Results 3,801-3,820 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: Again, the section aligns Ireland with the current regulations. It would be very difficult to create or provide for a dual system where there is one period of detention for cases transferring to EU member states and a different one for those transferring to the UK. I get the Senator's point that nowhere in Ireland is 12 hours away, even from the tip to the bottom of the country. However,...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: We have already discussed the possibility of adding further criteria and identifying what is a safe third country. There are very strict criteria, in line with EU regulation, that we are applying to the UK if it is to receive that status. We are not deviating at all. We are not relying on the UK saying that everything is fine. We are setting and applying a strict set of criteria. The...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: For the purposes of this Bill, the only country I am proposing to designate is the UK. I note that the amendment refers to "changes to the list of safe third countries" and not changes within those countries. Therefore, it is specifically the list. Any new designation for a safe third country is required to be brought before the Houses and that is specified within this. Obviously for the...

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I am not opposed to the idea, but it is not appropriate in this legislation. It might arise in other legislation.

Seanad: Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020: Committee Stage (3 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: If it does not require legislation, it is something I would be happy to look at it.

Organisation of Working Time (Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2020: Second Stage [Private Members] (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I welcome the Bill and discussion and the collegiate way in which we are responding to it. Christmas is fast approaching, and for all of us, it will be a different kind of Christmas for the reasons we know. While it may be different, for the vast majority of us it will still be a joyous occasion. I, along with all Deputies, am acutely aware that for many people, this can be a time of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As Deputy will be aware, the courts are, subject only to the constitution and the law, independent in the exercise of their judicial functions and the conduct of any court case is a matter entirely for the presiding judge. Also, under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, Garda Youth Diversion Projects (GYDPs) are a fundamental support to the operation of the statutory Garda Diversion Programme and provide a vital ingredient in enhancing community policing partnerships. The projects are community based multi-agency crime prevention initiatives, which are funded directly by my Department. GYDPs seek to divert young people who have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Wards of Court (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The High Court has jurisdiction in wards of court matters 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 there were 346 wards of court declared in 2019...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Commemorative Events (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Decade of Centenaries is a programme of commemoration of the period from 1912 to 1923.  The Programme is broad and inclusive,  complementing the on-going programme of formal State commemorations with special centenary events on the anniversaries of key historical events. It seeks to record the economic and social conditions of the period, the shifts...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Resources (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 490 to 493, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for personnel and human resources matters.  I have sought the information requested from An Garda Síochána and will write to the Deputy when I have...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Students (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The requirement for health insurance, whereby students who are non-nationals are required to be in a position to maintain themselves (and not be a burden on the State) also applies to other immigration schemes and there is no intention at the moment to remove this requirement.  It has not been mandatory to have emergency medical repatriation insurance, although some insurance...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Data (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration 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 question and will write to the Deputy directly with the information sought, when it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Transport Provision (8 Dec 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Intelligence Services (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee:  I am sure the Deputy will understand that it would not be appropriate, for sound reasons of security, to elaborate in any detail on what might be entailed in the Garda authorities' relationship with other security and intelligence services. There is a long shared history between the two jurisdictions in counteracting terrorism on the Island. There are in place well established...

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

Helen McEntee: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the way the Immigration Service my Department conducts its business.  In line with public health advice, the Immigration Service has implemented a suite of measures to help in reducing the spread of the virus. These measures include the implementation of remote working for staff in order to comply with social and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Accidents (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that road safety remains a high priority for An Garda Síochána and for my Department, working closely in cooperation with the Department of Transport.  Any fatality or serious injury is of great concern. An Garda Síochána is responsible for collating information regarding road traffic collisions.  I am informed that the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Road Traffic (Amendment) Act 2018, also known as the Clancy Amendment, seeks to penalise car owners who knowingly allow their vehicles to be used by an unaccompanied learner driver. The law allows the owners of these vehicles to be fined and gives Gardaí the power to seize their cars if being driven by unaccompanied drivers.   The following table,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will appreciate that road traffic legislation falls within the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Transport. 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’. The penalty for this offence is, upon summary...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (8 Dec 2020)

Helen McEntee: I refer to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 168, 172 and 173, which were for answer on 17 September 2020, where the Deputy asked: - If An Garda Síochána is capturing driver licence numbers at point of detection and recording the driver number on summonses; if the Courts Service is accepting this data and inputting the information on the disqualification orders for recording onto the...