Results 4,721-4,740 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The table below provides the numbers of recommendations made under s21(3) of the International Protection Act 2015, in the years requested by the Deputy. These applications for international protection were inadmissible under s.21(2)(a) of the International Protection Act 2015, as another EU Member State had already granted refugee status or subsidiary protection status to the person, which...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: International Protection (25 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: A total of 498 interviews under section 35 of the International Protection Act 2015, took place in the period 1 March 2020 to 15 March 2021.  Of these, 45 interviews were adjourned and the applicant will be scheduled to attend a further interview to complete the process. The interview schedule for the International Protection Office (IPO) has unfortunately been severely...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Citizenship Applications (26 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senator O'Loughlin for raising this extremely important issue. First, let me stress that I recognise the crucial role all healthcare workers, including those who are non-EEA nationals, continue to play in this ongoing pandemic in responding to the threat of Covid-19. Their exceptional commitment has been particularly clear throughout the pandemic, during which they have in no small...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Citizenship Applications (26 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Irrespective of whether we are assessing asylum applications or citizen applications, it is important that we have a fair system that acknowledges that everybody who has applied is making some contribution, be it working in healthcare are in other settings. The most important thing is to have a system that goes through the application process as quickly as possible and that nobody is waiting...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Citizenship Applications (26 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank Senator Ó Donnghaile for raising this issue. First, let me start with the payments and fees, as outlined by the Senator. These are governed by the provisions of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Regulations 2011. The fees are paid in two parts. The current application fee is €175, which is payable when an application for naturalisation is lodged. A certification...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Citizenship Applications (26 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will certainly take that recommendation on board. This is about making sure we have a streamlined process. To refer to a previous Commencement matter I addressed today, we are investing in ICT to move systems in these structures and in the Department of Justice away from what are, unfortunately, mainly paper-based systems towards an online system which would make it much easier for people...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (26 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. In response to his last point, as Minister I can inform him that the Department of Justice is working with the Garda Commissioner and the OPW, which has responsibility for rolling out many of these projects. I reassure him that we are committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána is supported in the work it does by providing the resources...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Garda Stations (26 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: It is extremely important that we provide the resources and capital infrastructure for An Garda Síochána to do its work. I am particularly pleased to note the increase in Garda resources in Tipperary in recent years. There are now 411 gardaí assigned to that division, which represents an increase of 16% since 2015 when there were 354. They are also supported by 84 civilian...

Seanad: Irish Nationality and Citizenship (Naturalisation of Minors Born in Ireland) Bill 2018: Committee Stage (Resumed) (26 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: If that is okay, I will speak as quickly as I can. I acknowledge the work done by Senator Bacik and her Labour Party colleagues and thank them for it. Since we last discussed this Bill, I have had a good engagement with the Senator on a number of citizenship issues. I thank her for that ongoing engagement. During our previous debate on Committee Stage in December, I committed to reviewing...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the committee for inviting me to this meeting. I am seeking its approval for the Revised Estimates for the justice sector Vote group to provide for much-needed expenditure across the sector. The Estimates provide for gross expenditure of approximately €3 billion across six Votes in the justice sector, €2.746 billion of which is current expenditure and €258...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will have to get a breakdown for the initial questions on pay and pensions. I will need a moment to get this. I will do the same for the question on clothing and accessories. I am unsure how often this happens but I know there is a request at the moment for new uniforms. We are looking at that as part of the overall request later on in the year. I will come back to the Chairman...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Yes.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy referred to youth services. I highlight that there is an additional €500,000, which brings the total allocation to €14.5 million for youth justice interventions. That includes specific funding of €1.426 million through the Dormant Accounts Fund for the Greentown programme, which is specifically looking at protecting younger people from the influence of adult...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Absolutely.

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The issue does come under the Garda Vote to some extent. In my opening statement I referenced the implementation of the O'Malley report. Although specific funding has not been identified under the €8 million modernisation budget that was allocated to the courts, as part of the implementation of the O'Malley report a significant amount of work is being done in developing a training...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: Regarding the overall investment in Garda ICT, not just relating to the ANPR, the mobility project, €80 million has been allocated to upgrade the mobile devices. I am referring to cars but also to technology to ensure everything can be interconnected and to reflect the fact that we have now just joined the Schengen Information System, SIS II. Even though we only joined it on 15...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy identified something that could apply to most of the Votes. Some of the changes brought about by Covid-19, be they in An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service or the Courts Service, have been made out of necessity but, hopefully, they will remain and ensure the smoother and better running of the Irish Prison Service and other services. Regarding additional funding to...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: That scheme exists. The plan is to make sure we eliminate this practice. As I mentioned in my opening statement, significant funding is being allocated to Limerick Prison, where this practice remains in existence. Once that work is complete, we will eliminate this practice. I do not have the exact figure in terms of what has been allocated to date under this scheme but as soon as we can...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: In terms of compensation, my answer is similar to my previous answer in that it depends on what cases are dealt with in the year or what the overall request is. As is often the case, in some years, one will get more than one thinks or less than one asked for. For this year in particular, there was additional funding for in-cell sanitation cases going back to my answer to the question from...

Select Committee on Justice and Equality: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 20 - Garda Síochána (Revised)
Vote 21 - Prisons (Revised)
Vote 22 - Courts Service (Revised)
Vote 24 - Justice (Revised)
Vote 41 - Policing Authority (Revised)
Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Helen McEntee: It is based on the requirement and the need. It is also based on the request from the Irish Prison Service to us and then us making that request and the allocation being either granted or not. Last year's spend was €1.4 million but the allocation is €1.2 million. That is not to say that will not cover the requirements for this year or that it will not cover the supports that...