Results 2,321-2,340 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

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

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that I, as Minister for Justice, am responsible for policy in relation to the policing and security of the State. Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended, the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána and I have no function in...

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

Helen McEntee: I am acutely aware of the supportive role that families and friends play in the rehabilitation of prisoners and in their preparation for life in the community after release from prison. I understand that, with this in mind, the Irish Prison Service continued to facilitate physical family visits to prisons for as long as it was safe to do so. However, the Covid-19 pandemic clearly...

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

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 337 to 339, inclusive, together. At the outset it is important to be clear that the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and control of An Garda Síochána and for the effective and efficient use of Garda resources. Further, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (30 Jun 2020)

Helen McEntee: I would like to express my deepest condolences to all of those who have lost loved ones during the current pandemic. Deaths which have occurred due to COVID-19 infection are due to natural causes. While decisions on the necessity to carry out an inquest into any death are at the discretion of the Coroner, inquests are not carried out into deaths due to natural causes.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that my department has 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. Presently, each parent may avail of two weeks of parent’s leave during the first year of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Responsibilities (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department is currently responsible for the management and delivery of immigration and decisions on international protection for the State and these functions will remain under my remit. However, as announced by the Taoiseach on the 27th June, some of the responsibilities of my Department will be changing in the coming weeks and months. The responsibility for provision and coordination...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and operations of An Garda Síochána. As assigning divisional boundaries is an operational matter, the Commissioner is responsible and I as Minister have no direct role in these matters. I am advised by the Garda authorities that at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Services Regulation (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Since commencement of the relevant provisions on 7 October 2019, the first point of contact for new complaints in relation to the professional conduct of solicitors and barristers is the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA) which is the independent regulator for the provision of legal services in the State. I am assuming from the overall context of the Deputy’s question,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is referring to the recent European Council decision on the temporary restriction on non-essential travel in the EU and the possible lifting of such restriction. The measure in question constitutes a development of the Schengen Acquis in which Ireland does not participate, therefore Ireland is not taking part in its adoption. The Deputy may wish to note however that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am conscious of demands on parents at this time and hope that the additional measures to support working parents that my department has 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. When the first Parental Leave Act was enacted in 1998, parental leave ended on the day on which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter. A...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has provided the following update on this matter. ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: In response to a notification pursuant to the provisions of Section 3 of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the persons concerned have submitted written representations. Their position in the State will now be decided by reference to the provisions of Section 3 (6) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended) and all other applicable legislation. All representations submitted will be...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am informed that sadly, in the period from 12 March 2020 to 29 June 2020, 111 wards of court died, 86 of whom were resident in nursing homes or community hospital settings. The General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court was Committee for 19 of those 86 wards. The Wards of Court Office does not always receive the cause of death. However, the Office has been informed that Covid-19...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The General Solicitor for Minors and Wards of Court is committee or guardian to 624 wards of court, including 10 minor wards of court. The General Solicitor is appointed as committee or guardian when there is no family member available to act, willing or in a position to act. The General Solicitor may be appointed as committee where the family are unable to agree who will act as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Programme for Government (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government has wide-ranging implications for the work of my Department, and a detailed analysis of the measures included in it is ongoing. Work is also ongoing to implement the changes in the allocation of responsibilities between Departments that have been announced. The Deputy may wish to note that the briefing notes prepared by all Departments to assist in the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Consultancy Contracts (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not engaged any external consultancy organisation or provider to deliver diversity and inclusion training within the Department from 2018 to date. My Department has established an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and members of this Committee will participate in diversity and inclusion training during the year. Diversity and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Legal Costs (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information sought cannot be provided in the time allowed. As soon as the information has been collated I will write to the Deputy on the matter.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (7 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Ministerial Decisions Unit (MDU) of my Department processes the recommendations received from the International Protection Office (IPO) and the decisions of the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT). Procedural enhancements within MDU are currently being introduced and are expected to reduce processing time for individual grants of international protection to approximately one...