extension of the overall discussion. At European level, France, Italy and Spain have been asked to pause their...

Post-European Council Meetings: Statements (24 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will take the time, if I may, because there are a number of issues that may not have been touched on. I join colleagues in offering my deepest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Detective Garda Colm Horkan. It is a sad day if a member of An Garda Síochána goes to work and unfortunately does not return home. I thank the gardaí for the work they do...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (29 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I congratulate the Cathaoirleach and I wish him well in his new role. I offer my warmest congratulations to all Senators, especially those who are taking up their seats for the first time. I wish them all well. I acknowledge the huge honour that it is for me to serve the State as Minister for Justice. It is a somewhat daunting task but it is one I am looking forward to and I hope to make...

Seanad: Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (29 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senators for their time and for moving quickly given, as many have mentioned, we are close to the wire. I am very grateful to the House for its consideration of these two motions and I thank Senators on all sides for their contributions to the debate on both. Naturally, I welcome the support expressed by all of the speakers for continuing these provisions and I appreciate the shared...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Maternity Leave (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269, 273, 275 and 289 together. I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that we have introduced in recent years, including the new parent’s leave scheme and an extension of parental leave, are helping to ease some of these demands. As the law now stands, a mother is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Regulations (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: The National Vetting Bureau conducts vetting in accordance with the requirements of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 to 2016. Vetting is an operational matter for the Garda authorities and neither I as Minister nor the Department of Justice and Equality have a role in these matters. I have requested information on the matter referred to by the Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but it was unfortunately not possible to compile it in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested, when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Carer's Leave (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: The main purpose of the Carer’s Leave Act 2001 is to provide an entitlement for an employee to avail of unpaid leave from his/her employment to enable him/her to personally provide full-time care and attention for a person who is in need of such care. The period of leave to which an employee is entitled is subject to a maximum of 104 weeks in respect of any one care recipient and the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Directives (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, on 30 May 2018 the European Parliament adopted Directive EU 2018/849, the 5th EU Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD). The Directive is available at the following link. This Directive extends the rules on the use of virtual currencies, clarifies the requirements for the beneficial ownership register introduced by 4AMLD, places stricter requirements on the use...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Status (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, as amended. All applications for a certificate of naturalisation are processed and assessed individually in accordance with the provisions of the Act. Statistics are not compiled in such a manner as to identify those applications where a certificate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 278 together. All requests for tender, issued on behalf of my Department for accommodation for international protection applicants, require bidders to comply with the relevant regulations and the associated Technical Guidance Documents where applicable, including but not limited to the following; - Building Control Acts 1990 and 2007 - Building...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 280 together. The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. This includes responsibility for personnel matters and the distribution of personnel across the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: Section 6 of the Coroners (Amendment) Act, 2019 amended Section 11 of the Coroner Act, 1962, to increase the mandatory retirement age for Coroners from 70 to 72. Accordingly, the present Coroner for Tipperary South will retire on June 25th, 2021. It has been agreed to amalgamate, by way of Section 7 of the Coroners Acts 1962 – 2019, the two Coronial Districts of Tipperary North and...