Results 3,061-3,080 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Strength (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and decisions on the deployment of resources.  As Minister, I have no responsibility for these matters.  I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Parental Leave (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: When setting a date for the introduction of entitlements to family leaves, there are a number of factors for consideration in order to allow for an orderly transition. At the time of the launching of the Parent’s Leave and Benefit scheme, 1 November 2019 was considered the optimal choice to prevent a backlog of applications upon introduction, thereby creating unforeseen cost...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legal Aid Service (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Legal Aid Board provides legal advice and aid under the Civil Legal Aid Act 1995 and the Civil Legal Aid Regulations 1996-2017. The Board delivers these services through directly employed solicitors in its network of law centres around the country and through private solicitors from its private practitioner panels. Section 3(3) of the Act provides that the Board shall, subject to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Immigration Service of my Department does not collect the statistical information sought by the Deputy. When a record of a deportation order is being created, the Immigration Service does not, as a matter of course, record the relevant applicant’s place of birth, as opposed to their country of nationality, which is recorded. The applicant's...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 209 together. The amount spent by my Department on media monitoring and media clipping services for the years 2017, 2018, 2019 and to date in 2020 is set out in the table below. The Department receives daily National and Regional Press Cuttings from Kantar Media, based on a wide set of key-words and phrases relevant to the work of the Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Expenditure (30 Sep 2020)

Helen McEntee: Regular media engagement and monitoring of current media issues is essential for my Department to fulfil its public role and democratic mandate. My Department has hard copy and digital subscriptions to daily and weekend national publications as set out below: Hard Copy Subscriptions Online Subscriptions  The Irish Independent The...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As he clearly outlined, this is an issue and an area of concern that falls under a number of Departments and Ministers. The Deputy mentioned particular groups and funding and, unfortunately, while I cannot help in that area, I will outline the area that falls under my remit, which is the work of the Garda, and I certainly would be happy to speak...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Drug and Alcohol Task Forces (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy. Again, I appreciate the urgency with which he is raising this issue. We have seen in the past in Dublin, as he mentioned, that where not just the Garda but the community, the local councils, the education bodies and the community groups come together, a huge amount of work can be done in tackling this very issue. We have a project under way and a scoping exercise in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 241 and 249 together. The Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act 1956, provides the statutory periods of residence required in the State, and that the final year be continuous residence. However, it has long been recognised that many people may travel abroad for a holiday, or may have some unexpected or unavoidable reason...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: State Pardons (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I want to thank the Deputy for raising this matter with me, which I know he has previously raised with my predecessor as Minister. The case in question has received detailed consideration by officials in my Department and a relevant academic has been engaged to provide expert opinion on the matter. I will write to the Deputy directly with a further update.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child and Family Agency (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have requested information from the Garda Commissioner in relation to this matter but it was unfortunately not possible to compile it in the time available. I will write to the Deputy directly with the information requested, when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Child and Family Agency (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have contacted GSOC in relation to the information sought and will write directly to the Deputy when a response is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Probate Data (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Probate Office is an office of the High Court and management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in exercising its functions under the Courts Service Act 1998. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me that the waiting times for solicitors applications in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: My Department is coordinating the compilation of Ireland’s first State report to the Committee on the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. This function will shortly be transferring to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. Ireland's State Report was scheduled for submission earlier this year, two...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Rights of People with Disabilities (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enshrining disability rights by finalising the legislation necessary to meet the terms of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (“the Convention”). The approach being taken is one of progressive realisation, with work continuing on the reforms needed for an optimum level of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Irish Prison Service (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am informed by the Irish Prison Service that at present, there is no recruitment moratorium in place and that the recruitment process has been ongoing since 2017 having regard to such factors as service needs and retirement levels. The Deputy will wish to be aware that new recruits into the organisation take up their positions on a scheduled basis, throughout...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Districts (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Minister of State will be aware, under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and operations of An Garda Síochána.  This includes the effective and efficient deployment of the resources available to An Garda Síochána taking into account crime trends and policing...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Welfare (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: I have asked the Irish Prison Service for an update on the issues raised in the Chaplain's report and will revert to the Deputy when this is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Judicial Council (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: Following enactment of the Judicial Council Act 2019, the Judicial Council was established in December 2019. The Act provides for the establishment of several committees of the Council, all of which have been established. The Act sets out various timeframes for the production of relevant guidelines by the committees.  The timescales set out in the Act have regard to the significant...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (1 Oct 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, 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 relevant local authority, which must also act as data...