Results 2,661-2,680 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: No.

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I think the Deputy may have misunderstood the intention of the section. This section is essentially providing for the power that will prescribe the regulations that will apply to this particular Bill. As it currently stands, this does not allow myself as Minister for Justice and Equality or the Minister for Health to do anything new or for the Minister for Health in particular to do...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is correct in that there are regulations that are not specifically mentioned in the legislation. We are in very difficult and unusual times and things are changing, meaning new regulations must be made. We hope things will get better and that penal provisions can be removed. If we had to put every single proposed provision in legislation, it would mean that at every stage we...

Criminal Justice (Enforcement Powers) (Covid-19) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (Resumed) and Remaining Stages (3 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will speak specifically to the amendment because the pros and cons of the legislation and the reasons for it have been well debated. Deputy McNamara is proposing that the House, rather than me as Minister, will decide whether to roll over the measures. It is this House and the Seanad that will make that decision. He asked me whether we will do so on 9 November. He asked me what the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As I have previously informed the Deputy, following the appointment on 27 June of the former Tánaiste as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, I understand the Garda Commissioner determined that it was appropriate for already existing security arrangements to remain in place for the Minister. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate to comment further...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 879 and 887 together. The Government’s approach to meeting the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“the Convention”) is one of progressive realisation. Work is continuing on the reforms needed for an optimum level of compliance with the Convention's requirements. The National...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 880 and 950 together. On 18 March 2020, in response to the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, my Department entered into a 12 month contract to use the former Skellig Star Hotel in Cahersiveen as a temporary accommodation centre for international protection applicants. On 30 July 2020, I announced that the residents would be transferred to permanent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Significant expenditure is being committed by individual departments to responding to the needs of persons with disabilities. For example, €1.7bn was spent by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection on Disability Allowance payments in 2019. €2.054bn has been allocated in the HSE Service Plan for disability-related expenditure this year. Funding for special...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Employment Rights (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: There is no legally mandated retirement age in the private sector. The age at which private sector employees retire is a matter for the contract of employment agreed between them and their employers. Employers must justify the age of retirement under the Employment Equality Acts 1998-2015. Section 6(3) of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2015 provides for the imposition of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Assisted Decision-Making (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: 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 administrative processes and support measures, including the setting up of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Mental Health Services (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have been informed by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that the Prison Service employ a number of various psychologist grades across the Service including, a Head of Psychology, a Psychologist, Principal Manager, Senior Psychologists (Grade I), Psychologists, Staff Psychologists (Grade II) and Assistant Psychologists. Please note Assistant Psychologists are employed on a one year...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Housing Policy (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I intend to commence a review of legislation regarding management companies in the coming months. The Multi-Unit Developments Act 2011 was enacted with the primary purposes of reforming the law relating to the ownership and management of common areas of multi-unit developments and facilitating the fair, efficient and effective management of owners' management companies (OMCs). These are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department takes any complaints from residents very seriously and all residents are made fully aware of their ability to contact my Department at any time in confidence. Where appropriate, most complaints should be brought to the centre manager in the first instance. If the resident is not satisfied with the outcome, they can make a complaint directly to the International Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Government takes very seriously the needs of working parents, and the difficulties they are facing in the current pandemic. There have been a number of advances in the leave available to working parents in recent years. The Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 introduced for the first time paid parent’s leave of two weeks for each parent to be taken in the first year of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 890 and 891 together. My Department administers a National Funding Programme to Promote the Integration of Migrants, which has 15 projects located throughout Ireland. Grants totalling almost €2 million (€1,987,890) are spread over three years to support the implementation of these projects. On 11 August 2020, I announced a call for...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Pandemics and other crises can have a serious impact on the most vulnerable in society. Since the beginning of the crisis, the effect of the pandemic has been monitored and addressed through the NPHET vulnerable persons subgroup, including Travellers and Roma and vulnerable migrants. My Department has participated in this group and has provided direct support to initiatives for the Roma...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that both visa applications have been examined and refused. Refusal letters setting out the reasons for the refusal were issued on 30 January 2019 and 01 December 2019 respectively. An appeal against either decision was not made and the applications are now closed. It is open to the persons concerned to submit a fresh visa application at any time. Should they do so,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: For confidentiality reasons, it is not the practice to comment on applications for international protection including whether or not an application has been made. Under Section 26 of the International Protection Act 2015, it is an offence to identify an international protection applicant. The offence is punishable by summary conviction to a Class A fine or a term of imprisonment of 12 months...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Direct Provision centre inspection reports up to mid 2018 were published on a dedicated website www.ria-inspections.gov.ie. Due to technical difficulties with that website, subsequent reports have been published on a separate website www.ria.gov.ie where reports of inspections up to March 2020 are available. As a result of the health and safety restrictions with respect to the COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (8 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The State is obliged under domestic and international law to examine the application of anyone who arrives at the State to claim international protection. While we are examining their application, all applicants are offered accommodation and other supports such as healthcare, education for children and a weekly payment for personal expenditure. The provision of accommodation is demand-led,...