Results 2,521-2,540 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Immigrant Investor Programme (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. He has raised a specific case with certain details on which, perhaps, I cannot respond directly to him now. However, it is important to outline what the process is in the immigrant investor programme, the type of investments and the role of the specific committee he referenced. The immigrant investment programme, IIP, was introduced by the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Immigrant Investor Programme (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Again, I refer to the fact that it is only when the committee deems a project suitable for funding that the submission is made to me for final approval. What my Department must seek, and what I can benefit from, is the expertise that is available beyond my Department. That is why the structure is set up as it is. Obviously, the applicant is also subject to rigorous screening within my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child Protection (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that I cannot comment on an individual case. Parental alienation has been described as a situation when a child’s resistance or hostility towards one parent is not justified and is the result of psychological manipulation by the other parent. The issue of parental alienation is highly complex and I am aware that some professionals advocate for the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Oireachtas Joint Committee Reports (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 747, 748, 751, 752 and 791 to 793, inclusive, together. The Report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee of the Reform of Family Law System which was published towards the end of last year made almost 40 recommendations across the area of family justice. All of the recommendations are currently being examined by my Department.  As the Deputy will...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The position is that where alcohol is purchased online and delivered, the same restrictions on the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor apply, including the restrictions in relation to hours of trading and the provisions in relation to the sale and supply of intoxicating liquor to young persons. There is no dedicated licence for online sales of intoxicating liquor but licensees of licensed...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: In recognition of the particular challenges that mothers and fathers have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Government is considering a proposal to advance the extension of Parent’s Leave and Benefit to five weeks for all parents of children born after 1 November 2019, to enable every eligible parent of young children to spend additional time with their child. At present,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 753 and 754 together. There have been 1,455 adult wards of court declared since the signing of the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015. The Wards of Court office does not collate data on the number of applications brought by the Health Service Executive and it is not possible to retrieve this data from its systems. During the period March to June...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 755 to 757, inclusive, together. The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (“the 2015 Act”) provides a modern statutory framework to support decision-making by adults with capacity difficulties. The 2015 Act was signed into law on 30 December 2015 but has not yet been fully commenced. The Act provides for the establishment of new...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Until the commencement of the various parts of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act, 2015 the Wards of Court Office is required to comply with the Lunacy Regulation (Ireland) Act, 1871. Where it is appropriate the Court will appoint a Guardian ad Litem during the wardship application to represent the views of the person and ensure that their voice is heard by the Court. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: Published in December 2016, the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill's stated purpose was to address remaining legislative barriers to Ireland's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD).  The opportunity was also taken to progress other miscellaneous amendments to statute law. The Bill amends: - the Juries Act to accommodate (i) deaf...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: All persons making an application for a certificate of naturalisation are required to provide satisfactory evidence of their identity and nationality. This is usually in the form of a current valid passport along with other original supporting documents, such as a previously held or out of date passport. As such the person concerned will be required to submit a current passport with any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: There are currently 596 residents in the accommodation centre referred to by the Deputy.  The centre accommodates a mix of families, couples and male and female single people.   These residents occupy 197 accommodation units. These units are a mixture of houses (54) and apartments (143) and all units have their own kitchen, living room and bathroom. 20...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 as amended, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling the administration and business of An Garda Síochána. I have requested information from An Garda Síochána on the matter raised and will write directly to the Deputy when it is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by An Garda Síochána that section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as amended by section 12 of the Road Traffic Act 2006, creates the offence of 'Driving without a Driving Licence', namely, upon summary conviction, a fine not exceeding €1,000, and in any other case, a fine not exceeding €2,000. I am further informed that section 38 (5) of the Road Traffic...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Stations (28 Jul 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Safety (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can assure the Deputy that my Department, alongside An Garda Síochána and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is acutely aware of the severe difficulties and dangers the misuse of quadbikes, scramblers and similar vehicles can cause in the communities it impacts. Targeted enforcement measures have been introduced in a number of areas where quad bikes and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: All permanent accommodation centres under contract to my Department are subject to three unannounced inspections per annum: twice by officials of the Immigration Service of my Department and once by an independent company (QTS Limited).  Inspections cover a wide range of issues including fire safety and other health and safety issues....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Alcohol Sales (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: A request has been received both in my office and Minister of State Charlie McConalogue's office in relation to arranging a meeting with the group referred to. The request is currently being considered and an official from my Department will contact the organisation directly in relation to their request shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: A number of complaints received by my Department from the named person are of a sensitive and confidential nature and they are the subject of ongoing independent investigations.  It would not be appropriate for me to expand on the nature of these concerns. Recent correspondence received from the named person is under consideration and a response will issue as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Magdalen Laundries (28 Jul 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 769 to 772, inclusive, together. I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to implementing the only remaining recommendation of the Magdalen Commission Report (The Quirke Report) which is the establishment of a suitable memorial. My Department provided substantial funding to the Justice for Magdalenes Research Group (JFMR), the organisers of the...