Results 3,401-3,420 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Data Protection (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by my officials that the Data Protection Commission (DPC) recently issued a letter relating to the processing of biometric data by the Irish Prison Service. The understanding is this constitutes preliminary findings rather than a decision. I am informed that the findings are in respect of a complaint from an employee of the Service associated with the processing of biometric...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Programme (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 593, 595, 613, 616, 626, 629 and 639 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to enact a Family Court Bill to create a new dedicated Family Court within the existing court structure and to provide for court procedures that support a less adversarial resolution of disputes. In September, the Government approved the drafting of a...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Government is fully committed to ensuring that those impacted by domestic abuse during the Covid-19 pandemic continue to receive the highest priority. The impact of increased restrictions on domestic abuse incidents was one of the key considerations taken into account when looking at moving the country to Level 5 of the Framework for Living with Covid 19. Additional Covid specific...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Programme for Government outlines a commitment to invest in a comprehensive training programme for professionals who may have contact with a victim of coercive control, including An Garda Síochána, legal professionals and courts services personnel. I can assure the Deputy, combatting all forms of domestic abuse and sexual violence continues to be a key priority for me. In Budget...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Process (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The introduction of legislation to provide for Domestic Homicide Reviews is an important commitment in the Programme for Government. One of the elements that will feed into delivering on this commitment is the independent study commissioned by my Department into familicide and domestic homicide reviews. This independent specialist research is looking at international best practice in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together. My Department is committed to protecting the rights and privacy of all individuals and complies fully with data breach reporting requirements. The table below shows that a total of 22 passports from across the entire immigration area that were notified as lost, misplaced or sent to the incorrect address and reported to the Data...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Civil Registration Service (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the imposition of new restrictions when the country moved to Level 5 of the Government's Plan for Living with COVID on 21 October 2020 has had implications for all aspects of public life, including the Courts and Court Officers. Nonetheless, the overall objective is to maintain access to justice as far as possible, even at Level 5, having regard to public health...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Support Services (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The management and administration of the Registration Office in Co. Longford is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have made enquiries with the Commissioner and have received the following update. Approximately 5,500 appointments were made for immigration registration purposes, in the Roscommon-Longford Division in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation in relation to the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether they meet the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The programme of replacement and refurbishment of Garda accommodation is progressed by the Garda authorities working in close cooperation with the Office of Public Works (OPW), which has the responsibility for the provision and maintenance of Garda accommodation. The Garda Capital Investment Programme 2016-2021, which was announced by the then Minister for Justice and Equality and the then...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Training (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for carrying on and managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána including by arranging for the training of the members and civilian staff of An Garda Síochána and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. I am informed by the Commissioner...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Expenditure (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the new Programme for Government,Our Shared Future, includes a commitment to support and prioritise community crime prevention, including Text Alert. For many years, my Department has supported community crime prevention by providing funding for the Community Alert programme, which is operated by Muintir na Tíre in partnership with the Garda authorities. My...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: As a dependant of non-EEA national parents who hold a Stamp 4 permission to reside, the person referred to by the Deputy is eligible for a Stamp 3 permission. If, in the future, either parent becomes naturalised, the person concerned may then be eligible for a Stamp 4 permission. In the interim, an application can be made to Unit 2 Domestic Residence and Permissions Division, Immigration...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The person concerned has applied for a review of the most recent decision in their case. The review request was submitted on 17 September 2019, and is currently under consideration. The person concerned has been provided with temporary permission to remain in the State on a Stamp 4 basis until 18 February 2021, while their EU Treaty Rights Review applications are under consideration. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can advise that the travel document application for the person referred to by the Deputy has been successful and a document will be issued to the person concerned. The COVID-19 restrictions have regrettably resulted in significant challenges to the delivery of normal services. However, I can confirm that once this Travel Document has been printed, it will be posted without undue delay. A...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Asylum Applications (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The International Protection Act 2015, sets out the provisions for the making and deciding of an application for international protection in the State. This includes provisions related to appeals of negative recommendations, which are heard by the independent International Protection Appeals Tribunal. The 2015 Act is fully consistent with international and EU law in this regard. Each...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 617 and 618 together. I would first like to express my most sincere sympathies to the family concerned in this tragic case. I understand that a formal written apology issued from An Garda Síochána to the family in July 2020. The case to which the Deputy refers was amongst the complaints considered by independent counsel under the Independent...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Tribunals of Inquiry (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Smithwick Tribunal made thematic recommendations regarding North-South police co-operation, Garda discipline and the investigation of historic crimes with a cross-border element. Firstly it should be stated from the outset that there is close and ongoing co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland in respect of all aspects of policing....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for managing and controlling generally the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (10 Nov 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate, as Minister for Justice, it is often incumbent upon me to visit Garda stations and facilities around the country. Reasons for these can include invitations for meetings, or visits in light of specific events. The Deputy will appreciate that, in light of Covid-19 and related public health measures, such engagements have been reduced in the recent past. I can...