Results 4,321-4,340 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Government is fully committed to the fight against racism, prejudice and bigotry, and strongly condemns the actions of those who abuse and attack others, because of their own prejudices against a person’s religion, ethnic origins, sexual orientation or any other part of their identity as a human being. Ireland is a diverse and tolerant country, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Data (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that the information requested by the Deputy in relation to the number of prisoners in custody in each of the prisons is published on a daily basis and this information is available on the Irish Prison Service website www.irishprisons.ie. This breakdown includes the number of prisoners in custody and the bed capacity in each prison. The information can...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Releases (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that all prisoners who are sentenced to a term of imprisonment, with the exception of prisoners without a determined sentence, for example, life sentence prisoners, qualify for one quarter remission on the basis of good behaviour. In addition, prisoners who have engaged in authorised structured activity may apply to receive enhanced remission of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy may be aware, the decision to grant bail in a particular case is a matter for the presiding Judge, who is independent in the exercise of his or her judicial functions. There is also a Constitutional presumption in favour of the grant of bail as, under Irish Law, a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The specific information is not yet maintained in such a way as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Gangland Crime (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Diverting young people away from getting involved in criminal activity is a key priority for the Government and the exploitation of young people and children is a particular concern. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to criminalise adults who groom children to commit crimes. To this end, on 15 January 2021, Minister of State James Browne and I...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Criminal Assets Bureau (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) is a multi-agency statutory body established under the Criminal Assets Bureau Act, 1996. The Bureau’s remit is to target the assets, wherever situated, of persons which derive or are suspected to derive, directly or indirectly, from criminal conduct. Since its inception, the Bureau has been at the forefront of fighting...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Leave to Remain (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: For reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State. An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I would like to extend my deepest sympathies to all those impacted by the shocking incidents which have taken place in Dublin in recent weeks. My Department is keeping the law in relation to sentencing for knife crimes, as well as all other policies around knife crimes, such as targeted interventions, under review. Following a number of initial discussions on our shared concern about...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Court Accommodation (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Under the provisions of the Courts Service Act 1998, management of the courts, including the provision of accommodation for court sittings, is the responsibility of the Courts Service, which is independent in exercising its functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has advised me that they are currently in the process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Operations (10 Feb 2021)

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: Deportation Orders (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can advise the Deputy that, following the consideration of the relevant case under section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999 (as amended), the Deportation Order referred to was formally revoked on 22 January 2021. This decision was notified to the relevant parties by letter dated 26 January 2021. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Deportation Orders (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: For reasons of maintaining full confidentiality, it is not my Department's practice to comment on whether an application for asylum or subsidiary protection has been made in the State. An applicant for such protection status, or their legal representative, should contact either the International Protection Office (IPO) or the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) directly, as...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is at an advanced stage of processing and will be submitted to me for decision as expeditiously as possible. If any further documentation is required, it will be requested from the applicant in due course. The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Garda Youth Diversion Projects (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 675 and 676 together. I am informed that funding in Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR), North Central Division for Garda Youth Diversion Projects and activities has increased from €566,236 in 2018 to an allocation of €1.2m in 2021. Alongside this increase in funding, the currently funded projects are being provided with increased staffing and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Sentencing Policy (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 677 and 678 together. I know the Deputy will appreciate that judges are independent in the matter of sentencing, as in other matters concerning the exercise of judicial functions, subject only to the Constitution and the law. In accordance with this principle, the court is required to impose a sentence which is proportionate not only to the crime but to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Brexit Issues (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management of An Garda Síochána, including matters relating to cooperation with law enforcement in other jurisdictions. As Minister, I do not have direct responsibility for such arrangements. However I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána have not experienced...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Ministerial Meetings (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: Following a number of initial discussions on our shared concern about recent serious crime incidents, particularly in Dublin, I met with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris to further discuss the issue last week. The Commissioner confirmed that An Garda Síochána has a comprehensive policing plan in place in Dublin’s north inner city and we also discussed what more can be done to...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: I understand that a request to withdraw the visa application referred to by the Deputy was received by the Immigration Service of my Department on 4 February 2021. A response was issued on 9 February 2021, which advised the correct procedure for withdrawing an application and that the applicant would be welcome to submit a future application at their discretion. Queries in relation to the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Crime Data (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the newly designed community intervention programme, based on the research of the Greentown Project, will offer new hope and opportunities for children caught up in serious and prolific crime. This new evidence-informed model will be trialed on a pilot basis in two communities over a period of three years, and each will be overseen by a local advisory committee...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Feb 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, confirmed Covid-19 incident figures (powers used/breaches of regulations) are crime incidents in which files are prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in order to charge or summons. I am informed by the Garda authorities that due to the substantial checking and reviews undertaken on these incidents prior to publication, there is a...