Results 5,061-5,080 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising the important issue of men's mental health, particularly in the context of suicide and the fact that this Friday is International Men's Health Day. Any loss of life to suicide is a tragedy, and my deepest condolences go out to any family or individual who has lost someone to suicide or who has been affected by suicide. As the Deputy rightly pointed out, it is...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Mental Health Services (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy has highlighted the two most important issues and I agree with and support her wholeheartedly on that. This is about each and every one of us looking after our mental health. I visited my father's grave last night for the first time in a while and it is almost nine years since he died by suicide. When I visit the grave, I always think about my mental health and that of the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter today. As she stated at the outset, the management or administration of the An Garda Síochána and deployment of resources is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. These decisions are made in the continued context of crime trends in a certain area and policing priorities. When issues arise, as they do, the Commissioner and his team respond...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will come back to the Deputy on the response.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: An Garda Síochána (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy has outlined, this is about people not just being safe but feeling safe. It is about visible policing. That means not just having gardaí in stations and in cars but having gardaí on foot and on bikes and making sure people can see that visible presence in their communities. Even seeing a uniform walking about the streets gives people a sense of feeling safe....

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." As Deputies will be aware, this is an important and urgent Bill. It will avert a legal cliff edge that is due to occur later this month by repealing a number of legal changes due to come into effect on that date. Those impending changes are causing serious concern for stakeholders, particularly given their implications for conveyancing...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: It is a boy.

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021 [Seanad]: Second Stage (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will try to respond to as many comments and queries as possible. Where I cannot or do not, Deputies can, of course, come back to me. I am grateful for what has been the overwhelmingly positive response to this legislation and the support for its passage through the House as quickly as possible. I take on board the comments about, and frustration at, the timeframe involved. There has...

Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill 2021: Referral to Select Committee (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice pursuant to Standing Orders 95(3)(a) and 181(1).

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Departmental Correspondence (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the Sentencing Guidelines Committee is the responsibility of the Judicial Council. As per section 6 of the Judicial Council Act 2019, the Judicial Council, subject to the provisions of the Act, is independent in the exercise of its functions. Neither I nor my Department has any role in relation to the operation of the Council or its Committees. I am not aware of...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Prison Service (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have been advised by my officials in the Irish Prison Service, (who are the competent body for the administration of the Transfer of Sentenced Persons Acts) that while they have received a number of inquiries in relation to this individual, they have not yet received formal communication from the Latvian authorities in respect of this case. An important element of the transfer process...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: An application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets 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 through naturalisation is a privilege and an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I can inform the Deputy that the applicants referred to created on-line Join Family (Non EEA national) visa applications on 29 March 2021. The supporting documentation and fee were submitted to the Visa Office on 10 May 2021. These applications are currently awaiting comprehensive examination. In accordance with the provisions under Point 21.1 of my Department's Policy Document on...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána however it was not available in time to respond. I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Citizenship Applications (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The application for a certificate of naturalisation from the person referred to by the Deputy is currently being processed with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets 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 through naturalisation is a privilege and an...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Visa Applications (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The visa application referred to by the Deputy was created online on 22 September 2021 and the supporting documentation was received by the embassy in Warsaw on 29 October 2021. The person referred to was previously advised by my Department that, if they have not already done so, they should contact the Visa Office and advise them of the urgent nature of their visit and submit any...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Covid-19 Pandemic (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will be aware, the Office of the Inspector of Prisons is a statutory body, independent in its work, set up under the Prisons Act 2007. The Inspector's key role is to carry out regular inspections of prisons. The Office is required to inspect the twelve prisons in Ireland to examine the treatment and conditions of prisoners and staff. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Status (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the person concerned has obtained a first-time registration appointment via the Registration Appointment Booking System. They should attend as scheduled and present their passport and other required documents to facilitate their registration. Further details are available on my Department's Irish Immigration website at:...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Immigration Policy (17 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I propose to take Questions Nos. 184, 185, 186, 187 and 188 together. Under Section 4 of the Immigration Act 2004, an Immigration Officer must determine whether a non-EEA national should be granted leave to land and thus gain entry to the State. The Border Management Unit of my Department has responsibility for frontline immigration at Dublin Airport only. Other ports of entry are the...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: Human Trafficking (18 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Human trafficking is a heinous crime based on deception and exploitation of vulnerable people. Combatting it is, and will continue to be, a priority for this Government. Significant efforts are being made by the Government at home and with our partners abroad to combat human trafficking. Ireland and our partners are active on this issue in international fora including the UN, Council of...