Results 2,421-2,440 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Welfare (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Provision of safe and secure custody and dignity of care to persons in the penal system in Ireland is a priority for me as Minister and for the Irish Prison Service. Safe and secure custody is one of the key pillars of the Prison Service Strategic Plan 2019-2022. I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the self-harm in Irish prisons 2018 report will be published before the end of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that there were 36 reported incidents of self harm across the prison estate from 12 March 2020 to the end of June 2020. I am further informed that 33 of these reported incidents occurred within the male prison population and three within the female population. It is important to note that these are provisional figures as the full analysis of such...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic a range of measures including restrictions on access to prisons have required to protect our prison population, in line with public health advice. While physical family visits to prisons were suspended on 27 March 2020, I understand that the Prison Service introduced a number of new initiatives to allow families to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and as the Deputy will appreciate, a wide range of measures have been required to protect our prison population, in line with public health advice. I have previously set out detail on the measures adopted to address the risk presented by Covid-19 in a prison environment, guided by the advice of NPHET and consistent with the prison-specific guidance of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The provision of safe and secure custody and dignity of care to persons in the penal system in Ireland is a priority for me as Minister and for the Irish Prison Service. The Deputy will appreciate that a wide range of measures were necessary to address the particular risks posed by the Covid-19 pandemic in the context of prisons. The measures adopted by the Prison Service were in keeping...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The statutory position regarding the provision of civil legal aid derives from the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 under which the Legal Aid Board was established as the statutory provider of legal aid through the civil legal aid scheme. To qualify for full legal aid under the scheme, an applicant must satisfy both a means test and a merits test. Approximately two thirds of the cases dealt...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gambling Sector (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government provides for the establishment of a gambling regulator focused on public safety and wellbeing, covering gambling online and in person, and the powers to regulate advertising, gambling websites and apps. At present, the general regulation of advertising in the media is a matter for the Advertising Standards Authority of Ireland and the Broadcasting Authoring of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to continues to be 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. As the Deputy will appreciate, the granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: European Court of Justice Rulings (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The judgment of the European Court of Justice in Case C-335/17 relates to a request for a preliminary ruling under Article 267 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union from the Varhoven Kasatsionen Sad (Supreme Court of Cassation, Bulgaria). The request for a preliminary ruling was made in relation to the interpretation of Council Regulation (EC) No 2201/2003 of 27 November 2003...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: EU Legislation (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: First and in relation to Council Framework Decision 2008/829/JHA on the cross-border recognition of decisions on supervision measures as an alternative to provisional detention, I can inform the Deputy that transposition is well advanced through the drafting and publication of the Criminal Justice (Mutual Recognition of Decisions on Supervision Measures) Bill 2019 ("the 2019 Bill"). The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Government is advising against non-essential travel until further notice and anyone entering the State is required to self-isolate for 14 days. All passengers are also required to complete a mandatory Public Health Passenger Locator Form on arrival. From Monday 22 June 2020, my Department has resumed the acceptance of visa applications in our Dublin office as well as in seven locations...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm that Deportation Orders were signed in respect of the persons concerned and they were removed from the State in 2012. On 9 August 2018, representations were received from the persons concerned pursuant to Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act, 1999, (as amended) seeking to revoke the Deportation Orders. These representations were fully considered and the earlier decision to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is made in light of identified operational demand. This includes deployment of personnel among the various Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Inspector of Prisons (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Inspector of Prisons, whose independence in the exercise of her functions is provided for by law, plays a vital role in ensuring effective independent oversight of our prison system. The main function of the Inspector of Prisons is to carry out regular inspections of prisons and places of detention in Ireland. The Inspector also investigates deaths of prisoners in custody and has...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. Further, the allocation of Garda resources is a matter for the Commissioner, in light of identified operational demands. This includes responsibility for the allocation of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The State already provides support for all applicants when making an application for international protection. There are specific arrangements for unaccompanied minors who are in the care of Tusla. International Protection applicants are required to attend for preliminary interview with staff of the International Protection Office (IPO). During this interview the applicant will, where...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Forensic Science Ireland (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, Forensic Science Ireland (FSI), an office of my Department, is the State's forensic analysis service and works closely with An Garda Síochána in the investigation of crime and presentation of evidence at criminal trials. FSI forms a crucial component of the State's criminal justice system and meets a clearly established public need by contributing to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Divisional Headquarters (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can confirm to the Deputy that the new Garda divisional headquarters in Galway and Kevin Street have both been completed and handed over to An Garda Síochána. I am informed by the OPW that Kevin Street Garda HQ was completed, occupied and operational in spring 2018. The final account was recently agreed for a sum of €31.51m ex VAT. The final account covers the building cost...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Divisional Headquarters (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: 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 accommodation. Works in relation to Garda accommodation are therefore progressed by the Garda authorities working in close...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Information and Communications Technology (14 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for carrying on and managing the administration and business of the organisation as well as for the allocation of Garda resources, in light of identified operational demands. As Minister, I have no role in those matters. Record resources of €1.88 billion, as well as a...