Results 2,741-2,760 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Significant demand accumulated during the four months that the Registration Office was closed due to COVID-19. To assist in addressing this demand, a new online system for the renewal of Registrations in the Dublin area was developed and launched on 20 July, enabling applicants to safely engage with the Registration Office without the need to attend in person at Burgh Quay. My Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The restrictions attendant to the current COVID-19 pandemic have regrettably resulted in significant challenges to the delivery of normal services within the Immigration Service Delivery function of my Department. Currently there are approximately 21,000 applications on hand, at various stages within the system, ranging from those just received by the Citizenship Division to those where a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Liquor Licences (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: My officials have requested information from An Garda Síochána to be of assistance to the Deputy and I will revert with a reply to the Deputy as soon as it is received.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (9 Sep 2020)

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

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: 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 Garda vehicles among the various...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Direct Provision System (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The European Communities (Reception Conditions) Regulations 2018, transposing the EU (Recast) Reception Conditions Directive, came into effect from 30 June 2018. The Regulations include a provision on access to the labour market for eligible international protection applicants. Any applicant who has not received a first instance decision within 9 months can make an application for a labour...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: An application for naturalisation in relation to the person referred to is currently being 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 in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The International Protection Appeals Tribunal is a statutorily independent body and exercises a quasi-judicial function under the International Protection Act 2015. I have asked for and received a report from the Tribunal’s chairperson on the matter. As the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment further pending full consideration of the report.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, on Friday 21 August 2020, I appointed former Director of the Probation Service, Vivian Geiran, to carry out a scoping exercise to assess the impact that criminal activity in Drogheda is having on the community and make recommendations for action going forward. I am delighted to have appointed Mr Geiran to carry out this scoping exercise which will make...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Proposed Legislation (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The statutory provisions concerning the licensing of premises for the purposes of public dancing are set out in the Public Dance Halls Act 1935 as well as sections 2 to 10 and 21 of the Licensing (Combating Drug Abuse) Act 1997 in so far as they relate to public dancing licenses. The primary purpose of these statutory provisions is to ensure the welfare and safety of persons while present at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (9 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together. The Deputy will be aware that community-based CCTV is governed by section 38(3)(c) of Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006. This legal framework requires that any proposed community CCTV scheme must: - be approved by the local Joint Policing Committee, - have the prior support of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Resources (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: At the outset, it is important to emphasise that the Garda Commissioner and his team are responsible for the operation and management of An Garda Síochána and the distribution of resources within that organisation. As Minister for Justice, it is important that I work with the Garda Commissioner and ensure that he can fulfil what it is he sets out to do. This includes the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Resources (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will outline here that funding is not an issue. I am satisfied the Commissioner will and does have the funding he needs. However, when one is rolling out any type of arrangements for digital or ICT-related expenditure, whether it is within the public or civil service, and An Garda Síochána obviously falls within that, a particular process must be undergone with the Department of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Resources (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I understand the frustration and I cannot give the Deputy an exact timeline as to when exactly a Department or An Garda Síochána seeking initial funding for a project of this scale will receive approval. However, all ICT expenditure must meet particular criteria and a specific approval process must be followed. I can look at that approval process and see if it is unduly long or...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Reform (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The question makes reference to the Smithwick tribunal. However, the report of the Smithwick tribunal of inquiry makes no recommendation on the recruitment or promotion of members of An Garda Síochána. I believe the article in The Irish Timesmay have mentioned that. The Deputy is referring to the recommendations of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Reform (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy asked two questions. On whistleblowers, the Protective Disclosures Act, introduced in 2014 by former colleagues of mine, provides a very clear statutory framework within which workers can raise concerns over potential wrongdoings in the workplace that come to their attention. They can do this in the full knowledge that they can avail of significant employment and other...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Garda Reform (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: This matter has been the subject of some debate and discussion among all the agencies. It will go through the normal processes and procedures in the Dáil and there will be a chance to debate it. We are not talking about giving power to one person alone. There is a very clear oversight structure here. The role of the board will be to better support and manage An Garda...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Briefings (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely nobody had any intention to mislead the Dáil, to omit anything intentionally or to try to sneak anything in with this legislation, as has been suggested before. The Civil Law and Criminal Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2020 was enacted on 6 August and constitutes the Government response to the new challenges posed to our courts and legal systems by the current pandemic....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Legislative Briefings (10 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I will say again that there was absolutely no attempt to mislead anybody in the Dáil. When I say this is something which happens regularly, it should be noted that we asked that pre-legislative scrutiny be waived for the previous two Bills I brought forward because of the prevailing circumstances. I appreciate that Deputies allowed us to do so and I thank them for that. Additions were...