Results 4,241-4,260 of 15,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Complaints Procedures (3 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have been advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service that work is continuing on the completion of the necessary actions to introduce the new Prisoner Complaints System including the drafting of the Statutory Instrument which will give legal effect to the new system. Officials in my Department are continuing to engage with the Office of the Parliamentary Council and the Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Visiting Committees (3 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may appreciate, the work of the prison visiting committees has been heavily impacted due to the COVID 19 pandemic including insofar as the timing of the  submission of the 2019 Annual reports to my Department is concerned.  The reports of the various Prison Visiting Committees were submitted over the course of 2020.  The first was received in...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (3 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: A decision on the citizenship application of the person referred to by the Deputy was issued by the Immigration Service of my Department on 10 February 2017. It is open to the applicant to make a further application for citizenship. However, any new application should address the issues outlined to the applicant at that time. The person concerned has had a permission to remain in the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (3 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was refused by the Visa Office in Abu Dhabi on 9 August 2020. The reasons for this decision were set out in the refusal letter sent to the applicants at that time. An appeal of this decision was launched on 11 October 2020. Appeals for applications of this type are processed in the order in which they are...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (3 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts is the responsibility of the Courts Service which is independent in its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made regarding the number of court houses that have been closed nationwide in each of the years 1997 to date in 2021. I am informed that it will take some...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (3 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Minister of State will be aware, community-based CCTV is governed by Section 38(3)(c) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and the Garda Síochána (CCTV) Order 2006 (SI 289 of 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Deployment (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the administration and business of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of Garda resources.  I am assured however that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in light of operational demand, to ensure their optimum use. I am informed by the Garda authorities that it is...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Road Traffic Offences (4 Feb 2021)

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: Inquiry into the Death of Mr. Shane O'Farrell (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, a retired Judge, Gerard Haughton, is currently conducting the scoping exercise into the tragic circumstances surrounding the death of the late Shane O'Farrell. Judge Haughton furnished an interim report to my predecessor in November 2019. In his interim report, the Judge stated that he would not restrict or limit Shane's family in their submissions to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Retirements (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, retirement of members of An Garda Síochána is governed by law, which sets the mandatory retirement age for all members at 60 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 50 years of age once they have served at least 30 years and those who joined on or after 1 April 2004 may retire on full...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Staff (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I wish to advise the Deputy that staff can express an interest in moving to other areas of the Department and this is taken into consideration when filling vacancies. Mobility for Department of Justice staff to agencies under the remit of the Department such as An Garda Síochána, Courts Service, Legal Aid Board, etc. can be applied for through Peoplepoint (the human...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Pension Provisions (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am unable to go in to detail in relation to this case out of respect for the person concerned but I can say that the Pensions Administration area of my Department, having been made aware of the personal circumstances in this case, has recently been in direct correspondence with a direct relative of the person concerned. My officials will give further consideration to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

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: Community Alert Programme (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the Department of Justice has for many years provided funding for the employment and associated costs of the national Community Alert Programme, including the employment of regional Development Officers. These Development Officers provide support to Community and Text Alert schemes and offer advice on how to establish new schemes. This year, the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I recognise and acknowledge the crucial role frontline workers are continuing to play in responding to the threat of COVID-19. They work in a challenging environment and deal with vulnerable people on a daily basis. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have been playing a key role in preventing the spread of the COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I understand that the Deputy's question relates to the international protection process and the determination of applications made by LGBTQ+ people. I can advise the Deputy that in this regard there is a statutory framework governing the international protection process in Ireland, which includes refugee status determination (under the UN Geneva Convention) and subsidiary protection...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Closed-Circuit Television Systems (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, community-based CCTV is governed by section 38(3)(c) of the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Measures (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: It is clear to me that the effect of Section 252 of the Children Act 2001, as recently ruled by the Court of Appeal ruling in DPP v. E.C. and Media Outlet, is having a profoundly negative impact on grieving parents who are unable to remember their deceased children’s names or legacies in public. Being unable to speak publicly about how they want their children to be remembered is wrong...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 186 and 187 together. 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: Garda Investigations (4 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 188 and 189 together. The bombing of Belturbet on 28 December 1972 was an appalling and callous act of violence that claimed the lives of two innocent young people and injured others. The dreadful effects of this attack last to this day; the suffering of those who have lost what was most precious to them goes on. That the perpetrators of this atrocity have...