Results 4,601-4,620 of 16,389 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Non-EEA family members or dependents of UK nationals continue to hold the same residence rights to live, work or study in Ireland, if they resided here at the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. It is estimated that approximately 6,000 non-EEA nationals resident in Ireland will apply for a new residence document under the Withdrawal Agreement as family members of UK nationals....

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: At the end of January 2021, there were 5,279 cases pending at the International Protection Office (IPO). The table below provides a breakdown of this figure by duration pending. Applications pending at the IPO at the end of January 2021 Duration pending Total Less than 3 months 356 Between 3 and 6 months 378 ...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The report of the Advisory Group on the Provision of Support including Accommodation to Persons in the International Protection Process made a range of recommendations concerning improvements to supports provided to those in the international protection process, including that the State should develop a strategy and, if necessary, enact legislation for dealing with unsuccessful applicants who...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Anti-Social Behaviour (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that I am very conscious of how the impact of anti-social behaviour affects the quality of life for local communities. Tackling crime in our communities is a priority for this Government and for An Garda Síochána. The new Programme for Government, Our Shared Future, recognises the fear and insecurity caused by anti-social behaviour and commits to tackling...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Legislative Reviews (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, the issue of assisted dying is a very complex issue which gives rise to medical, ethical and moral issues, as well as criminal justice and constitutional issues. The issues fall within the remit of both the Departments of Justice and Health. The Bill as originally proposed is now subject to pre-committee scrutiny where it will be examined in detail. The...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Vacant Sites (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am advised by the Irish Prison Service that no expenditure has been incurred under the vacant site levy in respect of the Thornton Hall site.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Domestic Violence Policy (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The external audit of the current structure overseeing the delivery of policy and services with regard to Domestic, Sexual, and Gender-Based Violence (DSGBV) across Government was not included in the response to the question that the Deputy is referring to in relation to studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by me. Having considered this matter further, I can appreciate...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Applications for a certificate of naturalisation were received from the persons referred to by the Deputy on 20 December 2018. These applications are 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...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prisoner Health (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional manner of service delivery by psychology and addiction professionals in prisons have been impacted. Engagement by services with prisoners has been impacted due to the implementation of essential infection control and operational regimes to keep prisoners and staff safe. This has required the development of new ways of working to support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Staff (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the traditional manner of service delivery by psychology and addiction professionals in prisons have been impacted. Engagement by services with prisoners has been impacted due to the implementation of essential infection control and operational regimes to keep prisoners and staff safe. This has required the development of new ways of working to support...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Eligibility (11 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As I have previously advised to the Deputy, the person concerned does not have a current permission to reside in the State. Therefore, they are not in a position to make an application for naturalisation as they will not satisfy the required reckonable residence criteria prior to the application for naturalisation being made. To allow for a full examination of the person's circumstances,...

Seanad: Family Leave Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, and the team in his Department for facilitating the introduction of these amendments. I also thank Senators and, of course, colleagues in the Dáil. There are five Government amendments from the Department of Justice to the Bill. They have, essentially, the overall purpose of making...

Seanad: Family Leave Bill 2021: Committee and Remaining Stages (22 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I reiterate my thanks for the facilitation of these amendments. I appreciate it is not the ideal way to introduce amendments. As Senator Bacik outlined, this is the quickest way to make sure the new personal injuries guidelines could be applied as soon as possible and, most importantly, that people would start to see the benefits of these reductions. Of course, where people have genuine...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: While the Minister for Health is primarily responsible for our overall National COVID strategy, I am happy to supply the following information about the current guidance developed by the Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) in this regard. The Property Services Regulatory Authority (PSRA) is the statutory body established under the Property Services (Regulation) Act 2011, with...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Naturalisation Applications (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: A number of issues have impacted on the processing of citizenship applications over the past 18 months. A High Court case which was subsequently successfully appealed to the Court of Appeal resulted in significant delays in 2019. As well as this, a significant backlog has built up regarding the granting of citizenships due to the inability to hold in person ceremonies during the pandemic,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Residency Permits (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The registration renewal application of the person referred to by the Deputy remains in draft format and is awaiting a submission by the applicant. A confirmation of receipt will only issue after the application is fully submitted. Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Courts Service (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1180 and 1181 together. 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 functions. However, in order to be of assistance to the Deputy, I have had enquiries made and the Courts Service has informed me of the following. Following the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service Staff (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I understand that what the Deputy is referring to is an event that was held in the Midlands Prison on the 27 March 2020 to mark the retirement of the then Governor. The Deputy will also be aware that the Director General had, at the time, advised the then Governor that any large gathering, or large assembly of staff, to mark her retirement at that time was not permissible and the large...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Protected Disclosures (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Protected Disclosures Act was enacted in 2014 to allow employees to bring alleged wrongdoing to the attention of the appropriate authorities. The purpose of the Act is to afford important protections to persons making protected disclosures. The Irish Prison Service has its own Protected Disclosures Policy in place, with independent external assessment of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Coroners Service (24 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1184 and 1185 together. There are currently 34 coroners in 39 coronial districts, with 37 deputy coroners in place. The names of coroners, their deputies and the coronial districts they act in are published and available on the website www.coroners.ie. Coroners are appointed by the local authority, with the following three exceptions: - The coroner for the...