Results 5,121-5,140 of 15,429 for speaker:Helen McEntee

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will state clearly that I was not lobbied on this matter. There was a very clear process. The GRA engaged with my Department throughout last year to try to ensure this conference could be held. The work that was done between my Department and the Attorney General was simply to allow for this conference to take place. As the Deputy will appreciate, the association is independent in its...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Ampersand report was very welcome. It made a number of recommendations. I believe it was welcomed by the organisation, the Garda Commissioner and everybody else who has seen it. My understanding is that the timeline for its implementation runs to 2025, so there is obviously some way to go. The Commissioner has taken a personal interest in this matter and has recently received an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Government and I, as the Minister for Justice, are committed to tackling sexual violence and sexual crime in all its forms. I wish to ensure, most importantly, that victims feel empowered to come forward to report sexual crimes and that when they do, they are fully supported in every step of the process and that their interaction with our justice system is as supportive as possible. I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: While initial detection rates, as the Deputy rightly said, hover between 10% and 12%, they then potentially increase to 20% because the criminal justice process is lengthy and it often takes time for those statistics to adjust. Even if the rate reaches 20%, however, that is still far too low and not enough. What is particularly worrying, and I visited several divisional protective service...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: What has become increasingly clear to me following the publication of the O'Malley report last year and my engagement with victims and with the criminal justice system is that it is not child friendly and is not an encouraging, welcoming or warm place for a family or for children to come forward to. Therefore, everything required must be done to change that situation, including, for example,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I too share his concerns for the Afghan people and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. I think we all share those concerns. In response, Ireland has acted swiftly and compassionately to demonstrate our support. While we can all be concerned, we need to show actual support and solidarity with the Afghan people. My Department...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The Deputy is right that, as a nation, we have travelled to every corner of the world and understand how important it is to be welcomed when we go to another country. We are trying to make sure that this process is as easy and as straightforward as possible, that those who need it the most can apply and that their family members can apply on their behalf. We do not want families to be split...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: International Protection (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thank the Deputy for his comments. I hope we will see something similar replicated across other member states. Other countries are doing their bit as well and trying to ensure that Afghan nationals, in particular those at risk, are protected. The scheme will essentially provide lawful residence on a temporary basis for up to two years, but it is important to add that it may be possible...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I thought the Deputy was going to tell me he had convinced Garth Brooks to come to Drogheda, but I do not think that is case.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: Or Dundalk. As the Deputy will be aware, the publication and implementation of the recommendations of the Drogheda scoping report are key actions in my Department's justice plan for 2021. They are certainly a priority for me, as I know they are for the Deputy and others. I am grateful to the former director of the Probation Service, Mr. Vivian Geiran, who made over 70 recommendations in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The only way this will work is by providing additional funding and supports through our national and Government bodies and agencies, but also by supporting the community groups which have been doing a fantastic job over the last number of years. There is a space for them to work in parallel and in tandem with the State agencies. We have spoken about the agency that the Deputy specifically...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Reports (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will not set out what the group is going to do or tell it what it needs to do. However, I think the actions are very clear. The subgroups have been created on the basis of those actions, the needs and requirements. I must say, following the publication of the report, any engagement that my Department has had with the other Departments has been very positive and forthcoming. Indeed, the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy is aware, the atypical working scheme was established as a cross-departmental response to address the matter of non-EEA workers on certain categories of vessels in the Irish fishing fleet who are not currently eligible for permission under the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment employment permit system. The scheme provided, for the first time, a framework for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will comment on the timeline. We gave a commitment in the programme for Government to implement a new scheme within 18 months. While we are slightly shy of that, the scheme will open in the new year. I give that commitment. I am aware that people are anxious and nervous and want to know that it will open when we say it will. It will open in the new year. There may have been slight...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fishing Industry (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I must stress that this is an undocumented scheme. We gave a commitment to introduce the scheme within the first 18 months. I have committed with the Minister of State, Deputy Browne, and others, to make it as inclusive as possible. There are other avenues for people to avail of to try to regularise their status. While we are trying to make it as inclusive as possible, if we were to take...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I will respond to the Deputy in English if that is okay. I regret that the Deputy has not received the response on time. I signed off on it so the Deputy should have had it at this stage. I apologise for the delay. I can inform the Deputy that promotions to the ranks of sergeant and inspector in An Garda Síochána are governed by An Garda Síochána regulations of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: People are speaking to each other in this regard, and the Commissioner has engaged with my Department, and obviously has taken on board recommendations from An Coimisinéir Teanga and from the Minister with responsibility for this area. On that basis, and acknowledging that there are issues that need to be addressed here, the new Irish language strategy has been developed by An Garda...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: An Garda Síochána (25 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: The implementation of the report will go a long way in addressing many of the issues and concerns raised by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: As the Deputy will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions. As the Deputy will be aware, public health restrictions have unavoidably impacted on intakes to the Garda College, Templemore,...

Written Answers — Department of Justice and Equality: An Garda Síochána (24 Nov 2021)

Helen McEntee: I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, but I have not received this information in time. I will write to the Deputy as soon as the information is to hand.